Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-04-09
Lightweight Title
h ol d e r Decisively
Defeats Local Boy in
First Bout in Four
Months
WEIGHS MORE THAN 14O
BY BILL BELL

ALL doubts IS to whether Benny
ALconard. the popular worlds light
weight champion. had lost any Of his
unusual cleverness OF foot and machine
like hitting ability as result OF his
four months work as boxing instructor
to $4,000 men at Camp Upton were
smashed 20 smithereens or something
last night at the weekly show Of the
Olympia \. G.. when he out -jabbed, out
hooked. out-punched, out-boXed-but
DIDN'T out-game Joe Borrell in six fast
and exciting rounds.
Many were Of the opinion that the
four months lay-off from real fighting
would tend TO slow up the dethroner OF
Freddy Welsh, but his performance of
last night demonstrated to the satisfac-
ton Of the many Clubmen that he still
is the lightweight king.
The bout last night was his first fight
in four months His duties at Camp
Upton have been to teach the soldiers
the Benny Leonard knockout punch and
not how to defend oneself. As a result
he has been on the defensive the ma
jority Of the time and hasn't been forced
to extend himself in an effort to stop his
opponents.
Leonard Very Serious
1t was a different Leonard that en-
tered the Olympia ring last night than
the one that stopped Johnny l<ilbane at
Shibe Park last fall He still had his
hair brushed nicely. but there was
marked change in his face. Instead Of
the half-smiling countenance Benny had
a very serious appearance and when he
G. "a ~ cd 10 fight ha about his work
in a determined and busnesslike manner.
His work at the cantonment has filled
him out, and although no definite an
nouncement was made of his weight. I
would say that he tips the scales con-
siderably above the 14O-pound mark
But he carried only few extra pounds.
Knocks Borrell Through Ropes
Borrell appeared nervous in the OPEN
ing round and kept retreating with Leon
ard following him with cautious move
ments II wasn't until two minutes had
passed that the champion let loose. He
backed Borrell against the ropes and
slashed out with a left hook. which
caught Joe on the side Of the jaw and
shook him up considerably and sent him
reelng. A right smash to the jaw. as
the whistle sounded announcing the ten
second time caused Borrell's knees to
sag.
Leonard thought the whistle was the
end of the round and started for his cor
ner. Billy Gibson shouted to Benny to
carry on, so he turned and walked over
to the very weak Borrell and sent a
terrific right TO the jaw. the force OF
which sent the local boy through the
ropes, landing on his pack on the press
seats. Before he could return to the
ring the bell sounded. This was the first
time in Borrelrs career that he had been
foored.
During the intermission Muggsy Tay-
lor worked like bee with his boy. Many
of the clubmen had gathered their hats
and overcoats together. anticipating a
knockout in the second round But Bor-
rell was far from a knockout. He kept
his guard high. Try as he could, Benny
couldn't find an opening to land his cele-
brated knockout blow. He sent four
right hooks to Borrells stom-
ach, but Joe weathered the bombardment
and proved that he was better than Joe
Grim by making a Counter-attack and
landing several right swings on the title
holders head. causing Benny some an
noyance by mussing his hair.
Joe took everything Leonard had
in the third and fourth rounds and also
gave some in return. The game fight
Borrell was making had won the house
over TO his favor, and every time ne
landed a blow the crowd applauded.
Once Joe. after landing an overland
right on Leonards jaw. had an excellent
opening to shoot one of his horseshoe
punches across, but he failed to seize
the opportunity.
1t was in the fifth that Benny showed
his best form. He stepped around with
a lot of dash that fairly bewildered Bor-
rell his blows carried more force than
in any Of his former bouts in this city,
and IT looked as though he was booked
for a short voyage, Backing Joe against
the ropes, Leonard opened up with an
attack of lefts and rights. How Borrell
ever escaped he only knows. He came
out with arms flying. Leonard had two
or three openings, but missed each time. |
It was plain that Benny was trying his
utmost to stop Borrell
Leonard Cut Over Eye
The sixth was similar to the other
rounds, with Leonard striving 10 land
a haymaker. 1t couldn't he done, and
amid the cheers OF the several thousand
spectators the round ended with Borrell
still on his feet. The blood was stream
ing down his face from a cut on his
cheek and nose while Leonard had cut
over his eye and his nose was a little
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