The Washington times., 1923-07-20

A year ago Leonards face was
furrowed from a reducing process
that burned out some of his vital
ity; his footwork was faulty, he
was too thick through the should.
ers and his experiments with left
handed sparring partners had not
taught him much.
Today Eenny is slightly tanned
but full featured, his eyes are
bright, his shoulder movements
more free and his tactics against
left handlers greatly improved.
A year ago he was too good IA
tured and that, in his case, betrayed
nervousness. Today he is quietly
confident and irritable. His trainer,
Mamie Seamon, says this is a good
sign. For several days Benny has
showed flashes of temperament
that to trainers. indicate a success
full entry into the last stage Of
training.
This year Leonard hasn't taken
off his weight too rapidly. A
week ago last Monday when he
boxed Alex Hart in Philadelphia
he weighed I39. Yesterday he
scaled a light 136. The bullying
thighs and legs he took into the
There and around his waist and
upper arms Leonard has taken off
the weight and those reductions
have helped his speed. He does
only about three miles daily on the
roads and boxes about eight rounds
with very little other work. BY
Saturday night he expects to be Il
half pound below the weight.
Benny eats like a horse. his
special chef. Backey Schwartz. who
came from Chicago to superintend
the meals at the Leonard cottage,
on a hill back of Tannerville, says
the lightweight champion is a
heavy eater.
These are oninous signs for Ten
dler. Furthermore, Leonard's box
ing against southpaws is more sys-
tematic than it was last year. He
has four lads singing lefts at him
every day and he has devised a good
defense against Tenders best blows.
Rip Van Wrinkle would surely rub
his eyes hard and stroke his beard
in amaZement IL he could stroll
through his old haunts today. Box
ing is a new industry in the Cats
kills and Leonard has made 1t popu
lar here. Hundreds of summer re-
eorters daily climb the steep hill to
see Leonard box.
The new camp is much better than
Benny's old place at Budd Lake. n.
]. 1t is on top of a plateau fully
$500 feet above sea level and the
air is wonderfully bracing.
Leonard says the climate is Just
right because it invigOrates him.
He anticipates no trouble from the
change in conditions when ne re-
turns TO the city.
81 am going to work right up to
end of the week" he says, then go
down to New York Sunday morning
/ will do some road work around the
reservoir in Central Park Sunday
afternoon and Monday morning-no
boxing. The weight won't bother me.
i don't expect TO be half pound
under. but you can bet l won't be
over. 1t would cost too much"
Benny put on special show
early yesterday afternoon for the
benefit Of some boxing scribes from
the city. The party was chaperoned
by Tom McArdle, Billy Gibson's
first lieutenant, and after long
drive through the beautiful noun
tain region arrived in Tannersville
at noon.
About three blocks away from the
hotel and on the side of a steep hill
Benny lives with his brothers. spar
ring partners and chef. His outdoor
ring is pitched near his back porch.
The neighbors themselves gather on
the hillside each afternoon and drape
themselves over the slanting lawn
as Benny does his stuff.
Yesterday one Of his special visit
ors was Nathan Straus, who drove
quite distance to see Leonard spar
The aged philanthrOpist seated HIM
self on a roll of canvas near the ring
and applauded each little bout
About thousand other folks were
there back of the rnnes