The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-09-23

Lewis has claimed for the past
week that he will weigh no more
than Leonard does. "Of course, II
] weigh even a fraction more than
Leonard, my weller title will be at
stake" explains Lewis. 81 know
that as well as anybody else does.
And I'm right when 1 say I'll not be
q bit heavier than Leonard"
Nevertheless, boxing enthusiasts
say that Lewis will certainly tip
the beam heavier than Leonard, and.
therefore, enter the ring with q
chance OF losing his championship,
II he happens to stop a wallop on
his chin.
VIII Box Eight Rounds.
Leonard and Lewis will box eight
laws. and it will be with eight-ounce
gloves. OF course, there's a trick
in the gloves. Most of the eight
ounces are packed up above the box
er's wrist. leaving the striking sur
face no different from gloves much
lighter. Jack Dempsey floored Fred
Fulton in 1871 second, with one Of
those eight-ounce affairs on his
good right hand.
Benny Leonard has not made 133
pounds since he took the title from
Welsh. He has always gone into
the ring at catchweights, though
holding his opponents to 1873 pounds.
When he faced Johnny Kilbane, the
featherweight champion. at Philade!-
phiA, Leonard allowed the Cleveland
er to make 135 pounds, knowing the
impossibility of his scaling that
much. That weight was compare
lively easy for Leonard, though he
did have to work hard to make it.
May Defend Title.
1t is confidently whispered in fight
circles that IL he wins tonight's con-
test from Lewis by a knockout.
Leonard will Immediately offer to de
fend his new title and forget all about
his lightweight crown. That is said
TO be the reason for his keeping his
weight a secret right up to weighing
time.
With Leonard an admitted welter-
weight, Lew Tender. the Philadel-
phia southpaw. will probably imme-
diately lay claim to the title against
all corners. This will result in a
pretty scramble, as Rocky Kansas, OF
Buffalo: Billy Whalen, of ST. Paul.
now a sailor in the navy, and George
Clancy, the Baltimore southpaw
slugger, all believe themselves en-
titled to leading honors.
Tender has defeated Kansas. He |
shaded CLANCY last week in a six |
round bout in Philadelphia, according |
to most critics, but a few called ii a !
draw. He has never met Whalen.
Wouldn't Meet whaIen.
When Leonard defeated Richie |
Mitchell in Milwaukee, knocking |
him out in seven rounds, April 10, |
1917. he accused Whalen, known to |
be on the trail OF the champion, of !
serted an earnest denial of this |
charge, but Leonard is said to have |
replied:
We'll. you'll never get a chance al |
the title while have it"
Repeated efforts were made by
Eddie Kane. Whalen's manager. TO
arrange a bout between his battler
and the titleholder. but he was never (
granted his request. Kane even went
so far as to agree TO take nothing |
for his end, II only Leonard We nd
step into the ring with Whalen.
The st. Paul lightweight is now in
the navy. along with his manager,
Kane, and there is small chance of (
his entering the lightweight scram-
Bile until Kaiser Bill is licked.
Makes Bout Important.
This chatter about Leonard's al
legged Willingness to pass up his /
lightweight pretensions. provided he !
stops Lewis, makes tonights con-
test important. Lewis is a clever
boxer who, unless worn by training.
carries a stiff punch. He used TO be
a wonder at reducing. fighting at 133 |
pound tonight, a week later scaling at 4
145. a week later 155, and then a |
week later back at 135 pounds. 1t
was said that he was made of rub
ber- He hasn't been doing this
stunt of late. though.
Lewis won the welterweight title
from Jack Britton. OF Chicago on
decision by Lou Bauman in twenty
rounds at Dayton. Ohio. June IS,
1917. Since then he has met Britton
several times in no-decision affairs,
and has tackled such tough custom
ers as Johnny Griffiths. Mike O'Dowd,
now the middleweight titlehoIder;
Albert Badoud. Soldier Bartfield, and
Italian Joe Cans. He can take care
of himself.