The Washington herald., 1922-02-15
Benny Leonards Only Ambition Now
Is to Capture Welterweight Title

much for a life Of ease. but cir
cumstances have forced it upon
him. He Is becoming resigned and
careless. Also he puts o ma lot 60
evenly distributed extra weight
soft flesh.
think Jack Dempsey saw his
best day in the ring when he faced
Jess Willard at Toledo, or even be-
fore that. when he fought Fulton
He was slow when he fought
Brennan. The terrific tearing power
of his punch was gone. and every
attempt 10 put over a, winning
blow was a dragging physical and
mental effort instead OF a spon-
tsneous and natural movement In
which the blow followed the
thought as a powder nash follows
the spark.
what IL Laekiae.
Dempsey was down to weight
and looked fine for the bout with
Carpentie". He knew more about
was apparently q perfect lighting
ity that tore willard apart wasn't
in him. He was still one OF the
greatest champions we've ever seen.
but lacking something.
He boxed with perfect judgment.
hit hard and cleanly. showed
plenty Of endurance when he was
hit on the chin. but lacked some
part Of the thing that made the
lighting terror he was when he
knocked Fulton out in less than a
quarter OF q minute and put the
gigantic willard down for q seven
second count almost as quickly
II Dempsey goes on travelling
with the vaudeville show, posing in
pictures. living an easy life. he'n
drop back like all other champions
before him. And I'll say that no
other champion I've known in the
past thirty years ever. tried as hard
as Dempsey to keep At. He works
necessarily to keep up his boxing
when not matched for q light. but
no amount Of gymnasium training
can make up for lack Of real con-
tests.
As Jack says himself: Il wish !
could fight, every week. I used to
be so fit all the time that I didn't
need more than a couple OF days
training for any fight. Now when
I fight 1 knowI have to 60 through
a grind for . couple of months be-
fore I'm down to weight and feel
ing like myself. 1t takes all the
fun out Of It,"
Dempsey will be champion for
some time to come. but the easy
life is going to get him as 1t gets
All ths rest. Eventually soma
hungry. husky, hard youngster will
topple him over. The bubbles al
ways come UP from the bottom,
and the froth goes into thin air.
Jimmy Murphy, the American
auto racer who won the Grand Prlx
in France. Is not enthusiasuc over
French workmanship. There was
no money prize. but the Grand PriS
cold medal is always awarded the
winer. Murphy was unable to get
his medal after the race In whicn
he led Ralph De Palma and All
others home by fifteen minutes. AT
the Automobile Club Of France he
was told the medal wasn't "avail'
able"
Murphy returned to America A.
Ter arlVluk ne was nOtluco th1e tue
medal couldn't be sent to him be-
cause OF the strict laws prohibiting
Of gold. but that IL he
wished he could have the dies for
warded. and get gold medal struck
OF here at his own expense. ~.
Jimmy Wilde. possessing q snug
account. plans to retire from the
ring. The little Briton says that
perhaps he may neht one or two
bouts, but in no event will he visit
these shores again. Jimmy has bit-
ter recollections Of some solid blows
landed By the United States tax
grabbers.
The IDEA of wilde's quitting will.
be sad news for many English fans
With the hyweight champion on the
shelf England will be without .
single ring title holder.
Bankers Take One.
The Riggs National Bank ouint