Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-12-31
FOUR RING CHAMPS CROWNED
DURING 1917; LES DARCY DIESA
SOLDIER AND FITZ PASSES AWAY
Leonard Tossed Welsh in May, Lewis Beat
Britton in June, ODowd Won in November
By BILL BELL

LNATHER TIME is standing in the
L background and 1917 soon will be
filed away for future reference. The
year 1918 no doubt will bring its fights
Uncle Sam has wind-up to complete.
and here's hoping it's over before the
new year 10 year old. The boxing
business has enjoyed a most prosperous
year and the outlook is in keeping with
the future success Of our war venture
IL looks very promising.
What happened in 1917 is worthy Of
a little space in big page. Four ring
champions were crowned: the United
states Government has sponsored the
sport: Les Darcy died soldier Bob
Fitzsimmons gave himself over to the
Great Referee; Charley White passed
away: every champion was active. ex-
cept Willard. and the boxers to a man
proved that business can be sidetracked
IN the interests OF patriotism.
Pete Herman was the first champ to
annex a crown. Petey won the title
from Kid Williams at New orleans on
January when Billy Rocap waved his
hand in the air. Benny Leonard brought
the FIRST championship to New York on
! '''F -"' " h'h iit EtoDptu FTtuuN NtiSh
in the ninth round. Ted Lewis was
awarded the weiterweight title when he
was given the decision at the end of a
twenty-round bout with Jack Britton at
Dayton:O., on June %. The final cham
pion got busy in New York on the eve
of the closing of boxing in the big city.
He was Mike O'Dowd, the st. Paul mid
dlewetght. and is the best and most
popular champion since Ketchel. Mike
won his crown when he stopped Al Nc
Coy on November IA in the sixth round.
Philly Has a Champion
A boxer who was not appreciated at
! his true worth here seems to be the
logical champion in the light-heavy-
weight class. There really isn't any
necessity for such a division but 1t wa IS
one of the weights agreed upon by the
American Boxing Association and il
does no harm. Battling Levinsky boxed
around Philly for many years and all
| he got was his money. lie hooked up
with Danny Morgan and fought the best
boys his weight. He is boxing instructor
nj Camp Devens. Aver. Mass, and spent
the Christmas holidays with his family
here
Herman manages to keen head and
shoulders above the flock of bantams
. " Is not hard to outpoint him over the
shorter distance, but when the match Is
yet for twenty or more rounds he seems
TO be the king. lie has fought nearly
twenty times since he beat Williams i'm
January and his best showing was made
against Frankie Burns. frankie wa
primed for their twenty-round meeting
at New Orleans in the early part of
November but again Herman proved his
. eli O he a.
Leonard the Real King
/ From pugilistic standpoint Benny
Leonard was the sensation of the year
lie knocked out more boxers than any
other man in the business and he never
fears to risk his title. lie il popular
here and in other parts of the country
/ II is pleasure to watch him work.
When crowded in the ring he can be
touched with timely punch, but at
long distance he is the equal of Cans
and other lightweights Of yesteryear
lie won from Freddy Welsh in the last
week in May and has fought eighteen
times since winning the crown. Nine
Of these bouts were knockouts. several
uo-decision affairs boxed a number of
exhibitions and received newspaper de-
cisions over Jack Britton. Patsy Cline
ana t1uule WaROnu lie peat johnny
Kilbane i'm three rounds at Shibe Park
and the fans who saw him perform that
night class him as the wonder of the
age. lie is boxing instructor at Cam
Upton. Yaphanli. l.. l.
I Benny is quiet fellow, but never
fails to make a friend. lie is faithful
to his family and is just past twenty.
one. He is single. unlike Pete Herman
Johnny Kilbane, Battling Levinsky and
willard. lie is a Hebrew, and. after
the fashion OF his race. appreciates the
value of money. lie has done all that
could be expected in a patriotic way
and all in all is one of the most popula,
boxers the sport has ever known.
Lewis Won by Beating Britton
Ted Lewis is the only chap from
across the seas to hold title at this
: time. He is awarded the welterweigh,
honCrs by reason OF his twenty-rount
victory over BrittOn. Jack never reall,
won the title. He was the best at the
lIllllul1Dll