Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-12-13
LEONARD MAY GET
CHANCE FOR TITLE
New York Syndicate Will
ing to Meet Welsh's De-
mands for Bout in Havana
BY ROBERT W. MAXWELL

A battle for tho lightweight champion.
ship OF the world. with Benny Leonard as
Freddy welsh's opponent. Is likely to be
staged In Havana, Cuba, some time this
winter. according to Billy Gibson, who was
visitor in our midst yesterday. The
bout either will be twenty rounds, forty
rounds or to n nnBh. A syndicate or New
York merchants, who have extensive busl-
ness holdings on the island are seeking
tho match, and will pay real money Tor H..
AB yet negotiations are IN an embryonic
stage but before the first OF the year the
articles are expected to be signed.
81 have been trying to arrange long
distance bout with Welsh for some time.
said Gibson, but this looks to be the best
chance / have had. I cannot mention the
names OF the men behind the deal but they
are big people and have the money to put
through an nfrair like this Welsh can
write his own ticket in regard to his end
of the purse for | am sure the promoters
Will 10 aa high as 5000 or $4,000. AZ
for myself. | am not looking for fortune.
All | want In n chance to meet Welsh for
the title and, II we are successful the
money VIII come later.
Pollock Dodges Offer
II saw Harry Pollock last Saturday
night and tried to get n definite price for
Freddy's services. Harry thought II would
he n great stunt. but would not commit MN
self when broached the money question
will have to accept"
Benny Leonard, with his hand bandaged,
accompanied Gibson. Benny injured MS
left mauler on Chick Simlers elbow cou-
pie of weeks ago and will be on the side
lines until the first OF the year. II was an
expensive accident and will cost tho light
weight fash at least $4,000 In matches.
He was to have met Gilbert Gallant In
Denver. Bobby Waugh In Memphis and
either Joe Rivers or Ritchle Mitchell In
1 ..F - huN IN
been cancelled Gibson will not start his
man until the hand has healed completely.
Wants to Meet Dundee
Gibson took time to deny the stories pub
| llshed in the last few days that Leonard
had sldestepped n bout with Johnny Dun
| dee in Kansas City after negotiating with
| the promoters out there. Billy says he had
no dealings with the Kansas city people
and the match never was arranged. He is
willing to meet Dundee any place. prefer
ably New Orleans where they can battle
| for twenty rounds 20 n decision. He de-
| cares Leonard IL one of the best long-dls-
tance boxers in the world today and is i'm
| proving In each fight.
Leonard Is preparing for a strenuous
| campaign next year, but the Welsh bout
In Hanava ls the one most desired. Benny
| Is confident he can defeat the champion.
| and George Engle, his trainer, shares this
| belief In his two battles with Freddy
| Leonard demonstrated thnt he was his
equal in ceverness and possesses n harder
punch In long battle Welsh would be
at disadvantage,
Made $4,000 in Year
Benny has been among the topnotchers
| for only one year, but In that time has
| made $4,000. on December II, 1915. he
was matched 10 meet Joe Mandot In New
| York on the night Of the battle Man
dots manager raised a terrible howl about
the bRndRges Leonard was using and forced
| him To take them on. Despite this, how
ever. Benny walloped Mandot on the chin
and put him away for keeps Then came
| charges and counter-chaTges by both sides,
the principal argument being whether or
not Benny wore a horseshoe in his glove
FOR good luck This battle made Leonard
a big drawing card, and he came over
here last New Years Day and stopped
Joe Welsh He afteTward fiattened Jimmy
Murphy, and after that. under Glbson's
| sklIlful guidance jumped TO the foremost
rank among the llghtweghts,
Gibson believes his man will be cham
| pion OF the world II he meets Welsh In a
long distance brawl He will not hold out
| for any special weight, and II the Havana
scrap Is arranged Freddy may enter the
| ring Weighing $50 pounds, provided the
| lightweight championship Is at stake,