New-York tribune., 1922-07-27

i
There is certainly more interest
Clght here in New York in to-night's
fight than has been cvinced in any
other lightweight battle in a score of
years. The Dempsey Carpenter bout,
INVOLVING the heavyweight champion
ship Of the world created an intense
interest that had never before been
equalled, but this interest was wide
spread and epcompassed the entire
country. 1t did not center here, as is
the case with to-night's struggle be-
tween Leonard and Tender. Neither
Dempsey nor Carpenter carried any
local affection into the ring with him.
New York admitted that they were the
leading heivyweights and supported
the match with an abstract enthusia SIN.
In to-night's fight New York is vi
tally interested because one Of the
principals is a local boy and is un-
questionably the greatest lightweight
ever developed in this city. Many re-
gard Leonard as the super-class of all
lightweights, regardless of birthplace,
but it is safe and conservative to say
that he has transcended all other men
OF his division who could call New
York City their home port.
An interesting psychological COM
plex attaches to to-night's fight, be-
cause while New Workers. generally
want to see Benny Leonard win, there
is an under current of feeling that a
champion is to be dethroned after q
long and victorious career. The atti-
tudc of the average New Yorker to-
Cay is that he wants to see Leonard
win, but he isn't going to t~ke any
chances on being absent when the king
is hnocied off. Another chapter Of
Hsiic history will be written at Boyle's s
Thirty Acres tonight and New York
eIa Ere going to take no chances of
missing it.
Eair Weather Predicted for Tonight
Everything is ready for this crown
ing ring feature of the year and only
tho weather can play the card that
will ruin it. The weather prediction is
fair" and the meteorological sharps,
after scanning the skies ell day yes
terday, insisted chat this was the right
dope. Tex Rickard, who has been under
as great a mental strain in this affair
as he was in the Dempsey Carpenter
match of year ago. said last night
that If to-days weather is as good as
yesterdays the crowd would exceed 75,-
900 and the gate would roll up to
soniething in excess Of S400,000
Both fighters are ready, and it is
iOUR
career Of hard campaigning, has ever
been in better physical condition. Both
have trained diligently and both were
last night we'll within the prescribed
weight of 135 pounds.
Leonard is the soul of confidence,
and the statements that he has repeat
edly made right up to the hour Of
leaving his training camp at Budd
Lake have smacked of a certain vim
dictiveness which reflects the hard
feelings he has toward the Philadelphia
challenger. 1t is our opinion that
Benny Leonard never went into fight
is probably due to three years Of re-
elimination resulting from a long
series of unfortunate and in some
cases almost sportsmanlike actions
that have punctuated their relations.
Leonard has told the writer that he
would win bya Knockout in five rounds.
Billy Gibson, his manager, said yes
terday that it was safe bet that
Benny would lay Tender out inside of
six or seven rounds. That the cham
pion will win by knockout doesn't
manager.
Tender Silent, but Determined
In comparison with the champion,
Iendler has maintained a silence to
which almost any significance might
be attached. His attitude ostensibly
has been one of fierce determination
He certainly is facing greater crisis
than is Leonard, even though the lat
ter is defending his title against man
who is alleged to be the only light
weight in the country who approaches
his class.
Tender tonight will be at the
threshold of fame and fortune. He will
try to cross the line that separates con
tenders from champions. If he wins he
cannot escape undying glory. If he
loses he will be numbered among those
who have tried ard failed-and the
highroad Of fsticuffs is strewn with
the corpses of those who have attacked
Benny Leonard's throne.
When Leonard and Tender meet TO-
night 1t will be the first time they nave
ever faced each other in ring. The;
wg matched a year ago, and t!:at at
fat. infamed the bad feeling taat hac
existed between the two for n1ore thar
year previous. That bout was 10 have
taken place in Philadelphia, and after
the promoters there had spent thou
sands of dollars in making preparations
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