Evening star., 1936-09-13
GAVE Up FIGHTING
| WHENASTARAT1 4
Started as Pro, Returns as
Amateur, Now Is Rated
as Bane of Ross.
BY BURTON HAWKINS.

round feature bouts at the tender ring
age of II, only to run away from
home two years later to resume his
beak-busting career, will stack up
against Phil Furr, District 147-pound
champion, in feature lo-round scrap
tomorrow night at Grifith Stadium.
Jimmy Leto. who was obtained as
an opponent for Furr when Jack
Portney. Baltimore better. refused to
60 through with a scheduled 20-round
argument with the local larruper, Wr-
tually stepped from the cradle into
the punching pit. It was a natural
step, however.
Jimmy's three brothers and two sis
tiers all have been dependent upon
the boxing game. Brothers Pete and
Tony were outstanding featherweights
decade ago, while Joe is a manager.
Tony for years was ranked as the
third best 126-pounder in the world,
but missed his bid for the title when
ne faced Bat Battalino for the priv
ilege of meeting Andre Routis, then
champion. Tony lost on a technical
Knockout to Battalino. who captured
the title from Routis.
Sisters Married Matmen.
CISTERS LENA AND FRANCIS
both married fighters. Lena be-
came the wife Of Tony Lopez, who
scored the first knockout here with
S-ounce gloves shortly after the le-
gallzation Of boxing In the District,
thereby quelling protests that mittens
OF that weight were nothing more
than pillows. Frances also married a
leatherweight, going to the altar with
Baby Joe Guzman.
1t was natural, therefore, that jim
my should turn to the ring as a
means Of livelihood. He started out
as professional and fought feature
oouts shortly after he reached his
18th birthday. Jimmy Reed. whom
many local fans remember from Twin
City days. was knocked out by Leto
In six rounds in one of those battles.
His father and mother finally per-
suaded Jimmy to leave the ring. but it
was only temporarily. Two years later
ne started out all over again, this time
as an amateur flst-slinger In Hart
ford, Conn.
That he has been successful In his
ring ramblings is evidenced by his
present ranking position and the fact
that Barney Ross. world welterweight
champion. repeatedly has refused to
meet Leto in either a title or over
the-weight bout. Bridgeport (Conn)
promoters offered Ross $4,000 to face
Leto there in a non-title encounter.
but the offer was snubbed. Ross fought
Furr here for half that sum.
Respected by Champion.
RARNEY, during his conditioning
campaign here for Furr, admitted
that he would not consider Leto as
an opponent for his title for less than
$4,000. Leto, whose fighting style Is
duplication OF Ross, is ranked by
the champion as the best among the
challengers for his crown.
1t was AL We'll, his present manager.
who first recognized Leto's possibilities
as title timber. Well had implicit faith
in Lou Ambers, recently crowned
lightweight champion by his victory
over Tony Canzoneri, and when Leto
dropped Lou for a nine count two
years ago while holding Ambers to a
draw, We'll knew that Jimmy was a
good fighter. He bought Jimmy's con-
tract Immediately after that engage
ment and Ambers and Leto now are
stablemates.
Preliminary action will see Shorty
Ahearn, the dusky fist-flipper who
halted the knockout streak of Killer
Lamar, trading blows with AL Tinsley.
Baltimore colored heavyweight, and
Buddy Scott. local light-heavy. mixing
mittens with Rusty Baker of Balti-
more in the most promising Of four
six-rounders.
Other bouts will find Roddy Davis,
local welterweight, stacking up against
Johnny Bellaus, stablemate of Leto.
and Victor Vallee, New York light
weight, launching punches at Billy
Bullock, shifty local lad.
Action will get under way at $50
o'clock.