Biography
He was born in San Francisco, California as Gerhardt Anthony Steffen on February 13, 1891. He began his boxing career in 1907 under the assumed name of "Willie Ritchie" so that his mother wouldn't be aware of his career.
Ritchie's first title shot in a match with 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 sixteenth round, the referee called the fight for Ritchie.
He held the title for two years, successfully defending it four times. 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. He died in Burlingame, California in 1975.
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