Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-07-26
LEONARD PUSHES KILBANE FROM
LIGHTWEIGHT TRAIL BY SCORING
TECHNICAL K. O. IN THIRD ROUND
Brilliant Combined Boxer-Fighter Easily Out
classes Great Featherweight in Nine Minutes
of Onesided BoXing-Result Big Surprise
By LOUIS II. JAFFE

DENJAMIN LEINER, alias Benny Leon
- ard, the New York Hebrew and he who
brought the lightweight championship to
the shores of Uncle Sam, is the greatest
boxer-fghter combination of the decade.
Following his technical three-round knock
out at Shbe Park over Johnny Kilbane-
who by the way still retains his feather
weight crown-Leonard stands alone in his
class at the pinnacle of the l33-pound divi-
sion, supreme of all he surveys. firm as the
Rock of Gibraltar and not single con-
tender shadows his trail as n molester in
his reign.
Kilbane stood an even chance to win
last night-before the opening gong. After
the bell sounded beginning what was to
have been an eghteen-mnute contest and
Leonard had forged into the lead, the good
little man appeared like a pigmy in his
effort to dethrone the good big man. Yet 1t
appeared that not more than six pounds
differed in their weights at the same time
Leonard's superiority appeared on the sur
face like oil on water, as the old seadog
says.
Kilbane Bleeds at Start
Only few seconds after the bout got
under way several straight lefts cracked
Kilbane's lips. Blood spouted from John
with two light rights to the jaw, reaching
the Clevelander with ease. there was little
doubt that Kilbane would fail to go the
distance. 1t started off as a one-sided mix
and so 1t finished
When Kilbane was forced to clinch in the
second round after Leonard had delivered
series of lefts and rights to Johns head,
then switched with both hands to the body,
1t was the beginning of the end, No man
could stand up under Leonard's fusilade of
jaw-breaking and rib-cracking wallops
And Klbane was human
Chip to the Rescue
George Chip. the middeweight and a
great constituent of Kilbanes. evidently
figured out the finish. During the inter-
mission between the second and third
rounds he rushed into the Ohioan's corner
and assisted Manager Jimmy Dunn in
bringing Kilbane around. With the begin
ming of the third Leonard stepped out of
his trench as cool as ever. bent on finishing
the fray right away. Kilbane was not to
be underestimated. and he, too. was willing
to shoot over right-handers backed by
knockout force
The result was that the session opened
with both men wild, and each missed hard
walops with both hands. Then Leonard
steadied. A left hook to the chin staggered
Kilbane and a right cross forced him to
ropes Johnny was hurt and he tried TO
cinch. But Leonard was awake and think
ing, stepped back and as Kilbane came in,
half blind. Benny found lodgment with a
| left and a right on the Irishman's jaw. This
time Kilbane wrapped both arms around
| Leonard's waist
Kilbane C0llapses
Still like the proverbial Iceberg, Leonard
allowed Kilbane to rest--only for second.
| Then he pulled away and as the feather
weight came in, leading with wild right,
Leonard met him with a short left to the
body, and at close quarters Benny drove
series of lefts and rights to the lame sec
! tion, finishing with righ, uppercut. Kill
| bane collapsed sinking to his knees, ana
grabbed Leonard around his ankles. 1t was
surprise; a spectacle. Never before had
| Kiibane been SO emphatically outclassed'
| outboxed outfought outgeneraied. ne
gained his feet before Referee o'Brien could
start counting.
A hefty right grazed Kilbanes chin ana
he was turned almost half way around.
Quicker than It can be stated Leonard
reachsd out with . short left hook following
| WITH 8 ropp1-house rlght penin9 tne heec,
/ sS1 Ell6ono vas punch drunk "a tottoree,