The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-15


publicity promoter. Benny Leonard, the
lightweight champion. is fired by amb!-
ton to do something that no other pugl-
list ever has accomplished. He desires
to win the distinction OF knocking out
the champions of three different classes,
and holds the opinion that II successful
in the undertaking he will have set
new record in prize ring achievements.
Leonard already has the scalps of two
champions at his belt. He stopped Fred
die Welsh. holder OF the worlds light
weight title. in the ninth round in this
city on May %, 1917, and on July % OF
the game year he knocked out Johnny
kilbane In three rounds at Philadelphia.
The third obstacle which Leonard
hopes to surmount is Kid Lewis. the
welterweight champion OF the world.
But even IL the lightweight title holder
Ia successful he will not create a new
record. for the feat was accomplished
years ago by one OF the heaviest hitters
in the boxing game, Terry McGovern.
Terry knocked out Pedlar Palmer
bantam champion OF England. in one
round at Tuckahoe September IL. 1899.
The Brooklyn boy stopped George Dixon,
featherweight champion, in eight rounds
in this city January 3. 1900. and he put
Frank Erne. the lightweight champion of
the WOTlu 10 Sleop IN lITet TUulluS AZ
Madison Square Garden July IS. 1900.
A Large Undertaking.
Therefore 1t readily is seen that Leon
ard will have to put the title holders of
four classes to sleep before he makes Il
new record.
II Leonard still is looking for records
to shoot at he might try 10 excel the
pc rformance OF Robert Fitzsimmons, who
won the titles of three classes Of pugi-
ism, middle, light heavy and heavy.
Fitz captured the middlewe!ght cham
plonship of America when he knocked
out Jack Dempsey in the thirteenth
round at New Orleans January II, 1891.
The Cornishman stopped Jim Corhett Tor
the American heavyweight title In four
teen rounds at Carson city March II.
1887. F!tz won the light heavyweight
title OF Anne RIGA from George Gardner
through q decision on points in a bout at
San Francisco that lasted the limit Of
twenty rounds, November 20, 1908.
If Leonard can eclipse the achieve
ments of Mc,iovern and F.tzsimmons the
present lightweight champion, who APP
pears to be growing somewhat heavy for
a lightweight, will be entitled to the ap-
t3ellation of champion of champions.
Kid Lewis Is said TO nave prescribed
141 pounds at 3 O'Clock in the afternoon
for his bout with Leonard ne IL re-
ported to have dictated me weight on
the assumption that his 'ltie OF ~e"ei
champion of the world would not De AZ
stake On being TAKEN 10 's'H ~, hs
iepo 30, IN o,twit Leonard regarding
the title. but he is willing to forfeit MS
honors should Leonard score kIiocN
out.
| Possibly Lewis regards this as very
magnanimous on his part put re siigntS
is in error. Lewis, as the hoioer OF tn'
! title, dictates 142 pounds as the limit OF
weight at which he VIII meet cnal
lengers in championship pouts' ihere
fore, when he consents to meet Leonard
and specifies 141 pounds, weigh IN AZ
| p. NJ, his title is at stake ana MS op
ponent will become the champion OF I'M
welter class II he succeeds In stopping
Lewis. T.,
On the other hand. had Leonard In
sisted on a weight. that was distastetu
TO Lewis and the weller champion ha'
acceded to the dictum OF the lighte
man. then the weller title would no
change hands, no matter II Leonar'
we're 10 score a knockout.
| This was exemplified In the bout be
tween Terry McGovern. the feather
weight champion, and Frank Erne, tn
holder OF the lightweight title. Ern
had won the championship from I>avign