The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-04-12
talking
IT OVER
BY JOE WILLIAMS
NEW YORK. April u.

4 oGEAHAo A4NAA[A
i that Benny Leonard and Johnny
Dundee are going to box again. In
DAYS gone by. the sports editors
were always writing that Leonard
and Dundee we're going TO box
again. No other pair of little TEL
lows ever battled with such frequen-
cy. They used TO meet three or tour
times a year. Some Of the less
tolerant critics were disposed TO
view their frequent meetings with
suspicion, and probably there were
times when the boys were merely
going through the motions.
I was talking about this with Leonard
Friday. You can believe me or not
he said, but I was always in there
swinging against Dundee. He was a great
little fighter and II Is unfair to him TO
nsinuate that anybody had to carry him"
Leonard saws he never met an opponent
who had 50 much Energy and stamina as
the Italian. That's one reason why be
was aIvsys dangerous. lie never gave
you a chance to rest. He vas Just as
strong after a rally as before.
n n =
The hrst time I met him up at the
Old Harlem Sporting Club. I was dead
tired after the fight. I had TO sit in
my corner and rest before I could leave
the ring. He only knew one pace. and
that was to keep everlastingly on the 90"
n n
Incidentally for thas fight. Leonard
was paid $500. The most he ever got
for HFhtlng Dundee was 5000. A Leon
nrd-Dundee fight today would probably
draw 10000 customers.
n II z
T EONARD was n Of the great
II est Ightweights of all time. He
had a fine knockout punch, was
thoroughly game and confident, fast
and clever, and he was enthusiastic
about fighting. Billy Gibson, his
manager. used to say, "the only
trouble I have with Leonard is get
ting him enough work" Few man
ayers are troubled that way today.
Ever so often an apprentice light
weight comes along, topples e a
few camemberts and you are told
that "a second Leonard" has ar
rived.
This peculiar form of distorted enthu-
daSm is particularly violent in the
metropolis. First IL was Iavished on Sid
ferris. then Ruby GoIdstein and now Al
singer. About all any of these fellows
had In common with Leonard Is that they
are Of the same nationality. Neither
ferris nor Goldstein would have made
capable s~parring partners for the former
champion. and Singer has a long way to
20 before he can lay a claim to real
greatness.
Leonard was only 10 years old
when he fought Johnny Kilbane, at
that time the featherweight cham
pion. A year later he was holding
his own more or less with Freddie
Welsh, the lightweight champion.
Virtually from the start he vas a
great battler. The old Garden was
packed the night Leonard and
Welsh met for the first time. The
customers paid more than $50, 900
to see the action. OF this sum,
Leonard got s1,4O0. In those days
the challenger got none the best of
1t at the turnstiles when trying for
a title.
IT have pleasant memories OF that
fight" SAYS Leonard. after it was over
I vas introduced to Mrs. Welsh. She was
. real boxing fan, She said to me: I
never want to sec Freddie beaten, but if
be ever is I hope you win the cham
2ipnSbip.' Well. il happened that a little
lister on ] did win the championship from
Welsh and the following day ! got a
letter from Mrs. Welsh CONCENTRATING
me. I'm broken hearted. but / wish you
all the luck in the world she wrote. j
stu have the letter. 1 think it was a
beautiful thing"
T EST any one get the notion
IL from the opening paragraph of
this column that Leonard and Dun
dee are going to fight again, I has
ten to add that they are merely
coming back to spar a few rounds
for Haywood Broun's Give a Job
till June" benefit at the Imperial
theater tonight.
q n q
Please don't bill 1t as an exhibition
pleads Leonard. TOO many people al
ready have the notion that tina was all
anV ~ our drhtS we're"