Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-06-23

Of champions. Les Darcy is dead, and
the last championship passed into the
hands Of the Americans when Benny
Leonard, the new champion Of Els
iona, sent Freddy Welsh to dream
land In the bout which decided the
worlds championship.
Leonard-his right name Is Leiner-
Is the first New York boxer to hold
q championship. This seems strange
considering the number OF bouts which
have been held IN Gotham, but never.
theless holds true, az both Jack Nc.
Auliffe and Jack Dempsey were born
IN Cork. Naturally, New York has
gone Wild over the new champion.
Boss o. Ills Block @ g. :
As q Kid Leiner was the champion
OF the block in New York, and was
known as the Ninth Street King Bee.
His first fight was with kid by the
name OF Joe Fogarty and The young
Hebrew was given 80 cents out Of the
SO offered as q purse. Bennys folks
Objected 20 him as boxer. but one
day he brought home $50, and the
objections were withdrawn.
Benny finally got q chance to box
IN preliminary for Billy Gibson, and
the young boxer hung Il on Mickey
Finnigan, and Gibson took the boy
under his wing.
Named Leonard Z
II was in this fight that Leiner was
given the name OF Leonard. The an
nouncer misunderstood his name, and
announced him a. Benny Leonard. He
has carried this pane since that date.
Mother Leiner objected to his ring
career as 3 business, but Benny was
interested and left his Job for the
hempen square.
The younester. who reached his ma.
Iority on April I. ID q careful and con-
ncientious trainer He II careful Of
his diet and does not dissipste. Mother
Leiner Il proud Of her son now, and
whenever he appears IN the ring hc
telephones the first thing after the
bout.
40 swell Head
The Leiner family stiIl lives IN the
same noiThborhood, but n nicer guar
tors. Success has not gone 70 his
head, and his companions are the same
a. those who cheered him along n the
lights on the block. Benny isn't what
one would call q ladies' man In any
sense OF the word.
There are Z number Of boxing fans
Who have followed the career Of
Leonard. and number Of the enlisted
men have seen him IN action. Many
az the echofield boys predicted that
tie lightweight champion would show
something when he was given .
chance. Before his bout. with Joe
Nandof less than one year and hall
aro. he was little known. but has paved
his way TO success. AZ the last Scho-
fIeld smoker, one Of the fans said that
this boy would be Q champion some
day. The fan was right
In ten Of his battles Benny Leonard
has slowed away his opponent He
|oppled Jimmy Murphy over a five
rounds. PHI Bloom IN eight Robideau,
Ioe welsh and McAndrews IN the
fifth. Shamus O'Brien IN the seventh,
and Frank Cannofry. Ever Hammer
md Thorpe have taken the count IN |
bouts with the New Yorker.
Net Welsh Before
Leonard has met Freddie Welsh Pc.
fore the bout which gave him the ute
and has also fought no decision events
with Dundee. Joe AIeredo, Kansas,
Callahan and Stanley Yoakum.
Leonards best blows are his right
crosses and uppercuts When the for
rner connects with the Jaw the fight
Il over. His LETT jabs and hooks are /
dangerous.
Defhroning one ruler and exaiting
Snother Il one or the pastlmes Of life. |
n brings Joy 70 the man who backs
ne new star, and pity TO the loser.
yreddie welsh takes his place among /
the crowd who once reigneo and were
lushed aside BY youth. Il is the del
rire ~ every BOXERS life to win 6
ohsmpionship. ana another even mors
wished for that Of retaining the title
until retirement
Jack McAuliffe and Jimmy Barr
are the only boxers In America who
have retired with their titles. JIM
Ieffries missed Il by narrow margin.
~ a was one false slip which robbed
~ 6oiIer maker Of this distinction.
Z Real Champ
penny Leonard accomplished . real
S,,,rl when ne sent Welsh into obli.i
Sion Freddie Welsh faced his mas. 4
fer. In the past three years Welsh
had met all the candidates for the
honors and had stood up under the
Siows az the oontenders. True. he I
,,idn't stare any long bouts. but Welsh
Wss i smart business man, and knew
t,af IRE title meant much to him IN
scauiring worldly goods.
Welsh met johnny Kilbanc. Charley
white IA Wolgast and others during
ihe psst three years, but only in his
bonts with White and Wolgast was
S;r fitle placed IN jeopardy. Leonard
Mi have I different situation 70 isce.
IL wifi not DO able to box IN Newt
York. He can only 50 six rounds " Il
philadelphia and Milwaukee- He VIII
have g eo oft and battle IN the few II
<eInaininc places where 70 ROUNDS are
sIlcwed. and this viii be TO decisions. \
Meets Kiihane
Followers Of boxing % Honolulu
SAN FRANCISCO
CHRONICLE