Omaha daily bee., 1916-03-26
FREDDIE WELSH IS DOOMED
Benny Leonard's Rapid Rush to
Front is q Danger Signal to the
Lightweight Champ.
IS LAD WITH KNOCKOUT PUNCH
ny RINGsIDE.


NEW YORK, March swim the big
quarrel out OF the way attention OF the
boxing community Is instantly comman-
deered by the lightweight division. AL
though the inferiority Of Freddie Welsh
AZ a champion has long been established,
thls class Is once moro enjoying the
prestige OF being the most popular In
the game because Il Is the most active
and constantly undergoing ehanges-inso-
far as new faces and new sensation are
concerned.
Consider the Kaleidoscope changes m
lightweight affairs since short while
aRo-or since the willard Moran melee
shoved every other boxing division into
temporary obsourity.
Before the heavyweight muss was
broached the l33-pound division was
actually In a moribund state. There was
little interest in this class because Welsh
was stir champion: Charley White was
yet an unknown auality-knocking out
second-raters by the gross and being
outpointed by clever mediocre boxers;
Ted Lewis. Willie Rltchie and Jack Brit
ton were outgrowlng their lightweight
clothes and the same old lghtweights
were fighting one another for the steenth
time.
Now look at that division, Freddie
Welsh still is the champion, but that
matters not for he won't remain as such
very long-if he ever can be inveigled
into match over the Derby distance
with his title at stake. Look EN- over
noS.
There Is Benny Leonard. who has per-
formed prodigious feats in the ring In
few short months. Also there IL NIL
burn saylor. the indianapolis entry, who
leaped into the front rank Of lightweights
overnight. although the effort nearly
cost him his life. Then there Is. Joe
Mahdot back In favor again; also Johnny
Dundee. the Scotch wop. who hereafter
will eonfins his endeavors TO the light
weight Gloss. Not forgetting Charley
White. the Chicago knockout king. who
is ever a contender as long as he packs
that forty-two-centlmeter left hook.
Never heard OF Benny Leonardo True.
the record books for 1916 do not list
Benny's name. though they mention him
occasionally to keep you posted on some
other fighters record. but Leonard,
nevertheless. right now is the most for
midabie challenger on Freddie Welsh 8
calling list And Frederick shows no
desire 20 engage Mr.. Leonard in the i'm
mediate future. Fred is an observing
youth and sagely refuses TO have any
thing to do with Benny after taking a
look at Leonard's recent achievements.
And we don't blame Freddie, either. con-
sldering the earning power Of a worlds
champlonship.
Is Gotham BOy.
Leonard II a Gotham boy. having been
born and brought UP In the Harlem sec
tion Of the city. He showed much prom
ise a. q boxer when he embarked on mis-
professional ring career three years aso.
II was not until few months ago that
Leonard came before the public eye.
Then Billy Gibson took him In hand and
Benny began his series of astonishing
performances.
The first occurred at q local club, where
he checked Joe Mandot's winning streak
Benny Knocked tho southern boy out ir
seven rounds. something Freddie welst
couldn't do In two ten-round bouts: Joe
Rivers and Johnny Dundee In twenty
Johnny Kiibane in twelve and a host oI
other good fighters In limited contests.
Then Leonard went TO Boston and ad-
ministered the first knockout ever suf.
fered by Phil Bloom. the rugged Brook.
iyn lightweight. After this came knock
put victory over Jimmy Murphy. who pro
viously had outboxed Freddie Welsh
Johnny Dundee and Young shugrue.
These three knockouts-each unex
pccted-have established a reputation Al
knockerout for BENJAMIN Leonard. And
Ben keeps improving with each bout
Only q few weeks ago he outfough
Johnny Dundee. welsh may consent I,
take on Leonard. but not for q few
months at the least Freddie has beer
living too Irregular to engage in a har,
fight without several weeks training
Is Under the weight.
Tho beauty about MIR. Leonard Is tina
he does not have 10 amputate leg o
even shave an eyelash to make l3s pound
ringside. That Is more tnan Freddi
Welsh can DO.
The other prominent lightweight persoi
- young Milburn Sayior. His flve-roun
knockout OF Leach Cross. the hardy Ne,
York veteran. boosted sayior's stock al
most on par with that OF Leonard, bu
for an unfortunate aftermath.
sayior contracted cold the night @
the Cross bout. II developed into pnue
monia. and for a few days his life wa
despaired OF. Fortunately saylor tough
off the dread illness. bur not until n
had lost twenty pounds.
sayior Is regaining weight rapidly an
VIII be ready 70 get back into the rim
In about a month. His feat In knochin
out Cross IL stiil remembered, and whe
he Is well again Milhun n sure 10
considered among the best lightweight
In the land.
saylor-Leonard match would 20
long way toward determining Fredd
Welsh's next opponent