South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-01-11
by ED. HUGHES.

While most of the old time kings
of the ring appear to out-class the
present day champions there are
two of the latter who appear 10 be
at least on a footing with the most
formidable rulers of the ring in its
golden days. one is Jack Dempsey.
the other is Benny Leonard.
Jack McAuliffe and Kid Davigne
can hardly be rated amongst mod
ern" champions. But that either or
both could have given Benny a stub
born argument, perhaps beaten him,
is not 20 be doubted. McAuliffe is
the only lightweight champion who
retired indicated. Lavigne was
one of the most formidable little
men that ever trod the rosin. He
whipped Englands great champion,
Dick Burge when the latter out
weighed him at least II pounds.
I.avigne frequently went against
welterweights He was one of the
few boxers who had the number of
Joe WalcOtt the black Giant Kill
err The saginaw Kid" ruined his
career when ne tackled Mysterious
Billy smith one of the most dan
gerous welterweights that ever lived.
Smith knocked Lavigne out after Il
fearful rounds.
Frank Erne who won the title
from Lavigne after the Smith dis
aster was marvellously clever and a
Furnishing hitter as well. Erne's
wonderful ability was impaired
through poor match making He
reduced considerably TO meet Me
Govern and weakened was knocked
out. Then Irene went the other
extreme and met Eube Ferne well
terweight who also vanquished him.
Erne made Joe Cans quit but i'm a
later bout Joe knocked Erne out in
one minute and forty seconds. Cans
planned that battle and terminated
il in much the manner that Leonard
might have used.
Cans a close student Of the game
had every one of Erne's moves min
utely figured out before the battle
So sure was Cans that he could con-
meet it that Joe once stated he
could have accomplished the feat
with his eyes closed.
Joe Cans against Benny Leon
ard. 90 rounds What a fight that
would have been. Could Benny with
his superb boxing skill and general
ship have COPIED successfully the
old Master" whose name has been
q synonym OF ring craft since his
ume9 Gould Cans have drawn Ben
with head and hands and then rip
ped IN that short knockout punch
which seldom travelled more than
foot. How much cleVercr is Benny
Leonard than Jimmy Britt was when
he encountered the old Mister
Cans made a show of clever Jimmy
both hands before him OK
tended in a rigid pose. with elbows
up as If he had started a punch and
then recalled it Cans jolJed the clev-
or Californian into "a daze with sud-
den short hooks. Joe was an adept
at blocking with The elbow The
luckless Britt finally broke his wrist
on this section OF Cans arm while
trying 20 hand on the cOlOred wiz
ard Cans foot work was faultless
~ anything he made fewer moves
than the present champion He was
always at the correct range as If by
instinct Hopping and other excess
motion formed no part of Cans fin
ished technique. Cans as lightweight
champion eclipsed Leouard's feat i'm
oNing Bruou the present welter-
weight champion in no decision
bout. Cans gave away weight 20
bo> sam Iangford then the welter-
weight champion furious IL
ottnd draw.
Battling Nciser who Suec~cded
Cams as chamnion. is another enig-