Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1922-07-28

Jersey City. n. j.. July 2S.-slrty
thousand fans who paid nearly half
million dollars Last night, saw Benny
| Leonard. lightweight champion of the
world. retain his title. when he defeat-
cd Lew Tender. Philadelphia ace, In
a memorable i2-round battle In Tex
Richards famed arena at Boyles
Thirty Acres
The scrap will go down In pugilistic
history az one of the greatest bouts
of modern times. The multitude OF
boxing lovers screamed and yelled as
their respective favorites flashed ana
the noise was actually deafening.
Sportsmen from all parts OF the coun-
try were in attendance and large
number of women we're on hand to
see the latest battle Of the century.
Benny Leonard clearly displayed las,
night why he ls lightweight champion
of the world. But he did so after
taking lot Of punishment from the
| philadelphia southpaw, who showed
tho champion that he was not the
dub" that Leonard has termed him.
According TO many Of the critics,
Leonard took. more punishment in the
battle last night than At any time
since ne lifted the crown from Freddie
| Welsh in 1917.
Tenders left was working In ac-
curate IA shion. Though some OF them
went bad. most of them hit their marx
with the telling effect on the cham
pion. Twice during the battle the fans
rose n their feet as they expected to
see a Knockout delivered. Once 1t was
lin the eighth round, when Tender
had the champion I'm bad shape and
the fans expected to see world 8
champion uncrowned and new one
made. Leonard managed to finish tho
round. however, as Tender lacked the
stamina 10 put over the haymaker.
I'm the twelfth round II looked as II
Tender would go the knockout route
Leonard had him hanging on for deaf
life and It is doubtful II the challenger
could have stood another round. Leon
ard worked his hardest He fought
bitterly to put over the knockout
punch. hut he could not knock the
Philadelphia from his feet The
lighters were given tremendous
ovation at the end Of tho bout, as they
shook hands In the center of this
ring. whore Jack Dempsey blasted th'
hopes of France for a heavyweight
champion.
The fans realized shortly after tn
opening of the first round that the'
we've In to SEQ some battle. tn
southpaw took the aggressive ant
oarrled the fight to Leonard. Tendle
shot over his famous lefts and drov
through some rights. one OF whicl
- drew claret from LeOnard's right eye
Those fans who travelled TO Jerse
" CITY to see Leonard knock off the chal
y lenger i'm short order. soon realize
" that they had the wrong dope. Icon
ard realized this Immediately afte
Il the beginning Of hostllitles. He walk
Med into one of Tenders lcfts and fror
" that time on he knew ne had rea
battle on his hands.
, Tender was unquestiOnably- IN
is winner in the early part Of the figh
Snort critics are almost unanimou
about this. He was the aggressor an
shot over some worth while blow
while he showed boxing skin of IN
most clever style. when he evade
II some OF the shoots sent out by Leor
H. ard
ne Leonard came back in the fit
nj round and delivered some of his fam'
ne body blows on Tender. He cut loO'
81 with a pair OF these in succession ar
TX came back a few seconds later wit
another one. Tender came throul
IN with a right hook to Leonard's IA
N and kept hammering away with n
ed southpaw jab. which undoubtedly ri
ny placed him at the point he occupies
le' the lightweight division.
ne The famous eighth round Will
I'm long remembered by the fans OF q
ne Quaker City. who turned out by q
- thousands to see this battle. Tn
were repaid for their trouble al
ma everything else in this round, for
them II undoubtedly alone was wor
u the price OF admission, even If 1t ma
snt pened to he one of the $3.50 sea
Frs down near the ringside. or II IN
happened 10 be, as it looked. sever
me blocks off in one of the 81 seats at
OK outer edge OF the mammoth saucer.
-he Tender jabbed right 20 the face a
me the battIers fell into clinch. Leona
'he let loose with an uppercut right to [
'"s Jaw AT close quarters. The champ
missed a right 70 the body. l-eona
drove a right 10 lcuuitt = bHNS {"
sent Philadelphia hope 70 the rope
les Tender hooked right to the jaw a
ing shook up Leonard with terri
On, punch to the chin. The champion hui
OF On after the punch and Leonard VI
tually had one knee. on the Hot
lhe Tender tried 70 take advantage
OF this opening. but Benny hung on
me dear life. Leonard smiled as he pull
a tooth from his mouth and tossed
from the ring.
Tender closed in on the champi
and battered him about the face at Z
bell Leonard was tired when he wal
ed 10 his corner. For the first iii
during the bout. Leonard took
and towel. The GOODNESS that he display
de- failed him in the eighth stanza a
. j. he was mighty lucky to have held {
in to the gong, which undoubtedly Sc
ed him.
The cheering, screaming, Yelli
,-3 eb,i.,l,iry and what not Mt the {
II Of this round indicated that the f;
expected 10 see a new lightwei
champion crowned. The multit'
'asy could not keep their seats. They
the voluntarily arose from their seats.
he reminded by some unfortunate
behind to sit down"