South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-07-02
Freedman to
Enter Title Bout
Nearly EUe1r Bet
Claim Leonard Not in Best
Shape Championship Crown
Hanging by Hair.

Special % The News Times:
BENTON HARBCR. MICH. July
when Benny Leonard sent Fred
die welsh kicking on the night Of
May Is. 1917. I'M New York City. and
came Into possession Of the light
weight championship. the grand old
game Of hsticues fell heir TO one of
the most popular tijse holders IL has
ever had
There has never been a time .n
his more than four years reign as
boss of the FOUNDERS that Leon
ard has denied any legitimate chal-
ienger "a nance. That's the big
reason, of course. for his popularity,
and a review OF his record shows
that he hasn't been picking soft
spots.
Since winning the championship.
Leonard has fought seven.y-three
contests and eight exhibitions. %
of these followed in the year OF his
championship effort against welsh;
lfteen were fought in 1913, twenty
five In 1919. thirteen in 1920 and
but five this year.
Must Pay Price
The champion and his great man
ager, Billy Gibson, realize that no
champion can go on forever. For
this very good reason. the pair have
determined TO risk their treasure
only when promoters are willing to
pay the price This explains the
comparatively limited number Of
fights Leonard has had this year.
Promoter Floyd Fitzsimmons is
paying $50. 900 20 stage the Leon
ard-Frcedman contest here the af-
ternoon Of July e. Because Freed
mar has beaten Lew Tender. Joe
yelling. Johnny Grifhths, Charley
White Johnny Tulman and others
considered of championship caHber
within the past year, the Leonard
Gibson team demanded a small
fortune 10 take on the Chicagoan.
There is every prospect that Leon
ard will receive better than $4,000
for his end here, as ne has been
given a liberal percentage privilege
and all indications point TO a SIS,
600 house The champ. n received
$4,000 for beating Rocky Kansas
ut Harrison, " j.. recently and $40,
600 in both the Richie Mitchell and
Joe yelling bouts in New York. So.
the policy of going TO bat only
against worth while Opponentsj for
worth while sum promises to net
Benny and Billy earnings for 1921
that viii eclipse all previous earn
lngs for a lightweight champion.
Choice Seats Left.
Despite the heavy advance sale.
Promoter Fitzsimmons says he has
many choice seats left He says he
can accommodate $4,000 persons in
his "safety-frst" arena He has
900 seats at $3.50 5000 at $3.50;
. 800 at S11.OO and 1000 at $3.50.
A sellout would mean gross receipts
of approximately S125,0O0.
Fans who had installed Leonard a
two TO one favorite 10 retain his title
have changed their minds since they
have looked over Freedman. The
challenger brings IS days of solid
preparatory effort TO a close here
saturday. Hes int and ready and
predicts that he viii knock out
Leonard in the sixth or seventh
round. Leonard. who arrived Thurs
day night TO complete the training
ne started in the east and continued
for two days on his arrival i'm Chi
cago. says the fight VIII not last
over five rounds and that he viii
be the winner. Leonard's supporters
fear ne viii not be In the best Of
shape and that Freedman Will.
These facts have caused experts
to predict that the odds will not be
better than three TO two. Leonard
10 win. ON the day Of the fight and
here are sorae who say that Leonard
hackers viii insist on even money.
All of which indicates that Leonard
hasn't picked any soft spot in meet
ing Freedman and that his cham
pionship crown is hanging by a hair
that not a f~w folk are willing TO
wager is parted here Monday after
noon.
Little Jimmy Kelly Chicago Ital-
ian. meets frankie Mason for the
HyweiEht title ON the same card.
Two other SIX round bouts complete
the card.
Ed Smith Saws the First