New-York tribune., 1922-12-18

Fight fahdom never was more eyS
cited than during this grillinE battle.
Everyone was up on bis chair. But
the most excited man OF the 1900
present was Benny Leonard, the light
weight champion.
Lsonard, white a. a sheet In that
second round when Il appeared Mitchell
surely would score q lockout kept
seresminR at the top Of his voice
amidst the pandemonlumi
Don't knock him out Riehisl Please
don't knock him ousl"
What was passing IN the mind Of
this usually composed champion II is
not difReult 70 guess. The calculating
business brain saw . big purse slip
ping through bis fingers As on at
traction against the champion Richie
Mitchell 10 pAsse. White and Leonard
in the Garden In March guarantee a
fortune for principals and promoters,
That was Leonards only concern.
The peopls will fall for q. And
indeed they may get their moneys
worth. Even though Richie Mitchell
was selected as a soft mark 20 bally.
hoo Charlie White into fitting proml-
nenee for q championship match and
even though the lamb came near 10
slAughtering the butcher, Whites vie
tory still stands out as one Of the
most sensational contests under the
Walker Law.
But TO take White seriously as
championship possibility. Al, MOI
White was lucky that Richie Mitchell
did not bury his lightweight atpirA-
tions. Had Mitchell had one or two
fights under his belt White never
would have survived that second round.
Mitchell really beat himself. His
judgment Of distance was az fault
Four times he put everything he had
behind a right swing and four times
he missed. Il Is we'll known that this
sort Of miss takes as much out OF a
man as solid crack on the Jaw.
White Is not Of that championship
fiber which hghtB back when stunE.
After he was rocked he went back into
bic shell, refusing to open up or TO
lead. He made no aggressive move
until II was evident 70 all that Mitchell
was dead tired and arm weary. And
even then Charlie seemed overly eau
tiouS.
Charlie White made Richie Mitchell
fight 10 him and 20 his liking. Otherwise
there would have been no action and
the two might have been booed out OF
the ring. Leonard will make White
/ tight as Benny chooses 20 have him
| hght. OF the two White Will have the
greater difhoulty making the light
wtight limit.
By failing 10 put away Mitchell
| quickly. after he had him beaten and
helpless In the first round, Charlie
White once more proved himself lack
ing that sound judgment and hnishing
ability which stamp the champion
from the pack. Had be been possessed
Of these virtues the Chicago light
weight would have worn the crown
years ago. He seems % possess every
attribute but a lighting heart.
None better than Leonard knows
Charlie whites virtues and his short
eomings. That Is why Benny Leonard,
forgetting decorum for the nonee.
shrilled from his FingsIdo chair in
thought, II not IN WoTdl
"Save him up Tor me, Riehiel Please
save him up for msi7
No outdoor sport, saving tennis and
golf, within the last ten years has
caught the public fancy more readily
than shooting. and this, dsSpite the
comparatively high cost Of guns and
ammunition.
Il 10 refreshing 70 nots that the
future Of thiB recreation has been
placed in the hands OF amateurs. Here
tcfors the professional element and
their SponBors--ths arms and munitions