The New York herald., 1922-01-10
LEONARD CONSENTS
TOBOX IN THIS CITY
Gibson Says Champion Is Will
ing to Meet Lightweight or
Welterweight in Garden.

Billy Gibson. manager of Benny Leon
ard, lightweight champion of the world,
called at Madison Square Garden yes
terday afternoon and had long confer
ence with Tex Rickard regarding bouts
at the Garden for the title holder.
While all the details were not ar
ranged. the identity of an opponent
for Leonard not being named. Gibson
assuerd Rickard that Leonard would
meet any worthy lightweight opponent
In a bout for the championship, and at
1o6 pounds at p. NJ. Gibson added
that II lightweight contest could not
be arranged, Leonard would box any
welter who might be selected Gibson
and Rckard will meet again to-day
when a match will be agreed upon.
Johnny Wilson emits loud protests
against his suspension by the New York
boxing commission, which has been
followed by similar action on the part
of other State commissions. but COM
pared to punishment inflicted on boxers
by foreign officials, Wilson has got
off easily.
Balzac. middleweight champion of
France and Of Europe, was boxing with
Battling Sikh in Paris. and according
to ringside report the first round
went all in favor of Sikh. In the sec
ond round Balzac, after. having received
some pretty severe punishment. gave up
without apparent reason.
The referee declared Sikh the winner.
and the judges, after consultation, de-
cided to disqualify Balzac for refusing
to continue the fight. The French Box
ing Federation, as a result of its in
quiries into the match, disqualified Bal
zac for 'unjustified abandonment He
Is deprived of his title Of champion Of
France and Of Europe and suspended for
three months.
A competition will be held to decide
the championship of France. On the
expiry Of his period of disqualification.
Balzac will have priority as regards
match with the new champion.
Had the New York commission pos
sessed the power to take Wilson's title
away from him and had done so, the
lnmentation Bostonward would have
been heartrendipg.
In the intercity boxing tournament to
be held under the auspices of the Metro
politan Association, A. A! u, at the
Garden tomorrow and Thursday even
ings. Pittsburgh will have one of the
strongest teams that ever visited this
city and will be a slight favorite over
the local champions.
In the 112 pound class they have John
Hamm of the Edgar Thompson Steel
Company. who is the present national
A. A. u. champion, having won this title
at Boston last April when he defeated
the best boxers In the country. In the
11S pound class they will be represented
by T. p. McManus, Willow A. c., Allie
gheny Mountain champion; 126 pound
class. Billy Linder, Willow A. c., also
an Allegheny Mountain champion, who
last month at the New York A. c., In an
intercity bout, defeated Joe Scoppatone
OF the Glencoe A. c.. 1875 pound class,
Joe Ryan, Willow A c., who gave Mar
tin J. Smith. the present New York State
champion. one Of the hardest fights he
ever had and, although Smith received
the judges decision at the end Of the
fourth round. a good many In the audi
ence thought that Ryan should have
won.
In the 147 pound class they have Jack
Rovesti, wilmerding Y. NJ. c. A.. who
last year was sensation in the inter-
represented Pittsburgh; 160 pound class.
Jack Rowe, Edgar Thompson Steel Com
pany, and light heavyweight. Frank
Graber. unattached who was the run
nerup In the national championships
held In Boston last April The first en-
try for the open light heavyweight class
which the committee is putting on at
these bouts to develop some good op-
ponents for the present champion. is AL
bert Schaelor, unattached