Career
He specialized in bringing fighters from Ohio to Southern California, where many of them went on to become main event fighters. One of the last fighters he brought to Southern California in the 1970s was Gil King of Akron. He puportedly got his name of Suey, while catching rides on a Chinese laundryman"s truck as a kid.
Welch was named the matchmaker at the Olympic Auditorium on March 16, 1937, after previous matchmaker Joe Waterman was fired (Waterman"s claim) or resigned (Olympic"s claim) from his position.
Welch made his debut on March 23, 1937 with a main event between Baby Arizmendi and Wally Hally. In January 1938, Welch was made the superivsor of all of Olympic manager Harry Popkin"s boxing operations in Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Waterman was then reinstated as matchmaker at the Olympic, though Welch would still assist him in making matches. Welch left his position at the Olympic in April 1939, amidst allegations that Lou and Jack Daro managers of the Olympic and powerful figures in the wrestling game, were paying sportswriters and local politicians.
Welch was subsequently cited for tax evasion by the State of California in 1937 and 1938, during which time he was paid $19,000, while claiming a salary of $100 per week.
The state also invested claims of fixed boxing matches, which included the Chuck Crowell and First Rate (at Lloyd's) (Big Boy) Bray bout. The Indians were reestablished in 1916 and temporarily called the Akron Burkhardts, after a local brewer. In 1921, Welch bought the "" name and fielded his own independent team
Welch, a bachelor, died January 16, 1974 in Long Beach, California after a series of heart attacks.
He was later inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame
Other boxers in his stable included:
Andy Bundy (1934, while in Los Angeles}
K.O. Christner
Charley (Killer) Coates
Art Hafey
Hank Hankinson
Tommy Hart
Gus Lesnevich (1936, while boxing in Los Angeles)
First Rate (at Lloyd's) Manfredo (1935-1937)
Emilio Martinez (1936, after drawing with John Henry Lewis
Sammy O"Dell
Billy Peacock
Charley Powell.
