The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-08-06
Every Round But Two Were Leonard's by Comfortable Margins--B Cuts Aloose Towards Last.
By Associated Prcss

Michigan City, Ind. August 5.--- Benny Leonard. worlds lightweight champion. successfully defended his title in Floyd Fitzsimmons' arena this evening in 10 slow rounds with Ever Hammer of Chicago.
 Leonard. with his damaged right eye. protected by adhesive tape, box cd cautiously until the last three rounds, when he cut lo' SC with a series of punches that left the chal- ienger bewildered.
 Every round but two were Leon- ards iby a comfortable margin, while the best Hammer could claim was an even break in the first and fourth.
 Leonard evidently had serious re- spect for Hammers left hand. as he elected to box at long range to pro- tect the gash over his right eye as much as possible. Whenever Ham mer rushed in Leonard set him on his hecls with solid right hand punches to the chin. ninsiirK these punches with left hooks.
 Hammer Was Game Hammer fought courageous bat tie. continually trying to land with his left. but Leonard carried too many guns. When Leonard was shaken up a few times with hooks 10 the chin. he settled down and proved that he was champion. After 1t was all over. Hammer said:
 Leonard is the toughest man ever fought or want to fight. My. how he can punch"
 Leonard said:
 Hes a good tough kid"
 The big bowl was less than half al xrh AAn setting sun fell across the canvas, Hammer climbed through shs ropes, followed by the champion. Tho gate receipts wore estimated at sas,eOo, and the attendance about 1000.
 Respected Hammerss Loft
 Leonard displayed an abiding re- spect for Hammers left from the start The challenger put over two light iefts to the body. and they olinched in the first 10 seconds. Leonard felt out his rival with . cautious feint or two,
 Hammer touched up Leonayd's right eye patch in the fourth and drew a trace of blood. The champion came back in the fifth and forced he challenger to the ropes with . right to the chin. He blocked Hammers left and planted another riwht to the head.
 The sixth started with .Ha nmsr renewing the attack on Benny's right eye and he finally succeeded in knocking off the patch. reopening the wound the champion received in the fight with Lew Tender 10 days ago at Jersey City.
 The rest was LeonArds all the way, though Hammer did slow the pace . moment In tho seventh.
 Preliminarfes
 In the six-round opener. Jack File of New York had . shade the bet ter of Charley Glaxer of Chicago, They weighed 124 pounds.
 Sammy Fraeger of Chicago seorea | technical knock out over Irish" Dummy Clayton of Pittsburg in the second preliminary. when the con- test was stopped by the refsree after Clayton had been floorsd twice In tho fourth round. They weighed 12o pounds. s The semi-sfnd up Harold Smith. . Chicago bantam, scored | tecnical knock out over Eddie O'Connor of Grand Rapids. Mich. In the fifth round of scheduled eiEh- round contest. The rescree waveA O'Connor to his corner. when Smith ha him on the verge of q knock out
 Hammer and Leonard cams into the ring at s:lo ock, just as the sun was beginning to fade over tho | edge of the arena. Darkness vas .-p- l preaching fast, and the usual pre- 1 liminaries were rushed Leonard won l . paster over his damaged right eye.
 Round One ~