Omaha daily bee., 1916-03-19
LEONARD SHOWS HIS CLASS
New York Lightweight Proves He
Leads Procession by Giving
Dundee Terrific Lacing.
SENDS ITALIAN TO THE FLOOR

NEW YORK. March 1S-Benny Leon
ard ESTABLISHED himself at the head OF
the 13S-pound class by outpointing Johnny
Dundee, his closest rival. In a majority
of ten whirlwind rounds AT Madison
Square Garden. Leonard also broke a
record by flooring the Italian lightweight
with a snappy left hook to the jaw. II
was the first time such a thing ever hap
pened TO Dundee since he became a star.
Leonard fought wonderfully clever
battle, displaying everything that goes TO
make up a great fighter. The only fault
with his work was that he was just a
shade too cautious or he might have won
more decisively. 1t was not until near
the end that he began TO do much dam
age.
Dundee, as usual. fought with the fran
tic yigor which is characteristic OF
him. Urged on by the yells of his ad-
mirers, who were in particularly good
voice. he never stopped plunging in. Con-
fident that his sturdy jaw could with
stand his rivals blows. he took reckless
chances in the hope OF landing one Of his
desperate swings on the right spot.
FOOtwOrk Saves Him.
Leonards footwork saved him from
many swishing swing that whizzed by
within an inch OF his chin. He drifted
here and there about the ring on feet
that seemed barely to touch the canvas
and often the wildly plunging Dundee
went headlong into the ropes as his op-
ponent stepped lightly aside.
That Leonard can take a punch was
shown in the first round when Dundee
nailed him on the chin with a left hook
that had every ounce of strength in his
sinewy back and shoulders behind IL. 1t
threw Leonard against the ropes, but
he bounced back into a clinch and smiled
in the direction of his corner to relieve
the anxiety of his seconds. Dundee was
very wild In his eagerness to follow up
and Leonard cooliy checked him with a
rigid left arm
Dundee took the first three rounds. He
cut out a pace that was too hot to fol-
low. Realizing that his opponent could
not stand the strain for long, Leonard
wisely held back until Dundee had
fought himself out While the aggres-
sive italian plunged and tore Leonard
merely glided out of danger occa-
sionally shooting in e straight left.
By the time the fourth round opened
Dundees speed had diminished some-
what and Leonard set out to take the
lead. He shot stream of jabs to the
face and Dundee broke ground. Leonard
brought his right into action in the next
period. getting home solidly with series
of uppercuts. Dundee slipped to the floor
In this round when Leonard snapped a
right to the jaw just as he missed
vicious swing.
In the eighth Leonard scored q clean
knockdown shortly after the round
opened. In an exchange OF left hooks
Leonard beat him TO the punch and
Dundee went flying back on his
launches. He bounded up at once. wild
with rage, and Leonard measured him
coolly with a right uppercut and hooks.
cutting his lips and jarring him to the
toes.
Both let themselves out TO the limit
in the final round. Dundee was franti-
cally eager. but wild. Leonard was cool
and cautious, watching for the chance
| to slip across a right that would end II.
Twice he let drive with right crosses
with everything he had behind them. The
first one missed. but the second glanced
off Dundees jaw. The blow was deliv-
cred with such force that Leonard threw
himself off his feet.