Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-04-29
LEONARD BEATS R|TCH|E
REFEREE STOPS FIGHT
WITH LOSER ON ROPES
Champion Floors Opponent I'm First
ind Eighth Rounds-Ncarly
Scores Knockout.
By DAMON RuNYoN.

| NEWARK n. j.. April 2S.-With
Referee slim" Brennan pulled Willie
Ritchie from under a shower of Benny
iheonards punches here tonight. saw
Of the world from a total knockout at
The California boy was helpless on
asleep throughout tho last two min
utes and twenty seconds Of the round,
| after Leonard had clipped him on the
Jaw with right and then left.
He had taken licking from the
very start. Leonard did not show
himself much of workman. as he
should s,tsI have stopped the former cham
hShter he used to be by a long way.
He had nothing left but gameness.
In tho seventh round he was SO wide
open and helpless that Leonard was
tailed to put over the finishing punch.
but, as matter of fact, Benny simply
was not able to do it. He is not that
Ritchie score of times in that final
round. when Willie was merely found
erinG along. head down, after him,
the tormentor he could scarcely see
out OF his glazed eyes.
dtchie Hangs on Ropes.
When no finally hung on tho ropes.
Benny pounded him on the head a
when Willie did not fall. Richie
might have stayed up until the call, but
TO all intents and purposes he was out
l. It vas Was the first time he was ever
At 1910 p. NJ. Ritchic came on with
a maroon robe wrapped around him
followed little later. slim" Bren-
nan the referee. arrived, peeled down
to his shirt.
Ritchie wore worried look. He
seemed drawn too fine. The ringsidc
weights showed each man had taken
on pound in seven hours, a most UNI
usual circumstances. Leonard looked
we'll
beat Willie to the lead. popping the
Benny KEEP, in 'front.' s thron 10 sni 'a the
round with that left. jabbing Ritchie's
n Ri,sb, back ic,, lie raised "shantX" on
the ropes with loft uppcrcut. He
pokcd Willie hard with that left.
slams Champion In Second.
Richie tried with his right. but he
ala ala II, not land a good hard punch on the
when he staggered Benny e1 With a s s@asn
working right away, however. and
close of the round. Benny dropped the
Californian against the ropes with Il
to his knees. took a count Of seven, Got
up and clinched.
The bell rang. The ropes, breaking
the force of the fall. probably saved
The third was pretty even. Ritchie
did an aTazing come back. and fought
desperately. to get past that cutting
left. He showed his Eameness under
a storm OF blows.
In the fourth Leonard had him very
tired under a continued bomba rdment.
but Ritchie never stopped marching in
a greater fighter than Leonard would
have stopped Ritchic almost at will,
he was so wearied and easy to hit
Takes Count In Eighth.
IN the NTH and sixth Benny had 1t
ing to end it. but Willie was stili
doSgedly plugging, away at the bell
knocked back.
Just before the end of the bout
Richie to the floor again for a count
of nine
The armory is said to hold 1000
people seated. There seemed to 'V be
no vacant seats in the body OF the
to .ll. counting the war tax. The
receipts must have run up around $50 =
600. No title was involved but few
indoor contests have drawn more
New Yorkcrs offered to on Leon
ard. but they did not do much busi-
the ringsidc.
n Daye Mack key: promoter, of the affair.
weighed 1876 IL pounds and Ritchle
George Conan. of Albany. beat A,
frrenchy of Newark. in the first pre-
I nm tT;,,,a TEDDY Hubh, Of Pittsburgh.
next and it WAS a lively go.