Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-30
CLASH OF STYLES
in TITLE BATTLE
MandeII Counts on Science,
Canzoneri on Rushing,
Leonard Asserts.
BY BENNY LEONARD,
Former Lishtweisht Champion of the W

Former Lightweight Champion Of the World.
- AMMY MANDELL. lightweight
champion Of the world, who de-
tends his title against Tony Can
~ zoneri at the Chicago Stadium
in 10-round battle Friday
night, Is a boxer Of the scientific kind
He belongs to the Jim Corbett school
Of stand-up, hit-and-elude boxers, and
Is exactly opposite in this respect to
Tony Canzoneri.
1t will be clash between distinct
styles Of ringcraft when the two square
on. Canzoneri, although he can box
when he's fighting against a slugger,
really Is Of the aggressive, boring type,
He keeps both hands going at ali times
and depends on his rushing or bulling
tactics for victory.
This conflict Of ring systems makes
for the most interesting kind of battle
but after 1t Is all over the spectator
wonders why he couldn't have seen be-
forehand just how it was going to come
out.
Difficult to Figure.
If the boxer can dance out of harms
way, keep the aggressor's heavy punches
boxed" or blocked, and sew up his man
In the clinches so the opponents ag-
gressiveness is neutralized, it is the most
misunderstanding thing in the world for
him to come through unscathed. It all
looks so easy the spectator forgetS he
Is watching q masterful performance
by q master workman.
But If the slugger or aggressive fighter
breaks down the clever mans guard,
gets a solid punch to a vulnerable spot,
and thus turns the tide in his own
favor, so weakening the clever boxer
he
for a knockout, the spectator wonders
how he ever could have thought frail-
looking boxer could possibly hold off
such q rugged and relentless attack long
enough to win.
It Is this uncertainty that makes the
boxer against the slugger the best kind
of fight and the most thrilling. The
battler, or aggressive man, always is
dangerous. and there always is the
thought in the mind Of the onlooker
that he may crash over terrific punch
out.
Really Great Boxer.
Mandell is really a great boxer, bet
ter than any other man in the ring to-
day for his weight. He Is fast, ring
tactician, who makes every move count
and who makes no moves that have
not direct bearing on the matter in
hand.
With these clever fellows one Of their
great requisites Is speed. A scientific
boxer can't be slow mover. He's got
to be fast. This keeps him from being
q great hitter. have known many
hard hitters who in time developed into
clever boxers. but they almost in
variably left their punches at the cross
roads where they began to be clever.
The reason Is that q clever or scien-
tif1c boxer Is so eager or in such q
hurry to escape q punch by his ad-
versary that he hasn't time to put all
his strength into his punches. The re-
suit Is that while he hits fast he sac
rtfices heft for speed.
Waits ON His Rival.
A fast clever boxer when fighting an
aggressive type like Canzoneri usually
looks good because he is not leading or
starting punches. He leaves this for
his opponent, and it Is a much easier
hit q moving target anticipating your
moves. After all, the territory that
may be hit Is limited. So this makes
1t easier for the defender.
Canzoneri, I have said, L. something
OF q boxer. This would be a handicap
to him against better boxer, for be-
cause Tony knows a bit about boxing
he Is apt to be inveigled into trying
to box with a superior boxer. and thus
find himself fighting the other mans
fight, playing the other mans game.
There you have an outline of the
two styles which will clash for the
lightweight championship.
tCopyright. 1879. by North American News
paper Alliance)