New-York tribune., 1916-06-24
MORAN PUTS UP
A HARD BATTLE
WITH LEONARD
OvercOnfidence Almost
Costs Benny the Verdict
at Harlem Club.

Overconfdence and overanxiety al
most cost Benny Leonard q ring battle
at the Harlem Sporting Club last even
ing. In one of the fastest ten-round
bouts seen in the metropolitan district
in years Vic Moran, Of New Orleans,
John Reisler's candidate for light
weight honors, forced Billy Gibson's
champion 20 travel at top speed TO gain
the popular decision.
Toward the end Benny turned 70 and
handed the Southern boy an artistic
lacing, but Moran forced him to re-
spect thoroughly his walloping ability
throughout.
For once in his life John the Barber
has apparently picked something from
the puglstic orchard which does not
resemble a lemon. This boy Moran
packs wallop which many middle
weight would give much 10 possess.
Furthermore, he has a true fighting
heart. Time and again last night when
it seemed that he must collapse under
Leonard's pummelling Moran pulled
himself together and staged rally
which had the big pro-Leonard crowd
shouting in spite OF itself.
Benny clearly underestimated the
ability of his opponent, and quite evil
IDENTIFY figured on an early victory.
Moran soon disabused the popular
Harlem boys mind of any such delu-
sion.
Although he knows comparatively
little about the inside art Of self-de-
fence, the New Orleans boy has arms
like fails and an overland wallop that
hurts when it lands.
Leonard found this out as early as
the first round, when he permitted VIC
10 send a couple home just TO see what
they were like. Though Moran's blows
we're only body punches, they shook
Benny up and gave him the tip TO be
bit cautious.
Leonard took the first round by a
shade and the second quite easily-bui
he did not carry out his evident inten-
ton of stopping Reisler's candidate
Instead, Moran came back fresh as a
daisy in the third and began attempts
TO land that famous right hand over
hook which is said TO have dropped
Charlie White twice in one night. The
third was an even round.
The fourth went to Benny, but in the
fifth Moran again rallied and made the
Harlem fsvorite slow up trliie. II
was a case of a finished boxed against
an oaken-hearted slugger-and Freddie
Welsh, attending with some fan
friends, smiled a satisfied smile C
think that he was not engaged Will
either.
Leonard took the sixth by shade
but complained Of having hurt his lei
hand when he returned to his corner
As the fight wore on, however, tht
member did not seem 10 give him much
bother.
T he seventh was Moran's only round
despite the fact that he had been CIV
ing a good account of himself in al
most every session. Benny was here
there and everywhere, however, and
Vic was hard put to follow up what
ever momentary advantages he was
able to gain.
At the conclusion Of the seventh
Leonard apparently abandoned his ei,
forts TO put Moran away, and contenteC
himself with giving the latter a boxing
lesson. This he did in a most work
manlike manner
But the Southerner made great HIT
as did Leonard, and both were wildly
cheered as they left the ring.
The weights were practically the
same, Leonard tipping the scales al
1874 and Moran at 1856 in ring costume