The Washington herald., 1916-03-27
Lightweight Battles Are
Popular with the Fans
Patrons of Ring Game Pre-
fer Witnessing Speedy Lit
tie Fellows in Action.
LEONARD COMING FAST
BY RINGsIDE.

By RINGsIDE.
New York, March s.-With the big
quarrel out of the way, attention Of
the boxing community is instantly
Communicated by the lightweight di-
vision. Although the inferiority Of
Freddie Welsh as a champion has long
been established. thfs class is once
more enjoying the prestige of being
the most popular in the game because
IL Is the most active and Is constantly
undergoing changes-insofar as new
faces and new sensations are concern
ed.
Consider the Kaleidoscope changes
IN lightweight affairs since a short
while agO-oF since the willard-Mo-
ran melee showed every other boxing
division into temporary obscurity.
Before the heavyweight muss was
preached. the 133-pound division was
actually in a moribund state. There
was little interest in this elias be-
cause Welsh was still champion;
Charley White was yet an unknown
mountaineering out second raters
by the gross and being outpointsd by
clever mediocre boxers; Red Lewis
Willie Richie and Jack Britton were
outgrowing their lightweight clothes
and the same old light-weights were
lighting 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 Iong-if he ever can be in
weighed into a match over the Derby
distance with his title at stake. Look
EN- over now.
There Is Benny Leonard, who has
performed prOdigioUs feats in the ring
in few short months. Also there is
Milburn Saylor, the Indianapolis en-
try, who leaped in the front rank of
llght-weights over night. although the
effort nearly cost him his life. Then
there is Joe Mandot back in favor
again; also Johnny Dundee, the
Scotch-wot who hereafter will conhne
his endeayors to the lightweight class.
Not forgetting Charley White, the Chi
cago knockout king, who is ever a
contender as long as he packs that
42-centimeter left hook.
Never heard of Benny Leonard?
True, the record books for 1916 do not
list Benny's name though they men
ton him occasionally to keep you post
ed on some other fighters record, but
Leonard, nevertheless, right now Is
the most formidable challenger on
Freddie welshs calling list, And
Frederick shows no desire to engage
Mr.. Leonard in the immediate future.
rEcu Is an observing YOUTH ana Sagely
refuses to have anything to do with
Benny after taking look at Leonard's
recent achievements. And we don't
blame Freddie, either, considering the
earning power Of a worlds champion
ship
Leonard is a Gotham boy, having
been born and brought up in the Har-
lem section OF the city. He showed
much promise as a boxer when he en-
barked on his professional ring career
three years ago. 1t was not until a
few months ago that Leonard came
before the public eye. Then Billy
Gibson took him in hand and Benny
began his series OF astonishing per-
formances.
The first occurred at a local club,
where he checked Joe Mandots win
ming streak. Benny knocked the South
ern boy out in seven rounds, some
thing Freddie Welsh couldn't do in
two 1O-rOund bouts, Joe Rivers and
Johnny Dundee in twenty, Johnny
Kilbane in twelve and a host Of other
good fighters in limited contests.
Then Leonard went to Boston and