Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-07-27
NO S0UTHPAWEV
HELD light TITLE
Lew Tender Gets Chance To-
night to Make History for
left-Handed Boxers
WOULD BE 14TH CHAMP

THERE never has been southpaw
l. lightweight champion. If Lew Ten
dler upsets the dope and knocks out
Benny Leonard tonight in Jersey City,
or wins on foul. the Philadelphia
portside puncher will have made pugi-
listic history.
Lightweight champion No. IA will
be attached to the local boxers name in
the event Of decisive victory, and his
monicker will 60 down in the record
books as titleholder OF that divi-
sion, among others. along with Jack
Dempsey. Jack McAuliffe, Kid Lavigne,
Frank Erne. Joe Cans. Battling Nell
son, Ad Wolgast. Willie Ritchie,
Freddy Welsh and Benny Leonard.
Champions in the lightweight divi-
sion were not classified to any extent
until the early eighties. when Jack Me-
Auliffe, Billy Frasier. George Full
james and Harry Gilmore began to
figure as 12S and 1873 Founders. About
the first titleholder in America was Abe
Hicken. who claimed the title and de-
feated Pete Mcclure in five rounds.
December 90. 1868, at Perryville.. Md.
1t is presumed that Hicken retired and
the title lapscd.
Chambers Gains Title
Joe Collyer, of England. then G. laimcd
the crown. as did Billy Edwards and
Arthur Chambers. Of America. Ed
wards defeated Collyer, after which the
former lost on q foul to Chambers in
the thirty fifth round of n bout at
Whirlpool Island, st. Clair River,
Canada, September 4. 1872.
There was another lapse of the title
when Chambers retired. and then along
about 1885 Jack Dempsey became the
recognized lightweight king, after beat.
ing lot of pretenders. However,
Dempsey advanced into heavier classes
and then Jack McAuliffe, who had won
several amateur lightweight tourna-
mcnts in New York. was looked upon
as the professional titleholder on May
II. 1885. after Jimmy Mitchell de-
clincd to meet him.
McAuliffe defended the diadcm until
he retired undcfeated in 1903, the title
being taken over by Kid Invignc.
known as the Saginaw Kid. Lavisnc
ruled supreme until Frank Ernc de-
fcated him in twenty rounds at Buff
falo. \. Y. Jolly 2. 1889.
Joe Cans knocked out Erne in
round. May II. 1902, at Fort Eric.
Can. and it was at this time that
Jimmy Britt stepped into the picture,
claiming the laurels because Cans re-
fused to make weight for him. Britt
went along winning lot of bouts until
he was krockcd out in the eighteenth
round by Battling Nelson, September
o, 1905, ct Colma, Calf.
Cans on Foul
Then Cans. who Ind been boxing a.
welterweight. returned to the light
weight division. and he won on II foul
IN the forty-sorond round from Nelson
IN their memorable battle at Goldfield,
New. September 3. 1906. This. in.
cidently. was the first match promot cd
by Tex Richard. who also IS putting on
tonight's Tender Leonard contest.
Cans continued to box Mt the lirbt-
weight limit. 133 pounds, in these DAYS.
knocking out Kid Herman, Britt nnd
Nudy Umhoz. also defeating George
Memsic. Then the Negro met Nelson
for the second time. on this occasion
the Durable Dane putting Joe to sleep
In tie seventeenth round at San Fran.
cisco. July 4. 1908.
Nelson gave Cans another bout. Nav
%. 1909, and this time the Rattlcr
won on a knockout in the twenty. third
round. After stopping Dick Hyiand in
twenty. three rounds. Ad Wolgast took
the title from Nelson February 90
1910. in forty rounds at Port Rich.
mond. Calf.
Ritchle on Throne
Wolgast held the crown until No.
vember %. 1912. when Willie Ritrbie
became titlchOlder on Il foul In the six
teenth round ut DAILY CITY. Calf
Ritchie was followed on to the throne
by Freddy Welsh, who was rendered n
referees decision over the Californian
after twenty rounds at London in
1914.
The Engllshman reigncd for little
more than three years, when, on tho
night of May 2S. 1917. he was Knocked
out and Benny Leonard took over the
championship.
Now Lew Tender, after Leonard has
held the title for more than five wears
will get the biggest tistic opportunity of
his career to become the first south
paw lightweight champion in the history
of fistiana, and bring the crown to