South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-06-07
LEONARD s TITLE
TO CROWN CLEAR
New Champion UndiSputed
King = Brings Division
Weight Back to 1873.
BY Jack Neiock.

NEW YORK. June Z. - Benny
Leonard new king Of the light
weights, is the eighth champion Of
his class with a clear title TO the
crown.
Best of all. Leonard is "A legiti-
mate lightweight and nc one can
gainsay his claim. for he knocked
Fred Welsh out after entering the
ring at 1873 pounds.
IL is a pleasure TO register Benny
Leonard as king OF the lightweights.
for he is every inch a champion
and a champion with a knockout
punch. He punched his way to the
lightweight throne over strong OPP
position. and when his chance came
he won his title cleanly.
Back in the early SOS the little
fellows of the ring began 10 come
into prominence when such battlers
as Jack McAuliffe, George Full
james. Billy Frazer and Harry Gil
more attracted attention fighting
between 12S and 1873 pounds In
England there was no recognized
lightweight champion previous 70
the EOS, though many boxers made
claims.
Hickon Was First.
The first American lightweight
champion Of note was Abe EJicken.
who claimed the title after defeat
ing Pete Mcclure in five rounds
away back in 1868. Time rolled on
and with Hicken's retirement the
title lapsed into obscurity for a
time, until Joe Collyer of England
put forth a claim 10 it, About the
same time BIZ Edwards and Artie
Chambers claimed the laurels in
this country. Edwards was matched
with Colyer and defeated him, after
which Chambers met and defeated
Edwards. winning on foul in 80
rounds
In 1884 Chambers retired from
the game and Jack Dempsey won
recognition as king of the legitimate
lightweights Of the day. Dempsey,
however. grew heavy in short
time and passed out of the light
weight class when Jack McAuliffe
announced himself as king Of the
lights and defended his crown
against all corners until 1898. when
he followed in the footsteps OF sew
eral Of his predecessors and quit
the ring.
Then came Kid Lavigne. one of
the greatest lishtweights who ever
drew on a glove. The kid was
real champion and he held his title
until 1899 when Frank Erne beat
him in 20 rounds at Buffalo.
Joe Cans came next. disposing Of
Erne in 1902. But the color line
was drawn and most Of the light
weights refused TO meet Cans
Jimmy Britt got a match with Erne
and defeated aim. and then went
after Cans. hut the Negro refused
TO make weight, and Britt laid claim
to the crown. Up to 1905 Britt
held his title. until knockout out
1 in his famous battle with Bat Mel
son at Colma, Calf.
Nelson. unlike the majority OF
white lightweights, agreed TO take
Cans on and he lost his first fight
with the clever Negro on a foul in
! the 42nd round Twice after that
he knocked Cans out, and his sec
ond victory over the Negro so weak
ened Cans that he contracted tuber-
culosis. which caused his death.
Nelson ". WOlgast.
Then came the terrific battle be
tween Nelson and Wolgast in 1910,
woleast winning in the 40th round
Wolgast in turn lost his title TO
Willie Richie in Is rounds, Richie
winning on a foul In 1914 Richie
went 10 London 10 meet Freddie
/ Welsh. and the Welshman was
/ given a referees decision in 20
rounds
Welsh's regime as champion OF
the Hghtweights was marked by few
real battles. only one Of which was
over the 2O-round route This bout
was against Charley White, at Colo
RADIO Springs. and had II not been
/ for the fact that Welsh had his
own referee i'm the ring ne might
have been uncrowned at that time
His defeated by Benny Leonard
marked fnis TO an unpopular career
and also marked a return TO the
good old legitimate Lightweight
limit for Welsh never fought at 13:
mounds in any OF his battles. Welsh
il must be SAID. was clever and q
great ring general. but his stalline
tactics took much from his bril-
I liancv as boxer and ring scientist
Benny Leonard the new cham
pion won his title in his third
i meeting With Welsh. The two me-
twice In New York last year. eacf
winning a popular verdict in II
rounds. Leonard's most notable vic
tory prior 20 his Knockout Of Welsh
was his victory over Richie Mitchell
at Milwaukee. when he won ir
4 rorrnHa