South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-08-03
LEONARD
CLAIM HE Is IN
SHAPE FOR BATTLE
Denies Report That He Re-
CARDS Hammer Cheaply-
Odds About Six To One.
BY LOUIS WOLF

Though the dope on the hght be-
tween Benny Leonard and Ever
Hammer scheduled for Saturday aft
ernoon az Michigan City, all favors
Leonard there is a tendency among
dopesters 20 take Manner at odds OF
about six 20 one and 10 IS reported
that there is being some coin placed
at those figures.
The main argument put forth by
the Hammer boosters are first. that
Leonard is more or less burnt out
following his string or hard battles
secondly. that he IS taking the
Blonde Tiger" too cheaply and
thirdly. that he Is nov nursing a
pretty troublesome cut over one eye.
They argue that a jolt OF any kind
on the tender lamp viii open it up
again and might be bothersome
enough 20 eventually unseat the
champ.
There may be a bit OF truth In the
argument that Leonard is for the
time being burnt out but there is
q counter argument that the recent
battles have put the lightweight king
Isl the pink 0f condition for the first
time in his life Leonard has never
been much of a fighter 20 train He
dishkes gym work and on one or
two occasions he has been sOrely
pushed iu battles that he should
have taken easily. simply because he
failed 90 condition himself properly.
His heavy schedule Of fights this
summer has enabled him TO fight
himself into condition and its a good
bet that If Ever Hammer slips in a
win it viii be over the best Benny
Leonard that has fought since he
grabbed the title The cut over the
champs eve may bother him. but
the answer 20 that is that 10 failed
20 bother him after Lew Tender
hung IL on him and il certainly was
worse then than il Will be two weeks
afterwards. Tender cut Benny s
eve early in the fight and the champ
ion carried il all through with him
and landed a decision after he was
beaten IN the first four rounds, so
il could not have stopped him much.
As for Leonard undertaking Ever
Hammer, here's what Benny said
the other day when he arrived in
Michigan City. outside of this cut
over my eve. I'm in just as good
shape as ] was when / landed in
Michigan City 10 box Rocky Kansas
4 a month ago. That's all talk about
me holding Ever Hamer cheaply. 1
EXPECT him 10 extend me plenty Any
boxer who can get a crowd like
Richie Mitchell, Charlie White and
Dave Shade is pickens for nobody.
I am getting used TO boxing often
again and feel that my ring work is
improving. IT takes work to get
into shape and real fighting is the
best conditioner I know of. My train
ing for this fight viii consist only of
light boxing. That is/au I need"
In speaking Of the Tender scrap
Leonard said. Il am proud OF my
victory over Tender, but what pleas
IS me more is that 1 proved to the
doubters that 1 can make the light
weight limit and be at my best as
was for Lefty Lew"
Ever Hammer is working out at
the Haskell and Barker club house
on the beach az Michigan City and
is rounding into good shape He
expects TO give the champion the
fight Of his career. Chicago fight
fans are expecting Hammer TO come
through as they believe be is one
OF the toughest boys that has been
developed in the Windy City in years.
The advance ticket sale is reported
as being large.