The Washington herald., 1918-01-04
LEONARD KAYO
KING OF YEAR
Title Holder Hands Knock
out Wallop in Sixteen
Battles in 1917.

Philadelphia, Jan. 3.-Benny Leon
ard, lightweight champion. was the
K. o. king of the 1917 boxing sea-
son. Harry Greb, the Pittsburgh
middle-weight. was the busiest boxer,
and Jess Willard, heavyweight die
tator, was the least active. OF sew
enty of the most prominent ring
performers, only four men engaged
in thirty or more battles, fifteen
took part in twenty or more bouts,
thirty-three saw action in tenN or
more, and the remaining thirteen
worked in all the way from three
to ten contests.
Greb was the leader in action, en-
tertaining in thirty-seven. He Is
credited with one draw, nineteen no.
decisions and seventeen verdicts. Thir-
teen Of his wins were by knoek-outs.
Johnny Dundee, the battling Italian,
also was a bearcat for work, Scotty
Monteith sending his protege into
thirty-two battles. The record gives
him ten wins, one defeat, that by
Willie jackson last winter. and twen-
ty-one no-decision bouts Soldier
Bartfeld and Ted (Kid) Lewis were
the other boys to enter the thirty.
class, Bartfield with a record of
thirty-one, and Lewis with an even
thirty.
Leonard also was a busy boy. He
took part in twenty-six battles and
sixteen of these resulted in knock
outs. The other ten were no-decision
affairs in which the champion was
the winner on points. The light
weight king didn't lose a decision
during the year. He also established
a precedent in that he did not nurse
his title, and risked 1t against all
kinds of opposition. He has fought
sixteen times since winning the title.
In compiling his list of knock-outs,
Leonard also set a record for consecu-
tive K. O.'s He picked of five in one
row, his fifth victim being Freddy
Welsh, bringing with it the crowh
His next opponent was Joe Welsh and
the champion did not extend himself.
1t was evident that he could have
knocked out Welsh in any round he
wished. Then followed seven more
bouts, in which the opposition was
put away before the expiration of the
scheduled time This was twelve
Knockout verdicts out OF thirteen
starts.
Leonard was the champion money
winner. 1t Is estimated that his
twenty-seYen battles netted him close
to 100000. His biggest purse was in
the Kilbane go, in which he drew
down more than $1,000. Harry Greb
is reputed to have earned $4,000 for
his thirty-seven bouts, an average of
a little over $50 a fight. Leonard's $
average was close to 5000.
Leonard's record follows:
Jan. 2-Eddis Wallace, Phila. .Outpointed-
Jan. 0-Phil Bloom. New York. .Outpointsd-
Feb. I-Ffankis Callahan n. Y. .Outpointed-lC
Apr. 3-Jimmy Reagan. n. .Outpointed-lo
Mar. 12-Johnny nllman. Phila. .Outpointed-
Mar. 2-Packey Hommey. New YOrk......K.-s
Apr. 1S-Ritchie Mitchell. Milwaukee...-..K.-7
May kid Thomas Philadelphia. 6
May &-Freddie Welsh. New YOrk.....-...K.-e
June 4EJoe Welsh Phila. .Outpointed- 6
June ls-Johnny Nelson, New York.
July 25-Johnny Kilbane. Philadelphia. -
Sept. 3-Young Rector, ToFontO............K.-5 s
Sept. l2-Iimmy Paul. New York. Exhibition &
Sept. lI-Phil Bloom, Pittsburgh h...........K.-2
Sept. Cleo johnson, New York.
Sept. 2-Eddie Dorsey. Buffalo. :
Oct 5-Nic Moran, New York....-.........k.-2
Oct. Ie-Jack Britton, New York. .Outpointsd-l0
Oct. 2-Eddie WagOnd. Phila- 49, .Outpointed- 4
Oct. Z-Young Erne, Buffalo,. % Outpointed- &
Oct 2i-Toughy Ramser. Cleveland. ........K.-7
Nov. &-Sailor kiTke. Denver.
Dec. Scene belmont. st. Paul.
Dec. l2-Irish Patsy Cline, Phila. .Outpointed- 6
Dee. I7-Chick Brown, New Hayen.........K.-6
Dec. l9-Fred Kelley, Phila. Exhibition