The Washington herald., 1917-06-08
Lightweight Title Holder
Ready to Back Up Presi-
dent by EnIisting
d. JOHN A. nueAN

5enny Leonard. worlds light
Meisht champion. Is in our midst.
- ne T ssiae Benny Leonard who pound
lnSon on a short sightseeing trip
on the 18th day OF Nay, Is in Wash
1nsto non short sightseeing trip.
Ihe nrst glance at the little cham
pion gives one the impression imme-
alately OF one more gentleman added
arena. =, $50 AeS~1
Leonard carries no marks that char
aclerize athletes OF the square rinx
out lampins his makeup there can be
sn rare combination OF brains and
speee. while his skill and hitting abil-
ity nave already made ring history.
Lnls same speed and skill that
SHOWS up 50 prominently in the young
New Workers. makeup win sure
ske more history. within the robed
canvas and on the battlefields In
france, as Benny Is no Stacker.
6eiore accepting any lengthy
Naudeyille engagements or bouta
leonard intends to enlist In either
tne coast artillery or naval reserve
%.alens %ou now being filed In old
Leonard is a real home boy ana he
insisted on pulling the same oId
mother STUFF that has made him "a
NOUS nous since winning the crown from
. he made the jump from PhIladel-
y = I" this city last night and ar
rived shortly before the midnight
h!s hour was not too late for
eenny to get In touch with his mother
M GOsna.n over the Iong-distance
phone and inform her of his SAFE
arrival in the National Capital.
" Is Leonards 3 first visit to the "a n
ltsL Although he has spent but few
minutes % here ne had the following to
This is my first visit to the
Capital and I am mighty glad 10 see
your wonderful city.
am proud to be the one who
Drought the worlds light-Weight
championship back TO America, where
u belongs and now that / have done
~ l am READY TO do my biz for my
Within a short time I will enlist
and L sincerely hope that all boxers-
IN TACT. all atnletes-wilI do the same.
MY message to them is to stand by
the President and back him up. F" =
name of the new worlds champion,
~ Just few months over q wears
Of age, ne having been born on April
The same questions were asked
Leonard by all who have met him
last night that ne has answered
many a time since his victory over
II feels the same as being a Sec
ond rsteF to be a champion, and now
that am champion 1 do not intend |
70 De Stacker in any way" said the
little lightweight. Freddy Welsh is I
one OF the most geptlemenly men
tnat l have ever met in the fight /
game. OF course, was compelled TO |
kEock him out 10 win the Champion
snip and since have knocked him /
out once am willing to give him |
another chance"
All the mother stun" as IL Is call
ed, that has been heard concerning
Leonard and mis- family is not the
least bit fake, but is entirely true. as
Bsnny halted his interviews to get in
touch with his mother. Along with
Leonard is his brother, who Is his
sparring Partner.
In speaking of the many offers
Leonard has had for bouts, he said:
y do not intend to mn any OF these
offers to fight until after / have en-
listed. have had several offers to
enter the various branches of the
army and NAVY, and 4 expect to beat
conscri2tion by enlisting when 1 re-
turn home this week The attractive
oheTs from Nat Hinkle, of Cleveland,
and John Teismantel. of BROOKLYN.
for championship bout sure look at
tractiye, but will not accept any OF /
these untfl after I have answered my
coUnIry's cell"
Leonard desires to fight one or two