The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-02-05
LEONARD MUST
Be AT HIMSELF
TO HOLD CROWN
If He Has Slipped, Rugged
Kansan Will Be Hard;
Other Good Bouts
:. rnwAnp w. cocHRANE.

gncsv Kansas Of Buffalo will be
~ onponent. This contest is the
na,standing feature OF a calendar
~ splendid fistic attractions 10 be
Altered TO the followers Of this pop
mar indoor sport In America THIS
VIZ For more than two years there
hoyo been rumors that wealth and
rotous living. coupled with lack
~ onthnsiasm about training. have
caused Leonard to slip and that he
ynsyer will be able to fight In the
sorm he acquired at the time he
tnocked out Freddy Welsh and
sained the throne OF his division of
slgiana. Whether this IL true or
moi can be told when he meets the
rugged Kansas, who, although he ls
not considered as good as LEONARD,
4. tough. a hard puncher and very
formidable foe for any lightweight.
Last One Year Ago.
Ieonard's last bout In defense OF
hls title was fought In New York
January a. 1921, when Ritchie
Witcheil of Milwaukee furnished the
onposltion. That battle served as
test for the champion, who did not
know that he could, after some
months of idleness, train down to
hs best fighting form. The biggest
the first round when Mitchell
planted his right mauler against the
4 chin OF the crown wearer and nearly
knocked him loose from his title.
Leonard crashed TO the floor and
came up at the count of nine.
The champion flattened his foe
in the sixth round. butr despite his
decisive victory, there were whis-
perings among the fistic experts
that Leonard had seen his best day
and would retire before long or
other fighter, the crop OF lights
weights being very formidable one
at present.
Outpoints Kansas.
Following the Mitchell affair.
Leonard knocked out Eddie Moy in
three, outpolnted Joe yelling in
eight and then met Kansas, his foe
OF this week for ~ sessions at Jer-
sey City. Kansas had just flattened
Richie Mitchell in one round and
therefore, stood about as he does
now, at the head OF the list OF chal-
lengers, Leonard outpointed the
rough Buffalo mauler but he knew
when he finished he had been In q
fight. Later Leonard boxed Sailor
Friedman. George Ward and Tim
Droney, the latter two furnishing no
opposition at all.
Leonard has amassed considerable
wealth and like all fighters who ac-
quire wealth after starting with
nothing, Hikes to live we'll. This new
er was good for boxer. Many
champions have lost their titles be-
fore they should because OF 1t. While
Leonard takes good care OF himself
for 4 man In his position In life, II Is
q fact that he does not take the care
he did at the time when he was
striving to reach the top. In time
this will tell on him sufficiently to
make him a victim of some good
young fighter.
Challenger Veteran.
Kansas is by no means young
fighter. He started out in the
game In 1911, Just one year before
leonard, but he never attracted a
great deal OF attention until jan
uary 22, 1921, when he knocked out
Jimmy Duffy In one round at Buff
ialo. One month later he knocked
out Richie Mitchell in a similar
manner and Immediately he was
heralded as the next champion.
The Buffalo Fighter did not i'm
mediately launch a campaign to get
leonard in the ring. He realized
mat he would have to beat some of
he 'front.'. His first Victim was Will
Jackson, who, at that time, was
considered tho leading candidate for
! match with Leonard over the fn-
sen-round decision route in New
!ork. He gained verdict over
JACKSON In ~ sessions. Then he
Knocked out Bobby Ward. boxed
Johnny Dundee 10 rounds. no de.
eslon, and went ~ with Leonard.
:. shortly after the Leonard fight q
new York promoter signed Kansa,
and Lew Tender OF Phiia deiphia
VINO has dogged the trail OF Leon
ara for a long time, for Is round,
snd announced that the winner
would meet the champion. Tendlei
Nes heralded as very clever boxel
sho Kansas a fighter. II was fig
sred that. should the bout go thu
amlt, Tender surely would gain tn,
s.olet. But he surprised them. HI
oeat Tender in a majority of thu
.ouhds and the judges were unani
NOUS In awarding. him the verdict
ms result made Kansas the lead
rs contender for the title and whel
sn Hckard patched up his differ
nses with Leonard. he natural.
'aus the Buffalo fighter the bout.
4 nhiIe Kansas Is not expected I,
at Leonard and undoubtedly tn
saampion Will be the favorite. be
,suse OF his outpointing Kansas ii
FORMER meeting, II Is a fac
ra N hansas ls tough. hard h.ttin
shter' able to take about all tn
punishment Leonard can deal ou
s,,a H ne VIII land many blow on tn
s.n uns holder before the finish.
mentt eieS''hs ehsase
oo Malone Boxes Robson.
ohe other champion will defen
~ utle This week when Gene Tun
svs VINO recently won a decislo
~, Battling Levlnsky and thu
paned the light heavyweigf
hrnmoni VIII meet Jack Clifford /
Voxyn for 10 rounds. This shout
larry easy one for Tunney.
s,,Hsnother bout which will attra,
sss"uon Is between Jack Major
hnh Lommy Robson in ct, pau
C,hhon was supposed TO Dor MN
voons, but illness of the latts
a mSs,, a change and Malone va
knno,uted Robson recent
Sou,s Gibbons down twice IN
Mn u Boston. II Malone bea
fcr ~, re viii be a strong contend,
"e middleweight championshi