The Washington times., 1923-07-21

Benny Leonard has held the liz
and in no small measure his long
of using his head for something
has arrived at the zenith of ply
ring perception remains as keen
or out Of the ring. He has neve
have his brains scrambled and exl
can converse so intelligent1y on the
fine points of boxing as Leonard.
He can give reasons for everything
he does. He has worked out his
those that helped him and discard
ing others. This experience has
given him a framework of ideas on
which experience has hung superb
boxing form.
The champion discusses frankly
his approaching combat with Lew
Tender. He is confident, but not
boastfu1. Benny has always be-
lieved in himself. Unless appear
ances are absolutely deceiving he is
in better shape now than he was
for the first Tender fight. He
thinks he should win decisively be-
cause the first fight taught him
more than it did Tender.
"a champion is always open to
criticism" said Benny the other
day after a workout at his Tan
nersvilIe training camp. "He can't
please everybody. If don't stop
Tender next Monday night a lot
Of people will say 1 carried him
to get another fight. If I knock
him out they will say he was
rverrated
Now, I don't ask anybody to bet
q cent on me. am fighting in de-
Tense of my title and will do the
best I can. My best asset is the
good will of my friends. Do you
suppose anybody eau pay me as
much money to put up a poor fight
against Tender as can get by lick
ing him?
Those things are a joke to me.
Nobody would guarantee me one
tenth Of what I will earn next
Monday night to deliberately pass
up my title, and how much would
I be worth as ring attraction if I
lost it?
Tender is a tough bird. I real
ize that better than anybody. That's
the reason there is so much interest
in our second fight. Whenever a
challenger has a real chance to
beat a champion the fans will flock
to see them mix.
have my own ideas about
Tender. I have some definite plans
which I am keeping to myself. I'll
say this much: am going right
after him and try to nail him as
quickly as I can. This is a decision
bout.
eff I can't put him away I
want to be so far in front at the
end of fifteen rounds that no proc
ess of official reasoning can de-
prive me of the title. Tender. of
course. is dead anxious to stop me
because he figures that il the
only way he can win.
"a Ieft-hander has a big natural
advantage over a Highlander. In
the first place, a good Highlander
may not box a left-hander once a
season. 1 never met one until 1
met Tender. Now a left-hander is
always fighting right-handers and
is accustomed to their styles.
"Left-handers constantly lead
with their lefts. Few can do much
with the right. They claim
Tenders right jab is discomfort
ing, but I didn't find it so. The
southpaw generally rushes in sling
ing long lefts. Now a good right
handlers style is more intricate.
He is taught to use his left not
only for feinting and jabbing, but
for hooking and countering. He
doesn't waste right-handed punches,
but should be ready to shoot them
into openings.
"In other words, the Ieft-hander
of class is seldom as versatile as
the Highlander. He specializes on
one style of punching with one
hand.
You might think it easy to solve
that style. but 1t isn't. Years of
fighting have given me a certain
ring stance that is adapted to right
handed opponents. That stance is
set. 1 couldn't change it.
"FOr instance, if tried to fight
with my right foot and hand ex-
tended i would be lost. the same
as chap trying to write or play
pool Ieft-handed. Therefore, I
must figure out a way to use my
ability naturally, and that IL
what l am doing for Tender.
THE thing that bothers a right
handler facing a southpaw for the
first time is the lack of protection
from a left-hand body punch"
Here Leonard called to his young
brother. Joe. and had him pose to
illustrate the point.
You see" said Benny, az he took
southpaw stance. "Joe's left hand
Is up and extended and his right
pulled back That leaves him open
for a drop-in with the left" And
Benny illustrated by bringing over
his own left.
When both men are right
handlers" continued Benny, "the
extended lefts are in position to
fend off right-handed punches. The
normal boxers left is not to be
greatly feared. But when a guy
comes along throwing a left as /
would a right, then there is trouble
what I learned from Tender
have remembered. 1 don't he.
IieVe he will hit me I'm the body
50 often this time. I have de-
velOped q knack of catching those
punches on my elbows and cOun-
tering. Lew can't do much with
me at close quarters, because /
know how to tie him up"