San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-08-29
BENNY LEONARD
Weller.
H0N0RS AGAIN.
But Ring History Is Against
His Chances to Beat
Walker.
OTHERS HAVE FAILED
Lavigne-Walcott Fight No.
table Example Of Light.
er Man Losing.
OTHERS HAVE FAILED
BY ROBERT EDGREN.

Benny Leonard easy victory over
Lew Tender recently encourages
Benny TO go after the welterweight tt
tie again. He wants TO fight Mickey
Walker. Benny thinks that Walker
doesn't know enough about boxing TO
win a decision and can't hit Benny
hard enough to be dangerous.
While Leonard has RICH. 10 his
own opinion the history of the ring is
against him. Good lightweights never
weights. Walker. who had no trouble
in beating Jack Britton, is at least a
fairly good weller.
The first time | ever saw light
weight champion try 10 take the wclter
champs crown away was when Kid
I.avigne fought Mysterious Billy Smith
in San Francisco.
There were two champions, La
vigne was one of the best lightweights
within the memory OF the present gem
Grafton. His famous victory over Joe
Walcott. the Black Demon. is still re-
membered by old-timers around New
York, and is often referred to as the
greatest feat of courage and endurance
in ring history.
Another exploit of Lavigne's was his
invasion of England and the knocking
out of Dick Burge. Engls' light
champion" who weighed about 40
pounds while Lavigne was not over
100.
Used Teeth on. Walcott.
Mysterious Billy SIN h was the one
welterweight who could beat Walcott.
He was the toughest fighter on rec
ord. The trick that particularly dis
heartened Walcott when they fought
was one that Mysterious Billy invented
especially for Walcott. Smith would
let Waleott plunge in. head down. and
suddenly drop his face on top of Wal
colts head. with his mot, wide open.
To the referee and spectators it
looked as il Walcott was butting
Smith. but two Walcott 1t seemed that
Smith was biting at the, top of his
head. Smith had strong teeth, and
sharp. 1t got .Ioe's goat.
The Lavigne-Smitb fight was for
the worlds weller crown. Ii was
whale of fight. with Lavigne rush
ing i'm furiously, round after round,
and Mysterious Billy cleverly boxing
and waiting for sure opening.
At last. as Lavigne rushed. Smith
caught him on the chin with terrific
uppercut that lifted him from his feet,
and a moment later knocked I.avigne
down with a hard-driven straight right
cross on the chin.
In an instant Smith dropped his de.
fensive tactics and went tearing in for
a knockout. He dropped Lavigne sew
eral times. Tough as steel and game
as n Ghourka. Lavigne came up again.
until he was standing. eyes closed,
arms swinging at his sides. absolutely
helpless but still trying to lift his
hands to hit.
Gave Corbett so Pounds.
Lavigne's brother tossed in the
sponge. Acknowledging defeat was SO
ar from Lavigne's mind that he didn't |
,peak TO his brother for two years aft |
,rward.
Lavignc was a great champion and |
he gamest thing on two legs. But
hat didn't save him from, being !,
shocked out by n welterweight cham
lion.
Il mere NFIf blutE IHSldNNNs Va |
curse. Frank Erne, clever and fast as
Benny ever was, lightweight chamnion.
ried to take the weiter title from RUDE
FERNS. and was Knocked out.
Joe Cans. at his best. fought Wal
ott draw when Walcott held the /!
relter title. and ut that time Cans was
lot far from the welterweight limit
Iimself.
Champions in other classes have
Iearly always failed 10 whip cham
ions of bigger bulk. The one brilliant
reception was Bob Fitzsimmons. who
vas middleweight champion and
weighed about 1J4 pounds when he
ave Jim Corbett so pounds and
hrashing.
Benny Leonard tried couple OF
ines to take the weller title away
rom Jack Britton. All he got was a
oxing lesson. Britton was the only
shter who ever made Benny look like
novice. 1t doesn't look as If Benny
ill be able to handle the man who off-3
ct Britton's skill and beat him with
cry little trouble.
Copyright, 1923. by the Bell Syndi-
cate, Inc.)