Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-05-29
|p;;zaEDDY Welsh KNOCKED
s: : OUT IN NINTH BY LEONARD
Ente ~
lows Series OF BUSHES
10y Victor.
1T is LEONARD THROUGHOUT
New York Boy Is Fresh at End OF
Fight as When he Started, While
Welsh Is Completely Exhausted.
Winner TO Enter Army.


ard won the worlds lightweight cham
pionship by knocking out Freddie
Welsh in the ninth round of a ten
round match here to- might.
Welsh'S downfall came at the end
5 OF a series OF rushes by Leonard that
drove him from corner to corner. The
champion had taken severe beating
durinE the early rounds, and the pun
isrment had begun TO tell when the
gong for the ninth round sounded.
Leonard. fresh as the moment he
had entered tho ring. jumped forward
and met the champion as he was lcav-
ing his corner and delivered y shower
of lcf;s and rights 10 the face and
head.
Welsh vainly trying to ward off the
blows, worked his WAY into Lconard's
corner where Leonard succeeded in
reaching him with a smashing right
on the jaw. Welsh fell on one knee
and Rugged the ropes
His strength gone. he strove weakly
TO strike a lighting pose. AS he left
the ropes. Leonard landed. and Welsh
hi, the noor. lie struggled to his
feet twice more. but each time he was
met by Lconard's rights to the face
and head and again he fell TO the
floor
The champion took the count OF nine
before he arose from the last knock
down. He tried TO stand, but fell
across the ropes.
It was only a question OF moments
when he would have fallen and been
counted out. At this point. Referee
Mcfarland leaned between the two
men and, pushing Leonard away. car
ricd the defeated champion to his COR
ncr. \ score Of men occupying ring
side seats jumped into the ring and
lifting the new champion to their
shoulders. carried him in triumphal
y procession around the hall.
~ While the crowd was cheering itself
hcarSe. Welsh sat in dazc in his cor
ner. When he had recovered somewhat
and was told by his handlers of his
defeat he refused to believe them and
fought fiercely to return to the center
OF the ring.
Was Lconnrd's Fight Throughout.
II was I.eonard's fight throughout
He took the offensive in the first round
and held II until the end. There was
never moment when he was in dan
ger. and although the champion fought
valiantly and succeeded in landing
many blows. they appeared TO have
little effect. Welsh seemed to have
lost his judgment of distance. for he
missed repeatedly. From the nrst
gong Leonard tore into the champion
with ruthless persistency. He rained
let's and rights to the face and head
at Will. Welsh. disconnected by his
opponents tactics. seemed worried
when the round ended.
II all Of the succeeding rounds
Leonard concentrated his efforts on
We!sh's body. and succeeded in whip
ping his right repeatedly TO the cham
pion's stomach, 1t was this blow per-
sistently used that wore the champion
down.
Leonard weighed in at l33 pounds:
Welsh at 136 "a.
Freddy Welsh won tho worlds light
weight championships by receiving the
referees decision after outhoxins Will
liam Richie. the American tit!choldcr
in twenty-round hcu. IN London July
a. 1914, Previous to to-night's contest
Leonard and Welsh met twice i'm no.
decision ten-round bouts.
Leonard was born in New York City
In 1896. His recent Knockout of Ritchic
Mitchell. OF Milwaukee, caused him to
be regarded as a contender for the
worlds title.
Leonard, the new worlds champion
lightweight. will not wait for con
scription." hut will enlist in the United
states Army after Six-round bout in
Philadelphia next Monday night, his
manager. Billy Gibson. announced after
tho fight.
The Flight by Rounds.
Round Leonard was the first to
land He sent two rights to the jaw.
Welsh wen, into close quarters and
banged l.conards wind with few
short rights. Leonard backed away
and hooked two lefts TO the mouth
He ducked right swing.
The lads acre boxing carefully.
Leonard sent L .hard'r right to the jaw.
which made Welsh vince. Lconard's
round.
Round Leonard began by sending
three let's to the face and hooked two
rights 10 the jaw. He blocked Wclsh's
leads. Leonard then began TO play for
the body. not giving Welsh chance
to get set.
champion came out of il with smile,
although he appeared wobbly. Leon
ards round
Round 3-Leonard began again to
force matters. He sent two rights
to the jaw and an uppercut to the
mouth Welsh came back and pok cd
four blows to Leonard's wind He
followed this up with two blows 10
the face
furious mixup in the center Of
m" ring followed. ilonors were even
at the hell
Round LEONARD again started the
milling, jahhinE four lcfts TO tho face
and body. Welsh then got mad and
started 70 mix il UP. He hooked two
rights 20 I.conard's face. hut Leonard
came back strong and forced Welsh
INTO clinch at the bell Lconard's
round
Round 5--Welsh came up refreshed
from the minutes rest and started in
Nv ldpD!nE TWO leftS to the face. Leon
ara retaliated by sending a dozen blows
70 the head, almost closing Wclsh's
let exc. Welsh. however, came back
and sent in few iahs at tn. i,Il.
nut ii Was Ieonards round
Round THE lads did some cara
III boxing for abou, half Il minute.
'.oouard tried 10 swing haymakcr
on Wclsh's jaw The champion. how
ever. was too clever for Tho New York
or and avoided going into dangerous
ground Leonard then changed his tao
ties and began 10 work his left. hut
again Welsh ward"d Oft the blows In
inc last ton seconds OF the round con
ara worked 'oNer two rirhtR to the
Jaw and The round ended in his favor
found 1-Leonard sent several l.f,s
10 the face. hut failed 10 reach tho
jaw with a right. Leonard swun,. :,
left TO the head and sent another NOV
10 Wclsh's bad eye Freddie son, (;
nasty right to the jaw. bu, Leonard
met him with two more Lconard's
round.
Round S-Leonard chased wc,sl
around the ring. sending In acvcra
short, snappy punches. Welsh wa.
strong, however and came hacL mo-.