New-York tribune., 1922-02-07
Rocky Made 1876 Pounds
Easily; Champion Looks
Near Lightweight Limit
By Jack Lawrence

=, There WAS standing room only at
Freddie Welch's gymnasium in Bay
SIDE, l.. l.. yesterday afternoon when
Rocky Kansas. Of Buffalo, entered The
last stage OF his training for his battle
with Kenny Leonard on Friday night
1or the lightweight championship Of
tho world. They clash ut Madison
oquare Carbon and arc scheduled to 70
hftccn rounds
Up at the little gymnasium on Third
Avenue end llath Street, where Leon
ara lis going through his preparatory
stunts, the same conditions prevailed
90 many OF Rcnny's admirers jammcd
tne'r way into the gym that other box.
ers training there had TO call off their
work
Both boys will finish their condition
ing maneuveYs tomorrow afternoon
and viii thereafter confine themselves
70 light diet until it is time to 20 to
MADISON Square Garden on Thursday
20 weigh in. This ceremony is SUP
Posed TO take place at p. m, when.
Inc scrappers must weigh not more
Than l35 pounds.
While no attempt was made vcstcr
cay to conceal the weight Of tho Buf-
fa'o boy the matter of weight was
something that couldn't be so much Az
discussed at the Leonard camp. When
an lnquisit've reporter had the temcr-
ity. TO ask Leonard himself what h.
~e'Sned the scribe was informed in
nrm but polite language that the mat
yer was secret and would remain one
unt'l the hour Of the official weighing
IN. Judging from Leonard's appear,
"ncc in his fighting togs, however he
should have no great difficulty il
swinging the beam at the prescribed
poundage.
Kansas Tips Scale at 1sS
When Rocky Kansas finished tome.
boxing session with half dozer sodiv
battered sparring partners vestsrday
afternoon ne stepped on the scales and
"e'Ehed exactly 1876 pounds, accord :uy
20 the announcement made afte,varG
Dy Ian Rogers, his manager.
here was large delegation Of Rnr-
la'o sportsmen in Wclsh's gymnasium
"hen Kansas appeared to do his stuff
ana ,ncy save the little Italian a re-
sounding cheer. The Buffalonans re-
por'9u mat upward Of 500 inmates Ct
the Bison City will be mere on Fridav
to witness the big battle. Additional
interest r attaches to the show. from
buifajo viewpoint, as result Of the
.aet tnat Phil Logan, another scrapper
from tnat sportivcly inclined city. an
pears IN one of the preliminaries.
me Buffalo sports arc said to be
armed with large wads Of dough and
oodies OF confidence in their man.
however, the betting gossip at Bayside
yesterday gave every Indication tbat
they intend to hold out for the the baet t'aet
ODDS obtainahlc. One of the visitors
IS reported to have wagcred $500 at
even money that Leonard viii nnt
score knock out. Most of the bett;no
seemed to be on this proposition. The
buNalonians were asking all sorts Of
odds on the question Of Leonard win
ming on points. ''
Tickets for the fight are already on
sue, ana judging from the way they
OF customers the house will he sold
out Dy Thursday evening.
Inc sparring partners who have
peen working with Kansas for the last
week were so battered up Yesterday
thnt Rogers was compelled to recruit
new delegation. He has been snar-
T'ns dsily with Freddie Welsh. Phi.
Logan Charlie Rose and a number of
otner boys Of various weights.
Has An Excellent Chance
:. welsh said yesterday that he be-
.ie'eu Kansas has an excellent chance
OF relieving Leonard OF his title. al
complish this monumental feat onIr
by putting over a knockout.
rye felt some OF his wallops." said
Welsh, "and can tell ;ou that ba
packs the punch Of a heavyweight. If
ne should cop Leonard in the right
DDce place | wouldn't be surprised to see
Benny 60 down and stay down for
quite time. This Kansas boy is Az
strong as on OK. Leonard may beat
him, but he'll know he has been in
fight before he does it,"
Three good preiminarics will lead
up to the championship affair. Harry
lhld) brown. moch- advertised
youngster from Philadelphia, will make
his New York debut against Sam Moss
berg, stablcmate Of Leonards. Phil
Logan, the Buffalo boy. meets Eddie |
Walsh, the sensational Yorkville |
featherwcigh hit, who has been working
daily with Leonard