Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-05-01
BENNY LEONARD
ALL PRIMED FOR
CHARLIE THOMAS
Former Does His Training
for Freddie Welsh in
Public at Present
FINDS 1T PROFITABLE
BY ROBERT w. MAXWELL

Benny Leonard the 2O-year-old boxing
marvel. will try out a new assortment
of punches on Charlie Kid Thomas at
the Olympia tonight. Benny is training
for championship fuss with Freddie
Welsh and finds 1t quite profitable to do
his training in public. In Thomas he
will meet tough, game boy who fights
hard all of the way and is capable of
taking all kinds of punishment Charlie
is not expected to win tonight and the
boxing public is not looking for 1t. But
the cash customers will surround the
arena to take another slant at Leonard
and make bets with themselves on how
long Thomas will last.
When Benny won from Johnny Dundee
and decislvely walloped Welsh in 1O-round
battles in N'Yawk, he stepped into the
-oremast rank in the lightweight class.
He showed that he could put the light
weight champ to sleep If they ever met
over the long route and virtually was
awarded the title by the newspaper men.
Since then he has been knocking them
off with amazing regularity and soon
will force Mr.. Welsh to sign up or walk
the plank.
A Favorite Here
Leonard is great favorite in Philadel-
phia since his victories over Jimmy Muir
ply and Sam Robideau and the fans al
ways turn out to see him perform. The
New Yorker is one of the cleverest boxers
in the ring today and in addition to that,
packs n knockout wallop in either hand.
The knockout stuff makes the big hit,
however, and aids considerably in his
popularity
The other bouts on the card look good
bringing together Johnny Fisse of New
Orleans, and Young Diggins, Tommy
Carey and Tim Drowney, Young Al
Wiernert VS.. AL Thum, and frankie Clark
vs. Young Kid Mccoy.
Speaking of Freddy Welsh reminds us
that a bunch of dope has leaked out OF
Chicago to the effect that Ferdinand is
planning to retire in the near future. Ac-
cording to friend, the lightweight cham
pion has decided to step out on July 7
and spend his remaining days on the we'll
known farm.
Many Reverses
After his many reverses in no-decision
bouts which netted him many thousands
of dollars, we can not figure out how
Freddie can give up this easy money.
He has been defeated from coast tC
coast by second, third and fourth-raters
yet he still is able to get matches Per.
haps Welsh figures that the public will re-
fuse TO be cheated on or after July T.
In the meantime. Howard Carr man.
ager of Ever Hammer, who walloped the
daylight out of Freddie In Milwaukee re-
Gently, is busy looking over offers fol-
bouts. One Chicago syndicate has offered
Welsh $4,000 to meet Hammer in finish
fight or with 30 rounds as the shortest
distance. When asked about this offer. II
was discovered that Mr. Welsh was suf-
fering with an acute attack of lockjaw
Just a minute. men. Jack Hanlon Is
on the phone. Listen:
Got something funny today. Letter
from Kid Williams / suppose you know
that Willams has lSst his manager?
Well. he also has lost his mind, or some
thing like that, judging from letter
received today. You know, / offered the
Kid a match with Lew Tender or Benny
Kaufman, and Williams said he would
accept, PROVIDING he received ONLY
$4,000 and the match is at catchweights
whaddye think of that? I'm going tC
write him today and ask him II he
wants the clubhouse thrown in for good
measure"