Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-05-29

Welsh, and looked at the watch. The ninth
round had gone fifty seconds Leonard
backed Welsh against the ropes and hooked
MS right to the head. The padded fist
struck Freddy on his swollen ear and stag
Hered him Tie was daZcd and before ne
could raise his hands 10 protect himself
two crashing blows landed flush on the
jaw. That spelled the end 5rcddy tried
to escape. but Leonard. cool. relentless and
calm, pursued him Welsh backed into the
corner where he made his last stand The
round had gone one minute and fifteen
seconds when it was stopped.
Outcome Was a Surprise
The outcome Of the bout was distinct
surprise. No one even dreamed that the
championship would change hands and
there was little money wagered on the out
come The betting was light the odds
being TO | that Leonard would not knock
out the champion In the eighth round
to l was offered at ringside that the bout
would go the full ten rounds and there were
no takers.
There was no comparison between the
boxers. From the start Welsh was hone
lessly ortclassed, but the wise ones figured
that his superb defense would carry him
through But the fight looked like an en-
gagement between modern steel battle
ship and an old wooden leaking frigate
whose guns We're spiked 1t was pathetic
Welsh could not fight lie couldn't use
his left jab, nor could he protect himself
with the same effectiveness as i'm the past
lie just managed to weather the first round
and when he went to his corner his seconds
administered stimulants and rubbed his
legs. Johnny kilbane, who was spectator
at the rlngside, turned TO me and said:
ITS all over when boxer is i'm such
condition that his legs must he rubbed in
the first round, ne is in no shane to last
plaDlninp Oh Ntyfll h,t
tonight"
Leonard Knew He Was Master
The second and third rounds were repe-
titions Of the first Leonard knew he was
| master of the veteran, and bided his time
| lie took no chances and laid back for an
| opening. He had boxed Welsh twice before
and knew his style of defense Benny
| virtually won the championship in the
| fourth round. lie tore after Freddy but
| found that his defense was impenetrable
| Then he laid back and drew him out Of his
| shell Welsh led with his left a"l landed.
lie crossed his right and that too found
| mark. But that was what Leonard was
/ looking for. Benny sent a wicked left hook
| to the body and Welsh almost doubled up
! That one blow won the bout. From then
on it was a question Of time. Freddy was
! beaten, as his strength was gone and he
couldn't step around to save himself
In the fifth the champion was like a
| blind man cropping his way i'm a strange
room His hands were outstretChed, but his
| blows were slapS-nOt punches. Leonard
! directed his attack to the body and each
| blow took away more Of his remaining
| strength Welsh looked like an amateur
| and acted like one. The only thing that
saved him was his iron nerve and his won
| derful gameness
We have panned Welsh in the past. called
| him cheese champion" and other things,
| but we take our hat Off to him today as
| one of the grittiest boxers who ever trod the
rosn in the squared circle May his sue
cessor show the same qualities under the
| same conditions.