The New York herald., 1921-12-18
CHAMPIONS MENACE
BOXINGNNEW YORK
Five of the Eight Title Hold
ers Refuse to Defend Honors
Under the Walker Law.
HOSTILITY TO RICHARD
Patrons of Boxing of This City
Entitled to Bouts Between
Leaders in the Glass.
by CHARLES f. MATHIsoN.

BY CHARLES f. MATHIsON.
Surface indications point unerringly
10 combination of champions to side
track New York as a boxing center.
The fact that not title holder in five
of the eight classes can be induced to
box in this city shows plainly the at
titude of the men who hold the honors
In pugilistic circles in this country.
Jack Dempsey, the heavyweight
champion, would doubtless box here
If a suitable opponent for him could be
found. At the same time it is likely
that Dempsey will appear in the Jer-
sey City arena next summer with some
heavyweight to be selected later
The light heavyweight title is In
dispute between Battling LevinslSy and
Harry Greb. The Pittsburgher would
box here, but LevinslSy would not.
Johnny Wilson. after receiving his
$4,000 check for the Downey affair,
promised to meet any man in a bout
in the Garden that might be selected
by Rickard.
Jack Britton. welter champion, viii
not box in this city, and Benny Leon
ard. the lightweight champion, openly
declares he will not box for Tex
Rickard.
Johnny Kilbane. featherweight cham
pion. declines to box In this State. and
Johnny Buff. who holds the flyweight
and bantam titles. refuses lucrative
matches in the Garden and boxes in the
West for one-quarter what he could get
in this city.
Coupled with the attitude of the cham
pions is an organization by managers
and boxers, known as the National
Sports Alliance, In the membership of
which are all the champions and their
managers These men are hostile to the
Walker law as it stands and to Promoter
Tex Rickard. william Gibson, manager
OF Leonard and president of the new as
sociation. has publicly announced that
he will refuse to permit Leonard to box
for Richard
Leonard's Position.
Unless Leonard chooses to box in New
York State under commission law he
cannot be compelled to do so. Yet, as
he won his title under New York State
Commission law, 1t Is we'll within the
power of the present State Athletic Com
mission to inquire of the young man
why he refuses to defend his champion
ship under practically the same condi-
tions that governed his requirement of
the title. Leonard defeated Welsh in a
ten round decisonless contest and thus
gained tho worlds honors of the class.
Had there been decision on points in
the contest with Welsh, Leonard would
still have been the winner. Therefore.
he is without valid excuse for avoiding
a bout to decision. Leonards chief
reason for not boxing In this city. as
publicly announced by the champion.
was that Rickard would get the lions
share of the receipts. while he as cham
pion would be underpaid. Rickard. by
offering Leonard so per cent of the
gross receipts. has removed the finan-
cal feature of the complaint.
As for the objection raised by Leon
ard that he might lose his title through
an erroneous decision by judges, there
seems to be no ground for fear on his
part. Unless the champion has lost
form there is not a lightweight in the
world barring Rocky Kansas. who would
have a chance to last fifteen rounds with
the title holder Kansas was on his feet
at the end of the twelfth round at Har-
rison. but the writer, who witnessed the
contest. entertained doubts as to the
Buffalonian's ability TO keep on his feet
had three additional rounds been before
him.
It is also we'll known fact that Leon
ard can In his best form outpoint any
lightweight I'm the world and several
weiters in the bargain. It f. evident
therefore that the excuse of bad Judging
is in the same category as the complaint
about insufficient compensation.
Question of Weight.
II has been repeatedly charged that
Iconards real reason for refusing to
box in this State Is that he can no
longer make the 1876 pounds at 2 p M.
as required by the Walker law The
fact of his boxing George Ward. a well
terweight. and seeking a match with
Jack Britton. welter champion, strength
ems that theory. Yet Leonard could box
Britton In this State for the welter
championship and still retain his light
weight title. However, Leonard knows
Tat he can box in almost any other
state than New York without the for
uality of making weight, while he will
be compelled to disclose his real weight
n no boxes in this state.
Nevertheless. the insincerity OF all
these complaints by the champion Is
proved by the blunt declaration OF Will
tam Gibson. Leonard's manager, that
tho real reason Leonard refuses to box in
New York Is HIS determination not TO
appear in the ring in a bout promoted
by Tex Richard This statement opens
the door for an offer from Charlie Muir
ray cf Buffalo, who has an arena that
will hold 10000 persons. The Rink S. c..