The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1917-08-28
$4,000 IS LEONARD'S
PAY FOR YEARS WORK
Lightweight Champion Bgg est Money Maker in 1857
Largest Purse Totalled $11,85 for
Knocking ut Kilbane.

Since that time Leonard has lived up
TO several contracts for bouts in which
he has not received as much as other
champions. II 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 mentioned Leon
ard insisted upon being guaranteed $10,-
GOO. At that time Kilbane was regard
ed one OF the leading contenders for
the lightweight championship. Leonard
figured that he should be paid accord
ingly. Kilbane figured likewise al
though the featherweight king had
everything to win and nothing to lose.
The result of that bout is now history.
Leonard outclassed Kilbane from the
start and eventually stopped him in the
third round when Jimmy Dunn, Kill
baRe's manager, threw in a towel, signi-
flying defea:
StarGs knocking EN- Out.
Benny Leonard boxed some of his
first bouts at Browns Gymnasium. but
soon carried his gloves to the Frimont
Athletic Club in the Bronx. 1t was
there that his ability was first recogniz-
eo. He won sixty-eight bouts there be-
fore he branched out as a contender for
the lightweight championship. He had
knocked some Of his earlier opponents
out, but it was not until 1916 that he
started on his rampage.
Then he started with Joe Mandot. who
up TO that time was generally conceded
to be one of the leading lightweights of
the country. Leonard knocked out Man
dot IN the seventh round in this city
His next victim was Joe Welch, whom
he knocked out in Philadelphia in five
rounds. Phil Bloom. another light
weight who was considered a hard nut
to crack, fell before Leonard's rush at
Boston. He was knocked out in eight
rounds.
Leonard returned to Philadelphia for
his next two fights and knocked out
Jimmy Murphy in six rounds and Sam
Robideau in six rounds.
Shamus O'Brien. of Yonkers, was
knocked out next by Leonard in seven
rounds in New York City. 1t was i'm
mediately after this fight that OBrien
charged that Leonard carried a horse
shoe or a sledge hammer or something
in his glove.
Eddie McAndreSvs was stopped in five
rounds and frankie Conifrey was knock
ed out in six rounds. Leonard then
moved west and stopped Ever Hammer
in twelve rounds at Kansas City and
Harvey Thorne in twelve rounds at St.
Louis.
Real Action.
But it was not until this year that
Leonard stepped into the centre of the
] spotlight as a lightweight Of real promi-
hence. one who had more than an even
chance to win the lightweight crown
from Freddie Welsh. The drive that
finally won the title for him was really
started when he knocked out Packey
Hommey in nine rounds.
Then he fought Richie Mitchell for
! what was advertised as the lightweight
! championship of America. Mitchell was
knocked out in seven rounds. Charles
kid" Thomas was next He lasted six
rounds at Philadelphia, being counted
| out in the final round. Eddie Shannon
was next in line. He dropped in six
4 rounds Freddy Welsh and the world s
| lightweight championship came next
Johnny Nelson then fell a victim
Johnny Kilbane came last-but not
least. Nexti