Norwich bulletin., 1917-09-21
LEONARD HAS EARNED
 $55,ooo IN PAST YEAR
Leightweight Champion Has Taken in
 Almost $100,C00 Since 1912.

Benny Leonard has earned s65 GOO in the last year in the ring. When 1916 burst upon tf1e calendar Benny Leon ard was just beginning to blossom forth as champion possibility. Since that time he has won the lightweight title from Freddie Welsh and inciden tally, has collected a small fortune.
 Many a big business man cannot show gross receipts of S64 900 for one year. It only serves to prove how a championship can be cOmmercialiZed by an attraction" Leonard has never demanded big guarantees, except in his one big bout since winning the ampionship, when he knocked out Johnny Kilbane at Philadelphia. For that fight Leonard was guaranteed $10,0OO with privilege of taking a percentage of the gate receipts. The receipts amounted to more than the ten thousand He took SIT 694 for that bout. Kilbane received the same amount.
 That was the highest purse Leonard has received. Incidentally, it was the largest purse that has ever been paid for a Six-round mo- decision bout.
 Benny Leonard was born in the low CT east side in New York on April '. 1896. and began boxing professionally in January 1912. It is figured that since he first earned anything in the ring he has gathered close to $100. 900 in purses.
 When he knocked out, or rather stop ped. which is a technical knockout, Freddy Welsh in nine rounds at the Manhattan Athletic Club Leonard re- ceived $3 854. Welsh has been offered $15,000 for championship bout with Leonard Promoters in the West, where twenty round bouts to decisions are permissible offered the then cham pion of the lightweight division that much. win lose or draw, but Freddy was obdurate. He was content to go along fighting the round bouts with no decision. Few thought when he signed articles to box Leonard that the Har- lem boxer would strip the Englishman of his lightweight crown. But he did.
 Since that time Leonard has lived up to several contracts for bouts in which he has not received as much as other champions. It proved to the public that Leonard was willing to risk his title even though he was not getting big money for doing so. But when the name of Johnny kilbane was mention ed Leonard insisted upon being guar anteed $10,000. At that time Kilbane was regarded as one af the leading contenders for the lightweight cham pionship. Leonard figured that he should be paid accordingly. Kilbane figured likewise although the feather weight king had everything to win and 1 nothing to lose. The result of that !! bout is now history. Leonard out 1 classed Kilbane from the start and | eventually stopped him in the third l
  manager threw in a towel, 'signifying | defeat.
 Benny Leonard boxed some of his | first bouts at cheap New York clubs, | out soon carried his gloves to the 1 Fremont Athletic club in the Bronx. It | was there that his ability was first rec ,gniZed. He won 68 bouts there. be- ore he branched out as a contender for 1 he lightweight championship. He had l 1nocked some of his earliest opponents ut, but it was not until 1916 that he started on his rampage.
 ! Then he started with Joe Mandot, who up to that time generally con- ,eded to be one of the leading light weights of the country. Leonard Snocked out Mandot in the seventh ound. His next victim was Joe Welch whom he knocked out in Philadelphia n five rounds. Phil Bloom. another lightweight who was considered a hard tut to crack, fell before Leonard's rush l t Boston. He was knocked out in fight rounds.
 Leonard returned to Philadelphia for lis next two fights and knocked out