The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1921-01-15
LEONARD
STILL KING
IN CLASS
Milwaukee's Gamester IS
Knocked Out by Great
Fighter in N. Y.
BIT JACK vEIoCk


new YORK. Jan. benny Leon
ard is sim monarch OF al her surNeS
re little lightweight champion q
~ void stands today in class very
,,,,ob Nv himself and he had demon
,t-a+ed ability. strength and speed AZ
Isl pounds that should cause appre-
h.nsicn among the army OF woulo-oe
.5annnions who have been bowling on
his trail !
Bv knocking out Richie Mitchell N
rounds at Madison Square Garden
r.eonard disposed OF one Of his moot
eaaable rivals and he did it IN man
- thst LETT no doubt about his class.
Y,.onard's victory was the result q
81, nrol!hc right hand and the coolest
h.ad that hss set upon the shoulders
~ a lightweight champion in the ms
tory q the division.
he started Mitchell on the road 70
1efeat IN the nrst minute Of the hrst
rourd with a terrific right-hander 70
ne tsw that rattened the Milwaukee
hov for the count OF nine. From tAat
ifma on the westerner fought in
dszed condition. bat fought the gamess
.nd most sensational battle that Ne"
York has ever witnessed
before the first round ended and
stter flooring Mitchell three times
leonard himself was hoored by hard
- hook to the chin that sent him
5,n FOR the count OF nine. That
nunoh carried 50 much force that i
<roesxed Leonard ss-eyed. For
thrae or four seconds he aid not know
what had happened. Then his quick
oraln cleared and he took tho count or
rms HIS head work during the re
n.stnder OF the round prevented
Mitchell from following UP the tempo
rar-v advantage he had gained. Ano
rsved the road TO victory
The punch Mitchell landed on inc
,hAnpion's ch2n as hard enough 70
have set the average lightweight TO
1rearland and during the battle
Richie missed enough righthanders TO
nave won several lightweight titles
RICHES punches had the stuff IN them
nut he did not have Leonard's address
su OF which indicates that Leonard IS
rlzsyd IN tho art OF taking care Of
himself.
Leonard bfames carelessness Cor the
fact that Mitchell foored him and in
the same breath admits that the punch
was the hardest he has ever stopped.
Twas knock ed down because I got
. trife careless Tor a moment" said
reona-d today. Il dont think Il was
Tor any other reason under esti-
mated Mitchell'e ability in that mo-
7lert because had Just doored him
three times. That was very bad
mistake on my part. 1t might have
cost mo the title. n won't happen
again. Incidentally that punch was
the hardest ever stopped, but IN 2
p-ay I'm glad now that was dropped.
It proved to my friends that can take
a punch"
In the wake OF his victory, Leonard
made the announcement that he will
defend his title Just as often as the
promoters can line UP suitable chal-
lenEsrs,
Let them bring or the Tenders.
Ja1ksors. Dundees. Hartleys or any
81 the others as fast as they like
an ready for them. Tender IS the
only lightweight OF recognized class
whom I have not met, but it has been
no fault of mine. Let him come.
Tender and Jackson both challenE-
I'd the winner OF last nights bout and
one Of the pair will probably be
matched with Benny in the near fu-
turs. Ptnkfe Mitchell. Riches broth
.r, - another lad who wants & crack
at Leopard
A statement made today by While
Mitchell. . brother and manager OF
thu defeated Milwaukee boy, goes a
ferg way to prove tina effectiveness Of
Leor2rd's punches.
Tbs drst punch that noored Richie
turned the tide" said Brother Willie
TT dased him and from that time on
he fought In state OF semi coma It
prevented him from taking advantage
OF Leonard after he had hoered the
champion The fight might as vel.
have ended in that hrst round"
Lseonard's critics-and he has hac
1nany-were silent today regarding
his right to be classed as legitimate
lightweight.
In making 1875 pounds he PROVED
shat he is ell that he has claimed to
be-and more. md in defeating
Richie Mitchell. one OF the games
llKhtweiEhts who ever drew on q
glove, Leonard added a chapter to
lightweight history that viii always
be remembered VITA thrill by every
one who witnessed the bout.
Leonard and Mitchell drew S153.-
1880 In 20 the Garden last night
The fought for the benefit OF the fund
TO restore devastated France and the
American committee in charge OF the
fund. headed by Miss Ann Morgan. vii
realize a handsome profit on the match
after de6uctinS $4,000 for Leonard.
$4,000 for Mitchell and perhaps 5000
Or more for, incidental expenses