Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-07-05
LEONARD TOYS WITH
KANSAS IN THE RING

Michigan City, Ind, July 4 (by
the Associated Press) .-Benuie
Leonard, worlds champion light
weight fighter, smashed Rocky
Kansas almost at will all over the
ring in the eighth round of their
scheduled ten-round titular con-
test today and the Buffalo. N. Y.
challenger's seconds threw in the
sponge to save their man from
something more than technical
knockout.
The battle will go down in the
record books as only a technical
knockout for the champion, but it
Will stick In Rocky Kansas meme
ory as the most severe beating he
ever received.
Blood running from his mouth
down his naked chest and tears
trickling through the heavy growth
of beard on his cheeks, Kansas,
held up by his manager. could only
moan: "He whipped me he whip
ped men and. oh. how he can hit"
Following claims by Kansas
friends that the fibula bone in his
left arm just above the wrist had
been broken in the third round of
the fight, and that Kansas had
fought gamely on for five more
rounds with the member practical
ly useless, the fighter was exam
ined tonight by DIR. C. X. Briggs
of Chicago and DR.. A. L. Barone
Of Buffalo, n. Y, member of
Kansas camp. They said the bone
was broken.
non oes
asserted he threw the sponge into
the ring against Kansas wishes in
order to save further injury TO his
arm.
Kansas seemed to be out on his
feet, but it was the disgrace of the
sponge that seemed to hurt him
most, for In his rough career of
many victories only Bennie Leon
ard had ever before even sent him
to the floor and Leonard failed to
do that today, although there
seemed little doubt that one more
right cross would have put the
challenger flat on his back for a
long count.
Leonard, surrounded by hum
dreds who rushed to his corner
smiled after the bout and declared
himself well satisfied with the re-
suit.
"They thought because Kansas
had stayed the limit In three other
bouts with me that I couldn't put
him out. They said when Britton
beat me that I was through. I
guess I showed today that I'm still
a champion. that | still have the
punch and that / can still move
fast
''If there are any fighters who
doubt | want them to know that
sas today"
There was no doubt in the
minds of the more than 10000
spectators who catne to the In
augural battle at Floyd Fitzsim-
mons new open air arena that
Leonard today not only was Rocky
Kansas master, but that he was
Just as fast. just as rugged and
Just as powerful in those terrific
rights as the day he won the title
from Freddie Welsh, years ago.
The champion just toyed with
his husky young opponent. who
can be given credit for only stand
ing like a man before the cham
pion's onslaught and for struggling
gamely to do what today was i'm
possible--trade blows with Leon
ard Kansas did not take single
round. He did not land a solid
blow. He failed to do more than
ruffle the champions hair-but he
never quit trying to get In one OF
those mule-like blows which have
sent such boxers at Ritchie Nit.
chell down for the count in ona
round.
The only time Rocky ever got
an even break was In the first
session. That was an even ex-
change of dancing and sparring
with no heavy blows.
From then Leonard increased
his speed and superiority round by
round. whipping in uppercuts In
semi-clinches which left Kansas
looking from side to side as lie
wondering where they came from.
AS the rounds passed, Leonard
began shooting over his famous
right. cross, mingling 1t with left
hooks which kept the challenger
mystified
The number of Leonards effec-
tive blows increased with every
round and In the seventh he was
N llAs "a