The Washington herald., 1921-02-27
by ROBERT EDGREN.

many new timers, ana some old
timers, have asked me whether or
not I would consider Benny Leon
ard in Jone Cans class as a light
weight champion.
Right there is room for endless
argument. Except in those ath-
letic events where distances and
time show exactly what perform
ances are. it's almost impossible to
compart present champions with
former title holders.
I'll say that Leonard has shown
himself easily master of all rivals
in his class today and a great light
weight. In many points he is very
much like Cans. who is conceded
the master boxer of all the great
old-time light-weights. rrsTa.
Joe Cans started as knockout
artist when he was a small boy
working in the fish market at Bal
timore. He won his first eight
fights with knockouts. He had
been fighting over two years when
he had his first reverse, being
beaten by Dal Hawkins-decision
in fifteen younds. His winning
streak started again Immediately
and went along smoothly until he
was knocked out by George Nc
Fadden in 1899. Soon after that he
lost to Frank Erne in twelve
rounds, the fight being stopped be-,
cause Cans had a badly cut eye
and couldn't see. .
Terry McGovern knocked Cans out
In two rounds and years later he
lost q fifteen-round decision to
Sam Langford-then a lightweight.
He won fights again until 1908,
when Battling Nelson fought him
twice, knocking him out in seven
teen and twenty-one rounds. At
that time Cans was in the decline
that ended in his death from tu-
berculosis a year or so later. OF
course Cans fought hundreds OF
ring engagements-but Leonard
isn't at the end of his fighting ca
reer and may have as long a record
II he doesn't retire.
Ienuy leonard has been knocked
out. too. Benny began boxing at
Billy Gibson's old Fairmont A. c.
in the Bronx. New York. when he
was only 16, and showed such
speed that Gibson became his man
aser and matched him up to the
championship III hNO ySoiS
strong ON X. O.'s,
In his first year of ring. work
Benny won a lot of fights with
knockouts, He was knocked out
himself by Joe Shugrue in four
rounds. Shugrue was very fast
and clever lightweight. In his
second year Benny won only three
fights with knockouts, fought many
with no decision, and was knocked
out by frankie Fleming. first
class little Canadian. Two years
later Benny stopped being q
Feather duster. boxer" and began
studying the science of winning
with a clean K. o., and among the
good ones he knocked out were Joe
Mandot. of New Orleans, and Ever
Hammer.
In 1917 Leonard started a whirl-
wind Knockout campaign that won
him the lightweight championship.
which he still holds. Within ten
weeks Leonard knocked out Packey
Hommey 20 rounds), Ritchie Nit
chell q rounds), Charlie Thomas
(6 rounds), Eddie Shannon (6
rounds). and Lightweight Cham>
pion Freddy Welsh 20 rounds.)
About this time people began to
talk about Benny Leonard as 'an-
other Joe Cans" With the con-
fidence of real champion he went
right along knocking out opponents
and not picking soft ones" He
knocked out Johnny Nelson and
Feather-weight Champion Johnny
Kilbane. Young Record Phil Bloom.
Eddie Dorsey and Vic Moran.
About this time Leo johnson, a
splendidly built colored boy and a
clever boxer. was called black
lightweight champion. and many
thought he. could beat Leonard.
Benny announced that unless he
could whip all opponents, regard
less of color, he didn't care to cali
himself champion.