1 The Boxing Biographies Newsletter Volume 8 – No 12 - 18 Oct, 2012 www.boxingbiographies.com If you wish to sign up for the newsletters please email the message “NEWS LETTER” [email protected] The Washington Post 2 April 1916 2 Leonard Easily Proves Master of Welsh; Champion Saves His Crown by Clinching New York. April 1 —This is the story of the passing of Freddy "Welsh. Technically, he is still lightweight champion of the world. But the honor has become a shadow. The laurel wreath has faded. Ten thousand who saw him in ten fiercely fought rounds at Madison Square Garden last night know that Benny Leonard, of the Bronx, is his master in skill, in speed, in fighting strength and the automatic courage that comes of a firm belief in one's own invincible superiority. For a long time Welsh has had one hold on the consideration of the boxing fans His backers have been able to say "Yes. Ritchie outfought him. He can be forced to run and twist and slip away from punishment But you can't take one thing from him—he can out-clever them all He may not beat any one, but who’s going to outpoint him'" Benny Leonard outpointed Freddy Welsh .He won from him in every round He made him run, made him hold, made him come in and mix it desperately, and he beat him at everything he tried. Has Better of Every Round. Since he fought McFarland, Welsh had never met a man who could walk out and hit him at will. Leonard could. Whether the champion fought or stalled or tried to escape, he was up against it. Leonard was always after him, always shooting in jabs that reddened his nose and spoiled his professional smile, hooks and drives and swings that thudded on his ribs until the sound of them was like the beating of the bass drum in the orchestra. No matter where he turned, there was Leonard, dancing lightly in, feinting, shooting out stinging blows, smiling his small, confident smile. Scores of times in every round Welsh was compelled to dive in and hold. He never held long, but still he was always clinching and frequently hitting in the breaks without being seriously warned by Referee Roche. It was like the gambler's percentage in a game of chance. It enabled him to stick out the ten rounds. Without the clinches he might have failed. Could Have Missed Champion. A stranger coming into the garden, unacquainted with either boxer, might easily have thought Benny Leonard the champion and Welsh the hopelessly outclassed contender. The boldness 3 of bearing, the confidence, the direct attack, were all Leonard's. The faint leads, the turning aside to avoid the issue, the eagerness to hold his opponent's arms for a moment, the desperate rallies when stung into resistance were all the champion's. There were times when it seemed Welsh must drop under the hammering. He was shaken and dazed. He lost his smile. He looked old and battered. But his stamina was with him still. His recoveries were instantaneous. He had enough left to start the tenth round with his usual finishing flurry, and to tear along at top speed for half a round before Leonard's heavier blows beat him back upon the defensive and with it all he took a pounding that would have stopped any lightweight who was not sound to the core. The Garden was absolutely jammed with spectators. Those who came late had a hard time reaching the doors. for the streets outside were packed with a pushing, struggling throng. The announcement that Welsh neighed 136 ½ stripped, and Leonard 132, brought mixed applause. Leonard Takes Early Lead Right at the start Leonard took the lead, while Welsh began holding. At the end of the first round Benny had established a lead that brought wild cheers from the whole crowd. Round after round Benny drove in hard, straight blows, while Welsh pawed at him with extended left and snuggled close in frequent short clinches. As the fight went along Welsh found more and more trouble in landing on Leonard at all. Most of his blows fell short, for even when leading he tried to keep his own head back out of range. Benny countered too well. And Benny didn't show the slightest respect for Freddy as champion. It was very disconcerting by the fourth round Welsh was being tied into knots in his anxiety to make some move without being hit. Leonard reached him almost at will, and in spite of Welsh's defensive skill drove in heavy punches continually. in the fifth Leonard, after a hot rally, ducked under Welsh's arms, and was behind the champion before he realized that he had been flanked. Welsh nearly fell down in his effort to escape, and had to laugh at his own predicament. In the sixth Leonard shook Welsh so badly with hard left hooks to the chin that the champion was forced to go in head down and clinch to save himself. The seventh was Welsh's hardest round. Leonard ran from his corner as in nearly every round — to get at him quickly. He hammered Welsh until the champion was actually forced to turn and run. Following swiftly Leonard ripped a fierce left into Freddy's body, and threw him off as he 4 tried to clinch, rushing after him and doubling him up with a left hook, that struck- him fairly in the pit of the stomach. In spite of the speed of his attack. Leonard was absolutely cool .Welsh was watching for a chance to land a right-hander, and Leonard never let him have it. Welsh was kept too busy ducking and dodging. He was entirely outclassed. Welsh floundered and clinched through the eighth, and in the ninth was hit on the jaw so hard by Benny's right that he staggered in and held desperately to clear his head. His splendid stamina showed here, for a moment later he was fighting hard in the clinches, apparently as strong as ever. He hit in the breaks, but this little detail seemed to escape the notice of the referee. They touched gloves when the last round began and went right at it. Both landed heavily. Welsh became aggressive. He forced Leonard around the ring, but Benny, confident as ever, fought his way clear and pressed Welsh back again. At the finish both were pounding away as merrily as ever. The final bell stopped as pretty a melee as any in the fight. The Washington Post 9 April 1916 New York, April 8 —To go right back to the beginning, Benny Leonard was born at Eighth street and Avenue C. New York city, April 7. 1896. When he whipped Freddy Welsh a few nights ago he was still 19 .The list of boxers who have reached true championship form at the age of 19 is extremely short. There are three fighting Leonards— Willie, Benny and Charlie, only Willie doesn't fight any more He's chief second for the other two. As for Benny and Charlie, Benny is undoubtedly the 5 best lightweight in the world at the present time, and if he can induce Champion Freddy Welsh to meet him where a referee’s decision can be given there s little doubt that hell be champion and holder of the lightweight title as well Billy Gibson, manager Benny Leonard and Charlie Leonard called in to see me. Benny and Charlie are almost exactly of the same height Benny is just two years older, and he weighs about six pounds more than Charles. As for the records of the two, it would be hard to say which is most sensational. Benny is wide-awake, quick eyed. High strung. Charlie is smiling, soft spoken and rather languid in appearance Benny looks what he is — the keen and active fighting man. Charlie doesn't look what he is, for under the languid air and behind the dark, heavy lidded eyes is concealed the pep of a stick of dynamite. In action Charles is explosive He likes to win his battles within 30 seconds of the first gong. Began Boxing at 9 Years. "I began boxing when I was about 9 years old," said Benny "We used to box in the back yard. My uncle always took an interest in our boxing and encouraged us to stick to it. The yard was full of flower beds, with a circular spot of smooth earth in the middle. We used the circle for a ring. I boxed with all the other boys around the neighborhood and up and down the street Sometimes I boxed with the big fellows. We just boxed for fun. After a while I was known as the champion of the street, I was pretty fast. "The first purse I ever fought for was in one of the little scraps in the circle between the flower beds. There was another kid Joe Fogarty — and we were pretty well matched. They passed the hat and took up a collection to make a purse. There was 60 cents in the hat. We agreed to split it 60-40, like the champions, I stopped Fogarty in the fourth round and got 30 cents for my end. He got 20 cents and the loser's end. My uncle acted as my manager and Joe had a manager. My manager let me have my end of the purse He didn't take out a percentage.