The Connecticut labor news., 1922-01-20
TENDLER BECOMES CHIEF CONTENDER TO
 LEONARD'S CROWN
By Virtue of Recent Victory Over Sailor Friedman He Looms As
 Most Logical Candidate

By his victory over Sailor Fried man recently, Lew Tender once more became the leading contender for the lightweight title The Philadelphian had lost a great deal of ground during the past year. The decision Rocky Kansas gained over him in New York few weeks ago was the continuation of long spell of hard luck. Although the decision on that occasion should have gone to Tendler it Is fact that he did not show to good advantage, and boxing followers were inclined to scof at the idea that he constituted a menace to Leonard's reign.
 Now Tender is back at the top of him form This, together with the fact that Leonard has not been doing SO we'll of late, makes the prospects of an interesting struggle for the lightweight crown look promising.
 Ever since Leonard won the title from Freddy Welsh back in 1917 he has lacked a worthy rival. He has been a big drawing card because his brilliant boxing and clean cut hitting make him we'll worth watching. But he has yet to engage i'll a match ln which his victory was not conceded in advance. The only doubtful thing about his big matches was whether his opponent would be able to last the full route.
 Tender now looms up as an oppon- ent with some chance to win. Opin- ion on this point varies widely. Leon- ards followers insist that he would be able to polish off the Philadelphia southpaw as easily as any of the oth CTS, but neutral observers are not so sure
 Good judges who have had an op- portunity to watch Leonard in prac tice bouts with left handlers say that advantage against that kind of op ponent.
 Leonard follows closely the ortho- dox style of boxingI He does not let his right hand go until he has made an opening for it with a straight left or a left hook That style cannot be used successfully against left handlers. It is decidedly dangerous to lead with the left against man like Tender, who can crash home his own left with knockout force. Experience has shown over and over again that left handlers must be met with right hand leads.
 There is nothing wrong with Leon- ards right, but it is not much better than Tendler's left. The champion would have to let it go without first having knocked his man off balance with a left. That means he would have to gamble and take chances. He would have to get away from his natural style of boxing, and that would be big handicap. Leonard is boxer who cannot af- susceptible to punishment, as was shown when the groggy Ritchie Mitchell knocked him down with blow that was not a particularly hard one.
 Leonard, of course, should be a strong favorite over Tendler, but the match would not be a cut and dried affair by any means. The element of doubt would be strong, and that would make it a tremendous drawing card
 Whether Leonard can be induced to get into the ring with Tendler is even more doubtful than which would win.
 Philadelphia will bid high for the match and it is probable that the no decision feature would appeal to Leonard, but even if Quakertown pro- moters bid high enough there still is drawback. Leonard says he has scratched Tenders name off his list of opponents because the Philadel- phian took his forfeit when the cham pion called off a match with him last summer.
 SIGN UNION AGREEMENT.
 Joliet, H., Jan. 2o-The Common wealth Motor Company has signed a