New-York tribune., 1921-08-12
Iendler Plans
1oClain1 $4,000
Leonard Forfeit
Lew to Weigh In and
May Even Show Up in
K n g for the Title
By Jack Lawrence

From Philadelphia-land cf ne ram
pant report and home c. ne lurid
legend-comes the story that Lew
Tender, the ambitious climber who as
pires to the purple peaks occupied by
one Benny Leonard. will go to the Ma
tional League ball park in Philly at
, o'clock this afternon to weigh in for
somewhat mythical battle for the
lightweight championship of the world.
Mr.. Tender viii then present him
self at the ringside at the trysting
hour in the evening and may even go
so far as to seat himself in his corner
put on the gloves and wait for the
sounding of the first bell.
The opposite corner, in which Benny
Leonard ought to be seated, will be
empty. Lew will be playing solitaire
and probably in the dark.
But there is method in Lewis lone
someness. He won't be playing soli-
taire with marked cards At least. that
is the way this midsummer nights
dream from Philly has it.
When Lew has asked himself. Where
is my wandering Benja tonight ," for
the 'steenth time ne will disembark
from the bleak and unpeopled ring and
seek a certain Philadelphia sporting
writer who is alleged to be holding
$4,000 in perfectly good cash which
: belongs to Leonard and which was put
up by Mister Billy Gibson as 8 forfeit
in case Benny failed to appear.
The fact that dislocated thumb,
less starboard nstt have made Leon
ards appearance in Philadelphia as a
principal in a championship bout quite
impossible, so far as this evening is
concerned, will mean something less
than nothing to Mr.. Tender.
Thumbs and metacarpal bones, Lew
figures, are all right between friends.
They may mean something under such
circumstances. But Lew and Benja are
not friends and they are operating un-
der the rules Of the game
These rules, Lew alleges, give him
the right to claim the $1,000 forfeit
money. He is going to claim it, but it
doesn't seem at all likely that he will
do much more than that.
The sum of $1,000 TO Benny Leonard
means no more than would s5,000,0O0 to
q starving Armenian. Nothing short of
a drop Of the hat would make him fight
for it. Where nNney is concerned
Benny and Mister Gibson are as aloof
as a couple OF Bayard Street hnanciers
According TO those close TO the cham
pion, Lew Tender has abbut as much
chance Of getting his lunch hooks on
that 5000 as Lou Tellegen has CT sing
ing Lieutenant B. T. Fnkerton to
Geraldine Farrar's Madame Butterfly"
next winter
Tie fact that Gibson, Leonard & Co.
have already collected the $1,000 may
have some bearing on Tenders plans
for to-day.
The last fickering vestige of doubt
about the clinching Of the battle be-
tween Bryan Downey and Johnny Viii
son on Labor Day was wiped away last
night by Tex Rickard, promoter Of the
event. Rickard received yesterday
from Jimmy Dunn, manager Of Do~ney.
a telegram stating thai the financial
arrangements were satisfactory to him.
The fight viii be held at I o'clock on
the afternoon OF September tLahor
Day) in Boyle's Thirty Acres. Three
preliminaries will precede the main
event and reserved seats Will sell for
S3 S5 and $40.
Downey and Wilson will start train
ing in the vicinity of this city one week
from next Monday, according TO Martin
killilea ard Jimmy Dunn, managers of
the two middleweights.
Phil Franchini, the Brooklyn ban
tamweight. was matched last evening
to battle Dick Griffin, Of Fort Worth,
Tex, in the twelve-round wind-up at
the Broadway {. A, Brooklyn, next
Monday night