The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1921-06-02
KANSAS LIKELY TO
SURPRISE LEONARD
Sturdy Buffalo Lightweight
Ablest Challenger Cham
piOn Has Had.
BY CHARLES F. mATHIsoN.

II would be difficult to conceive of a
more interesting match in any class than
thaa between Benny Leonard, light
weight champion of the world, ard
Rocky Kansas, the sturdy Italian chal-
lenger of Buffalo, which is set for de-
cislon In Harrison Baseball Park next
Monday night. Leonard is beyond all
question the ablest holder of the light
weight title since the days of Joe Cans.
and Kansas is the nearest approach to
Kid Lavigne who has appeared in the
ring since the days OF the Saginaw Kid.
With Leonard. clever, speedy. hard hit
ting, crafty, opposed by the rushing.
smuggling, combative Kansas, there sh 1uld
be combat full of thrills.
This will mark the first contest for
the title in which the challenger will be
conceded chance to win since Leonard
took the honors from Freddie Welsh
The champion has disposed of all pre-
ceding opponents with so little difficulty
that the impression has been created
that no one in the division had the
slightest chance of taking the cham
pionship from him.
But the performances of Kansas We're
so impressive that he forced the cham
pion to give him recognition in the form
of match. The Buffalo man stopped
Richie Mitchell in three rounds. less
time than Leonard took for the same
feat. and Kansas gave While Jackson
a drubbing the latter will not soon for
get. Leonard is doing his prepar itory
work at Stillman's gymnasium and Kan
sas is tuning up at the Trinity Club In
Brooklyn.
Replying to the request OF Sammy
Goldman, Pete Herman's manager, that
T. 4 la IAfn n
title in q bout with Herman under the
rules of the Walker law. chairman of
the Boxing Commission Walter G.
Hooke writes:
1.-THE question that you raise Is en-
t,rely academic, as the six months
period In which Lynch can defend his
title does not expire until July %, and.
further, the New York State Boxing
Commission would not presume to sug-
gest that Herman or any other boxer
was the logical contender"
Chairman Hooke seems to have over
looked the law on the subject, which
reads as follows:
ANY boxer winning championship
Under the international boxing rules
must defend his title in a bona fide
bout to a decision against the best
available contender within period of
six months from the time of winning
his title. unless he Is prevented by cir
beyond his control, in which
case the time may be extended by the
Board of Boxing Control. Should he
fall to do so, or should he be unable |
DO make the required weight as specified
in these rules. his title shall be for
feited to his challenger"
The law therefore provides that the
title holder must defend his title with
in six months from the time OF win
ming It," How can Lynch defend II
within the stipulated time IL no match
is made? If Lynch had been ordered
by the commission to obey the Walker
law and make match with Herman,
who is known to all except Hooke to
be the logical contender. the rules would
have been complied with.
AS the case stands Herman will be
compelled to ask the new Boxing Com
mission to take up the matter and give
him Justice under the plain. unam-
biguous law.