The New York herald., 1922-07-05
His Manager Tosses Sponge
Into Ring in the Eighth
Round.
FULL HOUSE AT RINGSIDE
Champion Outclasses Opponent
From Start; Displaying
His Real Skill.
BY CHARLES F. MArH1soN.

MICHIGAN CITY, July At being nec-
essary in the line of business for Benny
Leonard to stop Rocky Kansas. the
lightweight champion did that little
thing to-day. He stopped Kansas thor
oughly In the eighth round just as he
might have stopped him at Madison
Square Garden if he had not a return
business engagement with him. =
This knockout is expected to react
favorably in drawing them out for
Leonards match with Lew Tender in
the Boyle's Thirty Acres on July 27.
To-day bout was held in Floyd Fitzsim
mons's Arena and drew a crowd of
$4,000.
Leonard, boxing with all the skill he
is known to possess, completely out
classed Rocky Kansas from the first
round UP to the time that the manager
of the Buffalo fighter tossed sponge
Into the ring in token of defeat. Leon
ard not only outboxed Kansas to an
extent that made the Buffalo man look
like a novice, but he also outpunched
hira in each of the eight rounds.
When Leonard landed a staggering
right hook to the chin after two min
utes of fighting in the eighth session
and followed this crashing blow with
fusilade of punches to nose and jaw,
it was evident that the Buffalo chal-
ing from the mouth, dazed and groggy,
he staggered about the ring, while
Leonard piled him with punches that
would have floored a less rugged man.
Stayed on His Feet.
The Buffalo boy was on his feet al
though very shaky, and could hardly
have withstood another blow When the
sponge shot through the air and fell
on rhe ring floor.
Kansas seconds jumped into the ring
and helped their man to his corner,
where cloth bandage was hastily adj
Justed to his left arm. Then Dan
Rogers. manager of Rocky Kansas. in
formed those at the ringside that the
Buffalo mans left arm had been
broken in the third round. In Wow of
the fact that Kansas swung viciously
with his left right up until the time
the chin. the opinion prevailed that the
Italians fighting spirit, rather than
his arm. had been broken.
Kansas evidently was discouraged
early In the bout because of his in
ability to land on Leonard with effect
The Buffalo boy apparently sought In
several of the rounds to end the contest
by means of a blow below the belt.
Leonard was hit foul a number of
tInued firm in his relentless purpose to
stop Kansas before the tenth round was
reached. Beginning the third round
Leonard boxed brilliantly and the feint-
ing of the champion so confused Kan
sas that the challenger was compelled
TO break ground and cover up a num-
Der OF times.
So pronounced was the superiority of
Leonard in the boxing, hitting and ring
generalship over Kansas that the con-
test looked like one between a boxer
OF the first rank, and rank boxer of
the second class.
The result of the encounter COM
pletely eliminates Kansas as a future
contender in title bouts with champion
Leonard. incidentally. Lew Tender.
who Is to meet Leonard in title match
the latter part of this month. will need
all his resources If he expects TO sue
cessfully cope with Leonard. who
smothered Rocky Kansas on this beau
tiful July Fourth. near the southern
shore Of Lake Michigan.
Fight fans who paid their money to
see Leonard and Kansas when they ap-
peared at Madison Square Garden. thus
learn from the knockout in Michigan
city, something concerning the weird.
inscrutable motives Of the clean cut
young business men in boxing.
The arena, which is estimated TO hold
so, 900 persons, was practically filed be-
fore the first bout had been put on AS
the population of this city Is about 10000.
the natural surposition was that every
inhabitant of the town was In the sta
dtim.
Dave Miller of Chicago was the referee.
Dan Rogers. manager for Kansas.
stated that he threw the sponge into
the ring because Kansas had broken
a bone in his left arm, just above the
wrist. In the third round. DR.. G. X.
Briggs OF Chicago and DIR. A. l.. Barone
Of Buffalo examined the arm tonight
and stated that the fibula bone had
Lxa