Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-01-15
LEONARD STOPS
MITCHELL IN 9Th

JAN 14.-Benny Leonard retained his
worlds lightweight champ:enship BY
scoring a technical knockout Over
Richie Mitchell of Milwaukee here to-
night. The referee stopped the bout
after one minute and fifty-iive seconds
in the sixth round. "a I
The bout was the main attraction
at benefit given by the American
Committee for Devastated France.
In the opening round Leonard knock
ed his opponent down three times and
injured Riches right eye so badly
that It was useless to the game west
ern lad during the remainder of the
bout However. toward the end of
the first round Richie surprised the
champion and. in fact. the entire
house. by hooking terrific left to
Leonard's jaw which sent the cham
pion down on his back. Leonard arose
slowly and. remaining on one knee.
waved his hand to his manager and
seconds. indicating that his head was
clear and that he was uninjured
From this to the beginning of the
sixth round Leonard had the advan-
tage in every round, but many close OBJ
servers believed that If Leonard had
not virtually blinded RICHES eye in
the opening round the Milwaukee lad
would have given him the fight of his
career. In the sixth round Richie
came UP as game as pebble and tried
his best to land a solid blow, but
Leonard's blocking and fo6twork were
almost perfect in defense. Leonard's
attack in this round was fierce and he
simply battered his opponent eff his
feet. lie sent Richie to the floor three
/ times and was ready to put over the
finishing punch when Referee Haukop
interviewed and saved Mitchell from
further punishment.
The men weighed in at 2 P. NJ. at ia
pounds. one pound under stipulated
hour and each expressed his confidence
before the bout.
The affair was witnessed by an inn
mense assemblage in which were lead
ers in the business. political and social
life of the metropolis.
Before the chief bout of the evening
a scene unusual to Garden boxing
crowds was staged when announcer Joe
HUMPHREYS took the center of the ring
ard delivered an euolgy of Miss Anne
Morgan and her war work, to which
the net receipts of the evening were
to be given. Cheer followed cheer as
all eyes turned towafd her. She arose
with former Governor Smith. WHO was
seated beside her. in her ringside box.
Then HUMPHREYS hailed Mr.. Smith as
a popular executive who had aided box
ing, and he, too, received prolonged
oN alton.
Then the idols of the night, Leonard
and Mitchell stepped into the ring and
applause broke records. ..-.. E.. =:
Mitchell entered the ring attended by
his brothers, Villa and Pinkey, while
Leonard was making his way down the
centre aisle. Both of them faced q
battery of cameras who took several
snapshots of the champion andschal-
longer ~ .""... g.
Leonard, who was a prohibtive fav-
Critic in the betting, wore plain white
trunks Mitchell also wore the same
WITH a green band at the waist line
The referee for the main bout was
JOIN: Haukop of Brooklyn and the
Judges were Tommy Shorten, Brooklyn
and Joe Ruddy of the New York Ath-
ietic club g ~z=-s-' -
First Round-After feinting land
fiddling for a couple of seconds,
Leonard hooked his left TO the jaw
for count of three. Leonard step
ped back smiling and when Mitchell
: l.:
down with a right to the jaw. this
time for a count of four. Then he
knocked Mitchell down a third time
with a left to the face and right to
the head. Mitchell stayed down for
the full count of nine.
When Richie got on his feet he
rushed at Benny and hooked left to
| the jaw, sending the champion down
for count of nine, Leonard staying
on one knee and waving his hand to
/ his seconds indicating that he. was
all right. The house was in an up
roar as the sudden turn of affairs
had taken everybody by surprise
Both spared carefully. until the
sound of the gong.
Second Round-Leonard shot left
and right to RICHES face. which was
bruised from the blows he received
in the opening session. Benny land
ed left to the head but Mitchell
staggered him with right hook and
Leonard spared carefully. Just at
the bell Leonard hooked his right
hard to the side of Riches head.
Third Round-Mitchell's right eye
bothered him while he was in his corr
ner, but he came up gamely. Leonard
landed a left hook on the face and
| Richie almost dropped him with a
terrific right cross to the jaw. Benny
jabbed lefts to the face and wind
and ducked away from another wick
ed right. A left hook from Leonard
to Riches face sent the western boy
to the ropes. Leonard missed a right
for the head but hooked hrs left to
the jaw, and they were sparring at
the bell.
Mitchell's seconds Kept working on
his injured eye during the intermis-
sion. 81 -.
Fourth Reund-MitchelI missed a
right for the head and Benny hooked
left and right to the face. Benny
landed hard left on the bad eye and
hooked his right to the head. Benny
blocked Mitchell's leads, hooking a
left to the face and another to the
stomach. Mitchell kept boring in but
was ent back with left and right to
the face. They were sparring at the
bell. =.