The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-06-27
JACK BRITTON WINS
 OVER BENNYLEONARD
 ON A FOUL M 18TH
Leonard Hits Britton, While Latter Is on Knees, and Ref cree Gives Jack Bout.

New York. June 2s.--Jack Britton, worlds weiterweight boxing cham pIon. successfully defended his title against Benny Leonard, lightweight champion, Referee Patty Haley claiming that Leonard hit Britton while the latter was on one knee In the thirteenth round of their fifteen round match tonight.
 The Foul
 After two minutes and 42 seconds of fighting in the thirteenth round, Britton suddenly went down on one knee and the referee started count ing over him. Then Leonard walked over and struck Britton with a left to the body The referee said he had not seen & foul blow struck be- fore Britton went down, although Britton claimed one. Britton then sat in his corner unhurt.
 Britton had all the better of the fight until this incident.
 He had been on the offensive dur ing the greater part of the contest and took Leonard's hardest biowa with a toss of the head and smile. He cut Leonard's lips with lefts aud rights and though he was turned around several times by the light- weight champions straight rights to Jaw, he came back at all times un- ruffled and full of fight.
 Crowd Demands Explanation
 After the fighters had left the ring, the crowd surged around the ring, demanding an explanation of both fighters, tactics In connection with the foul Britton was on one knee and was deliberately struck by Leonard. who then walked to his corner, claiming that he had struck Britton fairly. The referee sand, however, that he thought the blow was unintentional.
 Benny Leonard went out of his class tonight in a 15-round decision match in the New York Velodrome in an attempt to wrest the welter- weight title from 37-year old Jack Britton, said to be the worlds clever est defensive fighter and ring gen eral. Leonard weighed 139A and his veteran opponent 146H, three quarters of a pound inside the wei terweight limit.
 The lightweight title was not xt stake.
 The arena, recently built by Tex Rickard and Frank Flournoy. held about 10000 fight fans
 Britton entered the ring at 9:35 and Leonard followed two minutes later. Both received long rounds of applause.
 The contest was interesting at all stages, with both men appearing to be fighting their best. Despite his s7 years Britton displayed no end of activity, and when called on, brought all of his famed ring. generalship to bear against his opponent.
 The result prevented Leonard from achieving his greatest ambition--to hn1d Ut ha r. weight and welterweight world ti- ties. No lightweight champion has ever been able to win the weiter- weight title. Kid Lavigne, one of the greatest lightweights of other days. tried 1t two years ago, but was stopped by Billy Smith,
 Britton first became known as the welterweight champion when he drew referees decision over Ted (Kid1 Lewis of London in a 2o-round bout in New Orleans in April, 1916. Lewis turned the tables on Britton at Day ton. O.. in June. 1917, receiving the referees decision at the. end of a 20-round encounter. Britton was not to be denied, and on March IT, 1913, he knocked out Lewis in the ninth round of match at Canton. O.
 Preliminaries
 Joie Leonard, younger brother of the lightweight champion. in his first appearance as a professional pugilist tonight, won a judges de- cisicn in four rounds from Sammy Marco. Leonard weighed 130 and his opponent 1S3iz. The contest was the opening one preceding the Benny Leonard-Jack Britton match.
 Johnnie Cooney and Jack Stark, featherweights, fought six round draw.
 Eddie Fitzsimmons. lightweight. knocked out Sammy Moseberg, Brook lyn, in the first round of the 12- round sem-final match.
 Round One
 Leonard took the offensive, land- ing a1ight tap to the nose and Brit ton missed left swing for the body. They exchanged rights and left5 to the body. Both fought very eau tously. Leonard to evade Britton' s left hook, and Britton to keep away from the lightweight champion $ straight rights. There were few blows during the round.
 Round Two
 They passed a few light punches to the jaw and were in series of clinches. Britton staggered Leonard with right to the jaw. Leonard tetaliated with lefts to face. Leonard turned Britton around with a right to the jaw at the bell
 Round Three
 Leonard pushed Britton around the ring with lefts to face Britton sent several rights to stomach. Leonard s upper lip was cut by a straight left. They exchanged hard rights and lefts at close quarters and Leonard was backed into a neutral corner at the bell.
 Round Four Leonard staggered Britton with a hard right to the jaw and followed with series of straight lefts to the face. Britton sent hard lefts to the and body. Britton forced Leonard to the ropes with a body attack. They were fighting hard as the round cleared.
 Round Five
 Britton took the offensive but landed few hard blows. They fought for head and body at close quarters Britton appeared to be having the better of the exchanges.
 Round Six
 Leonard caught Britton on the jaw with several straight rights. Brit ton found Leonard's head with right swings. Britton was GU. in tho mouth with a straight left. They nsd e fast exchange on the ropes with Britton on the offensive.
 Round Seven
 Leonard appeared to be taking things easily. waiting for chance to land knockout punch. In the meantime. Britton found his jaw with right and laft hooks. They stag gered each other with rights to the bead The fighting was slow in this tound.
 Round Eight
 :.