JULY 4, 1913, WILLIE RITCHIE FIGHT-WORN SOL LEVINSON BOXING GLOVE - WORLD LIGHTWEIGHT TITLE DEFENSE VS. JOE RIVERS (HELMS/LA84 COLLECTION)

Gerhardt Anthony Steffen was born in San Francisco, California, on February 13, 1891, and began his boxing career in 1907 under the assumed name of "Willie Ritchie" so that his mother wouldn't be aware of his career. He turned out to be the world lightweight boxing champion from 1912 to 1914. Ritchie's first title shot in a match came against lightweight champion Ad Wolgast on November 28, 1912, in San Francisco. Ritchie dominated the fight, and after Wolgast landed two blows below the belt in the 16th round, the referee called the fight for Ritchie. He held the title for two years, successfully defending it four times. His first defense of the World Lightweight Boxing crown came on July 4, 1913, against Joe Rivers. This six-ounce, left-handed Sol Levinson boxing glove is the one he wore against Rivers more than 100 years ago. In 1914, he sailed to London to face the British lightweight champion, Freddie Welsh. Welsh won the 20-round match by decision. After losing his title, Ritchie continued to fight until retiring in 1927. In 1937, he became chief inspector for the California State Athletic Commission, a position he held until 1961. He was inducted in the Boxing Hall of Fame in 1962 and died 13 years later in Burlingame, California, at the age of 84.

Includes Letter of Provenance from the Helms Athletic Foundation/LA84 Collection.