New Britain herald., 1923-01-05

dsnee In Cleveland. were picked by
the New York commission, as logical
eeAtehdeFs lf0T the feafherweieht
title and the fermkr acquired what
henoss the commission was capable Of
nessowins by knocking out Frnsh in
me ninth round OF a eontes. In
August.
Likewise, Dave Rosenberg. az
brooklyn, was declared midaieweisht
champion by the commission after a
victory over fhil krug. OF Harrison,
y, ~ IN August. but the honors were
transferred TO the veteran Mike
o'bowd, OF IT, Paul. former title.
holder, when he won from Rosenhera
on foul In the eighth round of a
contest staged THANKSGIVING Day,
The Middle West also ceased 10 re.
card Wilson as middleweight king and
the recognition was conferred by hoy.
ing authorities In several states on
Bryan bowney, Of Cleveland.
benny Leonard was the busiest
champion OF the year. The light.
weight king fulfilled a strenuous mid.
summer program when he fought In
succession Jack Britton. Rocky Kan.
, sas and Lew Tender. lie lost 10
8ritton ON a foul. knocked out Kan.
sas n few weeks later and late In July
defended his title against Tender,
Philadelphia sonthpaw. In a sensa-
tional i2-round no-deeislon bout at
Jersey City, N. J. Leonard received
the popular verdict al the ringside,
but he was given one 6f the stiffest
battles OF his career and came close
TO defeat In the eighth round under a
staggering attack by Tender
Leonard later defeated Ever Ham,
mer. of Chicago. In contest At
lection OF the mouth. the result of In
jurios sustained In the Tender fight,
has since kept the champion out OF
active competition.
Charley White. hard hitting Chica-
goan. established himself as one of
leonard's most formidable rivals and
may be matched with the champion !
In the near future. Whites latest |
and most impressive triumph was his
knockout of Richie Mitchell, OF Mil |
waukee. In the tenth round Of 15-
round contest.
Officially Dempsey's heavyweight
title was at stake once during the |
year In four-round encounter with a
sparring partner, Jimmy
Darcy at Buffalo, N. Y, In July, but
there was little risk involved. The
New York State Athletic commission
ruled that under the boxing statutes
a decision must be rendered. and
Dempsey willingly complied with the
recovering the Official
verdict.
Dempsey also formally accepted the
challenge of his dusky rival, Harry
Wills, for a title bout. but that was
rs far as negotiations proceeded, 1t be-
ing agreed that a match could not be
promoted before next summer.
Wills prestige gained little from his
performances In several bouts in New
York with negro opponents, but he
'emained generally regarded as ,
oempsey's strongest rival.
Two other figures, meanwhile,
treated interest In heavyweight circles
Floyd johnson, of Iowa, and Luis
Angel Firpo, Argentine sensation.
Johnson has developed rapidly and
knockout Of Fob Martin
.mong his victories. He will face his
hardest test next month when he
meets Bill Brennan, rugged Chica-
,oan.
Firpo came to this country early in
he year and knocked out in rapid 7
uccession several lesser lights. But
,hile he demonstrated heavy punch
ng ability he showed little boxing
kill. Returning to South America,
Q knocked out Jim Tracey, Austral-
In boxer, and now plans to return in
to the United states. He has
eceived offers to box either Johnson s.
r Brennan. h