The New York herald., 1922-02-10
Champion and Challenger Are
Both Fit and Below the
Required Weight.
BY CHARLES f. MArHrsoN.

n BY CHARLES f. MATHIsON.
g Not since the days when Kid Lavigne,
Joe Cans. Frank Erne. Kid McPart-
land, Young Griffo. Battling Nelson
and Ad Wolgast were in their prime and
2 engaging in thrilling combat has there
! been so interesting a lightweight cham
pionship match as that between Benny
Leonard and Rocky Kansas which is
set for tonight at Madison Square
Garden.
The champion and his rugged chal-
.lenger from Buffalo are the best of the
present lightweight crop and they COM
npare favorably with the leaders in the
division thirty years ago. Leonard in
science. speed and hitting powers re-
minds one strongly of Cans in the
enegro's prime. Kansas in strength, en-
durance and combativeness brings up
recollections of Lavigne, Nelson and
, Wolgast..
Therefore the encounter tonight will
be one between skill and agility against
strength and aggressiveness. The bout
tonight will be the second time this
pair have met. the other contest being
held In the open at Harrison, N j..
last summer. This was twelve round
decisionless bout, and it lasted the limit.
with the champion getting the popular
decision Leonard had a clear lead in
points at the end of the twelfth round
but the italian was fighting hard at the
close.
!, The bout tonight will differ from
the Jersey encounter In that 1t will be
a fifteen rounder with a decision on
4 points at the conclusion of the last
: round in the event the contest lasts
the limit. In the Jersey meeting there
was no official decision points and
therefore Leonard was not compelled to
push himself or take desperate chances
to make sure of the verdict in order to
!, protect his title.
How Leonard Can Lose Title.
In the battle tonight Leonard can
lose his title in three different ways--by
losing on points. by being knocked out
. or IL he commits a foul and is disqual-
ified.
He can retain his crown by knocking
out Kansas outpointing him, by being
fouled or by a decision of drawn con-
test.
If the champion fails to stop the little
Hercules from Buffalo then the title
holder will be compelled 10 win clearly
on points, and he will not be able to in
dulge in any idleness from the time
the bout starts till the gong ends the
fnal round.
1t would appear that the champion
should be able to win on points, being
decidedly the more skillful boxer of the
pair.
So far as Kansas Is concerned. unless
he wins by knockout his chances would
seem to be slender. 1t is true he landed
some heavy thumps on the champion IN
the Jersey bout, but none landed with
the solidity of the jolt from Richie
Mitchell that sent Leonard sprawling
in Madison Square Garden. Yet Leon
ard proved on that occasion that his
recuperative powers were excellent. TOT
ne arose ard soon had the Milwaukee
hitter in condition for knockout blow.
Judged from all angles it looks as
though the encounter tonight would 60
the limit. with Leonard winning on
points. A knockout is possible. but 1t
would be in the nature of an unexpected
thrill.
Champion mt I34 Pounds.
Leonard and Kansas are ready for
the encounter Contrary to reports as
to his weight the champion jumped on
the scales yesterday and tipped the
beam at 13i pounds. Conditions OF the
match call for 135 pounds at o'clock
this afternoon. A report was circulated
TO the effect that Leonard would not
make the stipulated poundage. In the
presence of several hundred fans at
Mamie Seamon's gym Leonard salts
fled them that he was under weight
day before the contest.
Kansas also lis down to weight He
tipped the scales at 1aL pounds yes
terday in Freddie Welsh's gym at Bay
side l.. T. He is in fine condition and
expresses confidence in his ability TO
dethrone Leonard.
record crowd will watch the COM
hat The minute the tickets went on
sale there was a great demand Tor
them. Frank z. Coultry, treasurer at
the Garden, sent back several hundred
mail orders because he could not FIJI
them.
This will be Leonard's first appear
fancc In the Garden since last year when
ne stopped Joe yelling. He boxed
-four round exhibition with George Ward
after that.
Kansas has been seen much in the
er.arden where he defeated Willie jack
6n and Lew Tender. He knocked out
Richie Mitchell in one round at Buffalo.
Sam Mosberg meets Harry Ckido
Brown of Philadelphia in the semi
final. Phil Logan of Buffalo boxes
Eddie wallace of Yorkville. and Lew
paluso of Salt Lake City squares off
with Johnny Williams OF New York
The unreserved seats will be placed on
tsaIe at O'Clock tonight
The police will surround the Garden
Tonight and give ample protection.
More than 800 persons come on from
Buffalo to cheer for Kansas.
= Jack Clifford. the Greenpoint heavy
weight. has an ambition TO give Brook
lyn the light heavyweight championship.
In meeting Gene Tunney, the newly
crowned title holder. in the feature
twelve round bout at the Rink Sport
ing Club. Clermont and Myrtle avenues,
saturday night. Clifford has everything
10 gain and nothing to lose.
tTarzan Larkin Knocks Out
D-I