The New York herald., 1921-11-29
LEONARD REFUSES
TO BOX TO DECISION
Bout in the Garden Tonight
Will Be Purely an Exhi-
biti0n One.
ny CHARLES F. MArH1sox.


A very interesting example of an inn
movable body meeting with an ire
sistibie force has come to light anent
the bout at Madison Square Garden to-
night between Benny Leonard and
George Ward for the benefit of the
Jewish Hospital Fund.
William Gibson. manager of Leonard
personates the irresistible force, while
the State Athletic Commission is sup
posed to be the in1movable object.
Gibson last night made this an
nouncement: IT want the press to
understand that the ward-Leonard
match in Madison Square Garden Tues
day night Is positively a ten round no
decision affair. 1 do not wish to imply
that this will be an exhibition affair.
for it is a real contest in which Leonard
is to receive no compensation for his
services,
Section ~ of the Walker law pro-
vides: There shall be in attendance
two duly licensed judges who shall at
the termination of each boxing or
sparring match or exhibition render
their decision
When the boxing commissioners were
informed of Billy Gibson's attitude, they
announced that Leonard would not be
permitted to box ten rounds with Ward
in a decisionless bout The commits
sioners said that the only basis on
which Leonard could box to no decision
would be to have the bout purely as an
exhibition one, and not to exceed six
rounds. This decision was acccepted by
both Leonard and Ward, and the bort
tonight will be contested on that basis.
Leonard in Fine shape.
What reason Leonard can have for
not boxing Ward to a decision is a
mystery. Ward was outponted by
Dave Shade in the Garden. and Leon
ard certainly is better in al respects
than Shade Leonard's title is I'm no
danger. because Ward is a full fiedyed
we'terweight. and the on.y damage in
the event of Ward getting the decision
would be to Leonard's re, utation.
When Leonard ended his training yes
terday he looked fit for a battle.
Ward is also fit and ready for the
most important fray he has ever en-
gagged in. For two weeks he trained
every day on his farm at Whitehead.
N. j. He Is a strong devotee of horse
back riding, and after morning can
ter he worked out in the gymnasium.
Ward is the welterweight champion
of New Jersey. He has never been
floored. He has one of the longest
reaches of any boxer to-day. Willard
and Fulton, among the heavies. being
the only men to exceed his stretch from
hand tip to hand tip.
Willie Jackson. the Bronxite, meets
Jimmy Hanlon I'm preceding bout.
Another good bout will be seen when
Earl Baird and Joe German resume
where they left off last winter. Joe
Benjamin and Pete Hartley will blaze
away for ten rounds.
$4,000 Purse for Leonard Bout.
After announcing that Leonard would
box only.a a decisionless bout tonight.
Gibson added:
Tommy McGinty, the Cleveland box
| ing promoter. arrived In town to-day He
has offered $4,000 purse for a match
between Benny Leonard and Jack Britton
to be decided at the Public Auditorium
in the Forest City during next February.
The auditorium is now under construc-
tion and will have a seating capacity of
over sixteen thousand. I will give Pro-
motor McGinty his answer by Decem-
Der /.
The new amateur boxing rules which
were passed upon at the Amateur Ath-
letic Union Convention in Chicago this
month will be in effect at the New York
State Boxing Championships. which will
he held at Madison Square Garden on
Monday Tuesday and Wednesday even
ings. December IL. 13 and IA, under the
auspices of the Metropolitan Associa-
| tion, A. A. u. and Tex Richard.
The most important ohe .,ge will be In
the weights of the differen, classes. The
new weights are as follows
Lbs. Lbs.
Tlywcight. ge......112 welterwelght 49,. .147
Bantamweight Ills Middleweight 49,. .18C
Feather1vcight ..128 Light heavy'wt. =. f7J
Lightweight .....f35 Light heavyw't.. .175
The former weights were flyweight,
| los lbs batamweight lis lbs feather