New Britain herald., 1917-05-29
WELSH LOSES TITLE
 HE NURSED 50 LONG
Benny Leonard Puts "Mary Ann''
 on Lightweight Champion

New York, May 29.-Benny Leon. ard won the worlds lightweight championship by knocking out Fred. die Welsh in the ninth round of a, ten round match last night.
 Welsh's downfall came at the end cf series of rushes by Leonard that drove him from corner to corner. The champion had taken severe beating during the early rounds and the pun ishment had begun to tell when, the gong for the ninth round sounded. Leonard. fresh as the moment he had entered the ring, jumped from his corner and met the champion as hc was leaving his corner with shower of lefts and rights to the face ;; and head. Welsh vainly trying to ward of the blows, worked his way into Leonard's corner where Leonard succeeded In reaching him with a smashing right on the jaw. Welsh , fell on one knee and hugged the , ropes. His strength gone. < Welsh As he left the ropes Leonard landed and Welsh hit the floor. He struggled to hls feet twice more. but each time he was met by Leonard's rights to tho face and head and again he fell to !! the floor.
 The champion took the count of nine before he arose from the last knockdown. He tried to stand but fell across the ropes.
 It was only question of moments ! when he would have fallen and been counted out. At this point Referee , McPartland leaped between the two men. and, pushing Leonard away. carried the defeated champion to his corner.
 A score of men occupying ringside seats jumped into the ring, and lift ing the new champion to their should ers carried him in triumphal process sion around the hall.
 Welsh Was Excited.
 While the crowd was cheering it. self hoarse, Welsh sat in a daxe in his corner When he had recovered somewhat and was told by his hand lers of his defeat he refused to be- lieve them and fought fiercely to re- turn to the center of the ring.
 It was Leonard's' fight throughout. He took the offensive in the first round and held it until the end. There never was a moment that he was In danger and although the champion fought valiantly and succeeded ir landing many blows. they appeared to have little effect. Welsh seemed to have lost his Judgment of distance. for he missed repeatedly.
 From the first gong Leonard tore into the champion with ruthless per- sistency. He rained lefts and rights to the face and head at will. Welsh. at first disconcerted by his opponents tactics. seemed worried when the
 
 ing rounds Leonard concentrated his efforts on welsh's body and succeeded in whipping his right repeatedly to the champions stomach. It was this blow, persistently used, that wore the i champion down.
 To Enlist in Army. Leonard weighed in at 13s pounds; Welsh at 136 3-4. ..,. Freddie Welsh won the world g lightweight championship by receiv- ing the referees decision after out boxing Willie Ritchte, the American. title holder, in a 2O-round bout in London, July z. 1914. Previous to last nights contest, Leonard and Welsh met twice in no-decision ten- round bouts.
 Leonard was born in New York city in 1s96. His recent knockout of ; Ritchie Mitchell of Milwaukee caused him to be regarded as contender for 1 the worlds title.
 1 Leonard, the new worlds champion lightweight, will not "wait for con- scription'' but will enlist in the United States army after six-round bout il, ] Philadelphia next Monday night, his 1 manager. Billy Gibson, announced af- ter the fight. Sf4@5 '.ee@