Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-06-12
leonard
>WILLFIGHT ON
BATTLEFIELDS
New Worlds Champion Wants
to Do His Bit; Wore Britisher
Down With Hard Punches

NEW YORK, May ~. - benny
Leonard, 40 lightweight champion
will defend his title some time after
Uncle Sam has finished licking Ger.
many" This 10 the program he laid
down today after he had sent Fred
die Welsh reeling into fistic oblivion
last night He will meet Joe Welcn
IN Philadelphia. Monday night, but
plans to enlist in the army today and
enter active service next week.
Eeonard's ascension to the throne
heldteo long By Welsh came after q
carefully planned and carefully fought
battle. Eager though he was TO send
over the blow that would end the
dancing master type Of hampton, he
went through the eight rounds and a
half of fighting cool and calm, plac'
Ing his blows where they would DO
the most damage and only waiting
for the inevitable time the turtle shell
Of the Britisher would drop enough
for the finish.
Welsh Held On
Praise for Leonard, however, must
be only slightly stronger than for
welsh. The old man Of the ring, I'M
doubtedly realizing the end was IN
sight, did everything he knew to pre-
vent the finish Of his career as leader
Of the lightweight division.
There was no denying, however, the
cool, calm youth who stabbed and
erosseds aiways holding his right hand
IN readiness. -,.sa =
The ninth round had been furiously
fast when Leonard started the whiri.
wind that brought the old champion
down. Crossing for the head, Welsh
started into q clinch. Using his right
band almost for the first time In the
bout, Leonard crept behind the cham
pion's guard. Welsh ducked, but he
was too late. The smashing power Of
the mauling fist caught him on the
etmple. Welsh's knees sagged, q
sorry smile struggled over his fea-
lures and he tried vainly to stagger
into Q cIinchs Leonard slipped away
and his left crushed square onto
Welsh's chin. Wayering family and
trying to hold up. Welsh sagged until
his knees touched the floor. Referee
McPhartland started to count and
Welsh arose. Again he went down,
one hand cling to the ropes in Leo
nard's corner. He arose, both hands
en- the ropes, his head unprotected.
Al In and Out - 49,, ....
A dozen times the failing fists Of
the eager challenger crashed into
Weish's chin. Gamely the Britisher
stood Il. McPhartland looked appeal
ingiy into Welsh's corner, but the
sponge was not forthcoming. Nc
Phartland mercifully stepped In and
ended 1t. Welsh, given hand by the
referee, tried to reach his corner, but
he spraWled and fell through the
ropes. A wave Of black necked with
The yellow Of straw hats leaped into
the smoke-tilled air a. the crowd &C.
claimed another American lightweight
champion Of the world. Brushing
aside special policemen, the crowd
surged into the ring, hugging and
cheering Leonard. Welsh, sitting daz.
d hi his corner, did not realize what |
had happened for several minutes.
Young Champion
Benny Leonard, the new lightweight !
is just past 81. He is of
Hebrew origin and has been fighting |
since 1912. " |
Leonard is q Legitimate" light |
weight. He scaled exactly 1873 pounds |
before his fight with Welsh. |
The new champion has fought every |
boxer Of prominence in |
MS division. His most recent triumph |
before winning the title was Q seven /
round knockout over Richie Mitchell [
n Milwaukee. Last nights fight was
his third battle with. Welsh.