New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-30
KILBARE'pROVES
FAR TOO CLEVER
FOR LEONARD
Featherweight Champion
Forces Fighting in Prac-
tically Every Round.
EAST SIDE BOXER
FIGHTS IN STREAKS
Leach Cross Outpoints Hommey
In Bout Full of Action from
Start to Finish.

Johnny Kilbane, Of Cleveland. feath-
erweight champion of the world, and
one of the cleverest boxers who ever
drew on a glove, had all the better
of Benny Leonard, of the East Side,
in a ten-round contest at the Federal
A. c. last night.
There was scarcely a round of the
ten in which Kilbane did not force the
fighting, and he landed the greater
number of the clean punches through
out the battle. Leonard fought in
streaks, and in streaks only. Most OF
the time he applied the doctrine OF
safety first" to his work and made
il a point to keep far out Of harms
way. Seldom did he unbuckle, and
although the unneutral crowd booed
the champion, charging him with poor
work, it was Leonard's fault that the
bout was not Of the sensational order.
Kilbane laid down the gage OF battle
in every round except the first. He
kept after Leonard, trying with all the
cunning of the master workman 20
force an opening for his leads, but 20
no purpose. Leonard was, 70 say tho
least, cautious. Many said he was
afraid. But the records will attest that
he once fought ten rounds with Johnny
Kilbane, and this can be turned into
most anything by a nimble press agent.
In another and more sensational
battle Leach Cross, the ever formida-
Bile East Side boy, checked the career
Of Packey Hommey momentarily. This
bout was a slasher from start to finish,
and Cross won on his ring generalshlp.
This same generalship was aided in no
small measure by an advantage of AL
most eight pounds in weight. Hommey
| k,,t l.
| gressiveness earned him multitude OF
hard knocks, and he left the ring a
rather. bruised and battered young
man.
witnessing bout on the Bowery is
not without its thrills and its grew
some possibilities This is especially
so if one be a newspaper man. There
are the guardians of the gate at the
entrance TO the ringside. They
wouldn't send nowhere fer no news
paper guy" and they tell you so.
They back up their statements fa-
mously when in the presence Of special
officers. There are the rules of tho
Fire Department. and likewise of the
State Athletic Commission, but these
are honored only in the breach. Such
piffling circumstances must not annoy
persons who never had a headache IN
their lives.
At the Federal A. C. last night the
aises were blocked by spectators, who
stood or crouched, and in the back OF
, the building, near the barroom. the
standees were lined ten deep. II would
have been nice and convenient had a
fire broken out. But what matter a
few lives? Then there are the rules of
the State Athletic Commission.
The order was promulgated SON =
time ago that horns, bells and other
noise making contrivances be barred
from the boxing clubs of this state.
Last night horns of various descrip-
| tons announced the arrival of local
fighter in the ring. As If this did not
make the night hideous enough, the
spectators hooted and sang
1t also was ordered that the main
bout be in the ring by 10 o'clock. Kill
bane and Leonard entered some half an
hour later. Then Joe Eumphries
Haunted all rules by introducing Terry
McGovern. He admitted that he was
breaking the rules, but Terry was in
troduced just the same. Yes, there is
still work for the State Athletic Conn
mission.
But TO return to Kilbane and Leon-
ard. II may be said that the cham
pion- never tried so hard in any of his
local bouts. He was in there trying
with might and main at all times. He
rushed, fought in close and tried every
thing in his repertory, but Leonard,
remembering safety first, set his mind
on avoiding punishment. He succeeded
fairly well, but the champion won as
/ ba plooeod