Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-07-30
CONFIDENT | WILL
W|N,' SAYS TENDLER
Anxious to Cop Title, Lew Will
Try Best to Stop
Leonard
NOT AFRAID OF CHAMP
BY LOUIS II. JAFFE

Lew Tender broke training one day
this week, came to the city from his
camp at Delanco, y. j., and helped
entertain the kiddies at Girard College
on the annual program arranged by
Captain Tempest. Tender has been the
feature figure on almost every Tempest
Day. at the college.
Before Tender started back for his
quarters where he is preparing tor the
crucial contest OF his career against
Benny Leonard, champion. at the Phil
lies Ball Park, two weeks from tonight,
Lew loosened up his tongue and let
loose with lot of conversation. viz. :
First of all ! want the fight fans
in Philadelphia to know have all the
confidence in the world that I will win
from commandments you could bet
your old straw hat would not have
agreed to meet the champion.
Since the clinching of the match
have been asked hundred times if
think | will win by knockout. Well
] want that title-I have wanted il for
WV anu tnt ltHNl, 1dlHpT INV
most l am going to do is try to win by
n knockout.
~ do not want to prove myself an
egotist by coming out boldly and say
that / absolutely will knock out Leon
ard. am not figuring on the cham
pion as a set-up, bimbo or any or
dinary stew. Leonard is good fighter
in fact, one Of the best the world has
ever known. Still. he is not knockout
proof. No one is-and, you can put
this down in the sweat band of your
bonnet-I'm going in. there to try my
level best.
To Start Early
IF / see an opportunity to shoot over
Knockout punch at the sound of the
opening bell I'm going to do it, or will
look for that opening until the finish.
Leonard can be knocked down, and if I
do succeed in toppling him | am salts
fled that he will not be among those
standing when the match Is over. That $
one thing I'm sure Of.
You know. ! saw Richie Mitchell
knock down Leonard in New York not
so long ago, and maybe | didn't envy
Richie that night. certainly wished
was in the ring there with Benny. lie
never would have been able to go the
distance. Mitchell and l have met sew
eral times. ! have won on each occa
sion, and, If | say it myself, l am posi-
tive that I hit harder than Richie.
IF | am not crowned lightweight
champion on the night of August 12, the
only thing | can say is that it will not
be because l didn't try. Leonard often
has accused me of being afraid of him
that / was challenging him for the
cheap publicity that was in il.
That s another thing-I will prove
to everybody's satisfaction that l am
not afraid Of him. I'm not going in
there to box defensive battle. just to
try to stay the limit. | cannot tell my
plan of battle. but will say that no one
will hold anything against me when
they see me in action against the cham
pion.
Hands Strong
MY hands seem to make quite few
fans skeptical as to my chances against
Leonard. Some people seem to think
my hands will not be able to stand the
strain of hard punching. That's all
poppy cock. My mitts never we're in
better shape. ! feel sure they never
will bother me again.
Don't believe that | am not strong.
am, and not only that. but my con-
tidence for the bout with Leonard has
increased a lot since starting to work
Also | won't have trouble making the
weight.
There are going to be n lot of sur
prised people at the Phils Park. If
lose | will be the surprised person.
won't have an alibi, because | will be in
the best shape of my career for this
important scrap