Another great book by Adam which we are pleased to showcase on this site

Rob Snell 

This is the third book in Adam Pollack’s series on the heavyweight champions of the gloved era. Bob Fitzsimmons was boxing’s first pound for pound great, winning the world middleweight title before becoming the world heavyweight champion (and later lightheavyweight champ). Combining both crafty skill and crushing power, Fitzsimmons was able to knock out heavyweights when he only weighed 158 pounds!

This meticulous and tremendously researched book uses multiple local primary sources from New Zealand, Australia, and America to chronicle Fitzsimmons’ boxing career. It contains detailed fight descriptions never before revealed, round by round reports, pre- and post-fight analysis, daily training regimens, critical analysis of opponents’ careers, discussion of skills, techniques, strategies, strengths, and weaknesses, and explains how legal, political, social, and economic issues affected and impeded fights.

The book also includes stories of fixed fights, conspiracies, legal battles, trials, threats of violence and imprisonment made by governors, judges, and militiamen, and verbal jousting, taunting, boasting, and even physical confrontations between Bob Fitzsimmons and James J. Corbett.

464 pages, 63 photos and illustrations, 968 footnotes, bibliography, index, and appendix (containing a complete Fitzsimmons career record).

Adam J. Pollack is the author of John L. Sullivan: The Career of the First Gloved Heavyweight Champion, and In the Ring With James J. Corbett.

To purchase In the Ring With Bob Fitzsimmons, e-mail

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Hardback, $34.95 plus shipping. Will sign if desired.



Contents
Preface: The Series Continues 4
1. Australian Boxing 6
2. The Underappreciated Middleweight 9
3. Fixing a Loss or Losing in a Fix? 32
4. American Appreciation 53
5. World Middleweight Champion 70
6. Testing the Heavyweight Waters 94
7. Exhibition Tour 112
8. Revenge 125
9. All Comers Exhibitions Resumed 148
10. Making the Challenge 156
11. Still the Middleweight Champion 172
12. Death and Delay 189
13. Boxing Versus the Law 213
14. The New “Champion” 230
15. The Championship Cloud 252
16. The Fix 266
17. The Fight After the Fight 309
18. Paving the Way, Predictions and Preparation 328
19. The Real Championship 374
20. The Films and the Controversy 401
21. Another Semi-Retired Champion 421
Appendix: Bob Fitzsimmons’ Record 434
Bibliography 453
Acknowledgments 456
Index 458


Preface: The Series Continues


Welcome to the world of the fight to the finish, where championship bouts continued until someone was knocked out, where there were no mouthpieces, no handwraps, no protective foul cups, no training headgear, where floors and ring posts were often hard, when gloves were only five ounces and the eight-ounce glove was considered a big pillow to only be used in friendly exhibitions, when fights were never stopped on cuts, when a fight was rarely stopped just because a guy was a little wobbly or because he went down a number of times, where even decisions were based on who did the most damage and was the more aggressive, not just based on who knew how to tap, run, grab and survive. This was a time when your pay depended on success, when the phrase ‘winner take all’ was not just a bluff. These were some tough guys.

This is the third book in my heavyweight champion series, Reigns of Fame and Shame. The first two were John L. Sullivan: The Career of the First Gloved Heavyweight Champion, and In the Ring With James J. Corbett. My goal has been to answer the questions that no other book answered. I wanted history based not on speculation, hearsay, and legend, but based on what local reports said at the time.

I have found that achieving the richest and most complete understanding of these fighters’ careers is accomplished by reference to multiple local primary source accountings. These accounts enliven the opponents and the fights, offer new facts, discuss issues that secondary sources failed to consider, and give fresh perspective on matters previously only discussed in a limited or incomplete way. Greater than ever before, this book offers a much stronger understanding of Bob Fitzsimmons’ career, skills, and ability, and the era’s fight scene, including top contenders and the legal, political, and social issues which affected the fight game.

Using mostly local contemporary newspaper reports, this book provides a more thorough analysis and detailed discussion of:

Bob Fitzsimmons’ many Australian bouts. Local Australian primary sources shed new light on Fitz’s early career, and show the long road he took to stardom. Because so many of the era’s great fighters were produced in Australia, to understand the world’s fight scene one must be familiar with Australian boxing.

Fitz’s alleged fixed fight with Jim Hall. Find out whether Bob took a dive.

The legal and political fallout from the deaths of Con Riordan and Andy Bowen.

The alleged fixed fight with Tom Sharkey. The behind the scenes story is itself worth the price of admission. The court battle and all the sensational testimony are fully covered. Was it a grand conspiracy?

The complete back and forth verbal jousting, taunting, and confident exclamations between Fitzsimmons and Jim Corbett. No other fight ever had as much free advertising and hot discussion as a result of its mouthy combatants. They were the kings of smack talk, the inventors of building up fights with verbal and even physical confrontation.

The unbelievable legal and political battles the boxers and promoter Dan Stuart had to go through in order to bring fights off. This story has governors, armed militiamen, and judges threatening violence and lengthy prison sentences, following, chasing, and arresting these men, and generally impeding the sport’s progress in any way that they could.

All of Fitzsimmons’ American fights and most of his exhibitions (up to the heavyweight championship), including lesser known and previously unknown bouts, and massive pre- and post-fight coverage of his most significant bouts. This also includes Fitz and Corbett’s daily training regimen leading up to their big fight. Even new controversial facts about the Corbett fight are revealed.

I hope you enjoy learning about Bob Fitzsimmons as much as I did!
 

The Boxing Biographies Newsletter

Volume 1- No 17                           

26th  November 2007

PLEASE READ

PROFESSIONAL BOXERS PENSION PLAN

Everyone, please take a minute to sign the petition that the below link leads to. It's to try and get something done about getting retired boxers a pension plan started, which is way, way overdue.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/help-create-a-professional-boxers-pension-plan

The Lima News 23 May 1926
Pete Latzo—a miner; by day, and a pugilistic celebrity' by night!

There's the unique double role played by the newly crowned king of the welterweights — the boy who conquered the great Mickey Walker.  For the last six years, this 23 year-old product of the coal mining region has worked the two way shift.

One of a family of eight, he comes of fighting  stock. Three brothers before him were professional ringsters, but only one, Steve, made much headway in the game. None progressed so sensationally as Peter, however, who.; in his first bout in 1919, fought; under the name of Young Clancy, because the Latzo name at that time was not regarded as an impressive nom de ring.

As Young Clancy, Pete copped, his first battle, knocking out a fellow named Red Ferguson in three rounds. He followed that success by scoring three more kayoes  in rapid and decisive fashion. His early achievements then induced him to tight under his real name of Latzo.

The youthful Scranton youth has climbed the pugilistic ladder rapidly during the last three years. True, he was decisively whipped by Mickey Walker a few  months after Walker won the welter title by edging the aged Jack Britton, but that proved only an incentive for Pete to get back in the running again.

The interesting and decidedly unusual part of Latzo's ring career is that he's never failed to lick an opponent that had previously defeated him. He's a scrapper without a jinx. Two years ago he fought the strong Willie Harmon in New York – and lost. A few months later Pete handed Harmon a fancy trimming at Scranton. The same is true of Latzo’s scuffles with Frankie Schoell and Paul Doyle.

In the case of Doyle, Pete was licked right in his home town after a sensational battle. Boston put in a bid for their services and Latzo came through victoriously. George Ward, a good mauler, has dropped three battles to Latzo while the renowned Dave Shade lost one decision and was given a draw in another bout with the Scranton miner boy.

Morrie Schlaifer, the only man to knock Latzo off his pins, took Pete on in a return match at Philadelphia a couple months ago and barely managed to escape a knockout. Since then Schlaifer has not accomplished  anything to speak of. Latzo's favorite pastimes, when not fighting or working in the mines, is playing baseball and basketball. As a diamond performer, Pete is classed with the best in the anthracite field. He plays second base and the outfield.
Pete is under the management of Paddy Mullins, who also looks after Harry Wills.

WILKES-BARRE, July 16.—While rain hovered in the sky and seats and the ring alike sogged under an early downfall, pudgy Pete Latzo. pride of this anthracite mining center, battled with all the viciousness and pride of a kid fighting in his own back yard but in vain—tonight for Tommy Loughran's  light heavyweight championship.

Game as his stand was, furious as his gallant attack, the brown skinned youth was forced to bow for the second time this season to the mastery of the Philadelphian.

By the narrowest of margins was one of the most vicious skirmishes of the. outdoor season decided in Loughran's favor after ten rounds of the kind of milling that had even the spectators, bitter partisans in this all- Pennsylvania struggle, fighting among themselves. The Associated Press score card gave Loughran five rounds with four for the challenger and one even.

"Battled Champ Two Months Ago

A little over two months ago, Latzo. once the welterweight champion, but now grown to a full-fledged light heavyweight, battled Loughran on almost as even terms in a 15-round go in Brooklyn.and tonight, as then, the gameness and plunging, two-fisted attack of the challenger carne within an ace of stripping Loughran of his crown.

Remembering that fight and hoping for the best, the miners who trooped to Scranton two years ago to see Peter, then a lithe 147-pounder, batter Mickey Walker's welterweight crown into the shape of his own head, flocked out tonight to honor the former breaker boy and cheer him to victory. But with honor in  his  grasp and Loughran fading before him in the third and fourth rounds, Pete found that he had wasted too much strength in his rushing assault.

Loughran Takes Fresh Hold

Then it was that Loughran took a fresh hold, and stabbed out the decision over his closest rival in the 175- pound division. Rallying in the middle rounds, Tommy boxed his way to enough of  an advantage to hold Pete off again when he stormed the championship citadel with a final desperate rally in the last two rounds.

Boxing as cleverly as he ever has, Loughran had. Latzo totally at sea in the first round. Again in the second, the champion, boxing like a well-oiled machine, poured a  flood of gloves into Pete's face that had the miner constantly gnawing the leather of his left hand.

But the one trait that seems to rise in every fight--to threaten Loughran's perfect boxing technique—inability to defend himself properly on the ropes caught Tommy in the fourth. Pete. game and rushing every second, stormed the champion to the ropes and in a-moment the .entire complexion of the battle was changed. Ripping rights and lefts to the head staggered Tommy as Latzo pinned him to the hempen barriers and poured a storm of leather into the champion's head and body. .Loughran came away with a streak of blood crossing his right eyebrow. Within another round Latzo’s vicious attack had opened a broad cut there and blood streamed into the champions eyes and down his face. Here the strength Latzo had been  saving for just a moment failed him. He allowed the titleholder to steal the show with stabbing lefts as Tommy danced backward around the ring, eyes foggy, brain a bit numb, but instinct, still controlling his fists. Before Latzo could gain control again the opportunity was lost and Pete's second chance of winning his second crown went aglimmering. '

It mattered little that Latzo, after letting the next three rounds drift to Tommy with the eighth even, rallied in the final two sessions, whaled into Loughran with new vigor and again cut his eye and cheek. The effort was too long delayed. The champion had retained his title by the margin of a single round and the coal regions must wait for another champion.

The crowd of approximately 15,000 paid $60,000 to see the show. Promoter Morgan Bird was reported to have paid Loughran $25,000 to defend the title  while Latzo received $7,500.

http://boxingbiographies.com/bio/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=203&Itemid=28

Loughran's Rush in Final
Rounds Wears Slattery Down
Buffalo Youngster Chooses to Swap Punches with Philadelphia
Rival after Loughran Wears Him down with
Body Blows—Crowd Is Dissatisfied with Decision
By Edward J Neil

Madison Square Garden , NewYork, Dec. 12—(By Associated Press.)

The light heavyweight championship of the world, a diadem disputed for months between the representatives of the New York State Athletic commission and the National Boxing association rested tonight on the curly-headed thatch of Tommy Loughran. Sturdy heavy fisted youngster from Philadelphia.

Loughran, recognized in New York as king of the 175 pounders won the crown beyond all dispute by whipping Jimmy Slattery. rival standard-bearer, in a thrilling  fifteen round match that kept 15.000 spectators in the spacious arena in a constant uproar. At the close the crowd roared their disapproval of the decision, and cheers for the Buffalo boy and his game stand volleyed to the rafters as the fighters
left the ring.

Despite masterly boxing ability that at times made the speedy Loughran appear slow by comparison, and a willingness to swap punches with an opponent enjoying an eight pound weight advantage, the lithe New York youngster appeared to have been bettered in eight of the 15 rounds after winning five and holding Loughran even for two.

Came With Rush.

Tommy came with a rush toward the close, when Slatterv's dancing legs tired under the torrid pace and arms, wearied by constant blocking, grew trembly and weak. Then it was that Loughran. bleeding slightly from a cut Jimmy had opened under his left eye, stormed in close, flailed both hands in an unceasing stream to the body, and pounded out his margin of victory.

The match was a brilliant display by two master craftsmen, clean, decisive punchers, fast and furious workmen. Showing all the form that won him heraldry as another Jim Corbett before the flashing fists of Dave Shade knocked him from prominence, Slattery outboxed and outgeneralled Loughran through, the early rounds.

Hands hanging limply at his sides "Slats" bounced around the ring, flipping stinging Jabs into Loughran's eves and whipping solid right crosses to the chin. After him pounded the "Philadelphia Adonis," grim and unrelenting. out speeded but by no means out gamed.

Slattery Slows Up.

The occasional right hand shots Loughran drilled into Slattery s body slowed the lighter youth, brought his speed closer to his own and wore the lean youngster down steadily. As his speed gave out under the long grind, Slattery chose to mix in close, swap shots with his husky rival—and lose all claim to the 175 pound title, fighting rather than running away.

There were no knockdowns and neither was in serious danger at any time during the sensational milling, although several times Slattery's clean . rifle-like shots to the chin shot Loughran's 'head back. But Tommy always was able to retaliate by storming in close, laying a barrage on Slattery's ribs, and driving the Buffalo youth away with overhand smashes to the head. Loughran scaled-in at 173  ½  pounds Slattery 165 ½ .

Round One
Both were very cautious as they pranced in the centre of the the ring measuring each other with light lefts to the head. Tommy cut loose with a fierce two fisted body attack that drove Slattery into a neutral corner arms doubled across his ribs. Boxing flashily, Jimmy worked his way out and speared Loughran with lefts to the head but Tommy's fists dug solidly Into the Buffalo boys body. Tommy punched Slattery viciously
with short rights to the ribs on the rope. Slattery broke away and peppered Tommy's face with lefts at the bell.

ROUND TWO
They formed a pretty picture, dancing cleverly in the center of the ring shooting with both hands to the head and body, shots that traveled almost too fast. Tommy punched through Slattery's dazzling footwork and rocked the Buffalo boy with a right under the heart. Jimmy gave ground, backing away behind a whiplash left, but Tommy caught him and ripped to his body at the ropes. They jabbed and retreated  simultaneously so that the bell found them standing in their own corners with Slattery winking
confidently at the ringside denizens.

ROUND THREE
Loughran came steaming out on the offensive shooting lefts to Slattery's chin . Jimmy ducked and dodged backwards, spearing Loughran neatly with a left and right to the head when Tommy missed once. Loughran was warned when a right dropped below the foul line. Slattery took the offensive, threw caution to the wind, and they slugged to the head and body like a pair of leaden footed heavyweights in the center of
the room while the crowd roared approval. They broke loose to look the situation over as the gong clanged.

http://boxingbiographies.com/bio/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=205&Itemid=30

San Francisco Aug 8

Dave Shade, Concord, Cal., outstanding challenger for the welterweight title, took a 10-rouhd decision tonight over Frankie Schoell,  Buffalo, N. Y. The bout was held in the ball park here.

The decision was never in doubt. Schoell's only chance seemed to be to put over a knockout. Throughout the battle Shade was on the aggressive. He rushed Schoell from rope to rope, swinging terrific rights and lefts, many of which landed solidly. Several times Schoell was in distress. He was floored in the first round by a hard hook to the jaw. He got up without waiting for a count. In the final round the Buffalo welter sank to his knees momentarily under a hot barrage from Shade.

The Buffalo fighter proved his gameness by taking practically everything Shade had. But Frankie was not able often to land effectively. Once he opened a deep cut over Shade's eye. On a number of occasions he slowed the Californian. with stiff lefts. Shade had his man bleeding  from the nose and mouth before the eighth round.

The eighth round was the most spectacular. Shade drove Schoell into a corner, but the Buffalo boy turned and matched him blow for blow. They mixed at a terrific clip, drawing an ovation from the crowd. In the tenth round Shade had Schoell almost out on his feet several times, but the easterner hung on tenaciously until the final bell brought relief.

Jack Kearns. manager of Mickey Walker, the welterweight champion, had given a tentative promise to match the title holder with the winner of tonight's fight. Schoell was considered a hard hurdle to clear, although the Concord fighter was a heavy favorite in the betting. Shade left no doubt of his superiority . The last time Shade and Schoell met the bout was called a draw.

The fight by rounds:

Round 1
Shade began shooting lefts at long range. They rushed into several clinches. Schoell landed a stiff left to the jaw after some sparring. Shade floored Schoell with a. left hook to the jaw The Buffalo battler rose immediately, smiling. Dave pressed Frankie, but Frankie held him off till the bell

Round 2
Shade rushed Schoell. The Concord battler pushed the Buffalo boy around the ring, trying hard for a knockout. Schoell was landing only lightly. Shade made his opponent miss badly. Shade landed a stiff left to the jaw. Shade tore after his man, swinging both hands. As the bell rang they were sparring in a neutral corner.

Round 3
As they met in the centre Schoell protested vehemently about a low blow. Shade shook hands and then rushed Schoell against the ropes Schoell cut Shade's right eye with a hard left hook. Dave, however, was still on the aggressive, keeping Frankie's back to the ropes. They were mixing it in a neutral corner at The bell.

Round 4
Schoell bored in, landing lightly to the face and body. Shade tore in, and they mixed it furiously with Schoell holding his own. They wrestled in the clinches. Shade backed Schoell against the ropes and pounded him, but Frankie bounded out safely. Shade kept crouching and weaving in, but Schoell met him will several stiff punches as the round ended.
http://boxingbiographies.com/bio/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=204&Itemid=30

Lou Bogash welterweight champion of  New England and one of the leading contenders for Jack Britton's crown, won on a technical knockout from Soldier Bartfield in the third -round of their scheduled fifteen round bout at the Arena last night. -. Bartfleld claimed to have injured his left arm in the second round of the -bout but continued to fight with the arm dangling; useless by his side until the -boxing- commissioners ordered Referee Terry Lee to stop the bout. Although there were many rumors to the effect that the fight was a fake the boxing commissioners gave it their official  sanction last night and declared that so far as they were concerned the promoters could pay Bartfield  and Bogash at any time.

It was understood  by Bartfield's manager that Bartfield would have an X-ray photograph of the injured arm taken today and compared with one taken a few weeks ago on the occasion of the postponement of a previously scheduled bout. Even if t h e X-ray shows no new break the boxing commissioners stated last night that they, would not order
Bartfleld's money to  be held up.

What fighting was done in the bout was by Bogash who hammered Bartfield from the. opening round but who could not seem, to make much of an impression on him. Bogash had a, world of speed and went after Bartfteld strong in the opening round. 'Bartfield landed, only a, few light blows which did no damage to the local boy.

In the second round, Bogajsh hit Bartfield several times on the left arm which was injured some months ago and which forced Bartfield .at that time to quit the ring. Suddenly Bartfleld dropped the arm to his side and defended himself with his right hand only.Bogash was after him like a wildcat and slammed him with everything he had but the Brooklyn battler could not be knocked off  his feet.

The third round was a repetition of the second with  Bartfleld still receiving. Bartfleld seemed to be able t o inflict considerable damage with his good arm ;but Bogash's blows continually landed on the injured arm that Bartfield seemed to be suffering so much pain that finally the' boxing commissioners ordered Referee Terry Lee to stop the fight which was done.

Bartfleld was examined by the club physician and three other doctors, who all agreed that while there were apparently no bones broken in the injured arm. Bartfield   was suffering considerable pain and was unable to continue. The- result, stands as a technical knockout. If Bartfleld was faking it did not appear so to the boxing commissioners who have not ordered that his money be hold up.
http://boxingbiographies.com/bio/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=206&Itemid=27

Benny Leonard. world's lightweight champion, is cleaning: up a bank roll a hound dog couldn't jump over with a springboard and a running start.

About every other week Benny hikes to Philadelphia. That's the town where, any one who pays more than 7 cents for a cigar is rated as either a reckless spendthrift or a lunatic. In Philadelphia any promoter who charges half a dollar to see eighteen six-round bouts in a single evening, all guaranteed knockouts, Is and always has been denounced as a hideous profiteer. Yet a couple of times a month Benny Leonard visits Benny Franklin's village and steps 6 rounds or less with some near-contender and brings about $14,000 back to the Bronx Soft?  yes, Bo! .

And now they want to pay Benny $20,000 to go Out to Denver and step twenty rounds—OR LESS—with ol' Charlie White, Said White will be remembered by old timers as the gentleman who had several times Benny’s chance to take the lightweight title away from, Freddy Welsh, when Freddy was already slipping down the toboggan with yelps of distress, and who couldn't do it .

 White fought Freddy twenty rounds in Colorado Springs, and made such a poor showing, when every one present knew only a tap was needed to tip Freddy over, that the collection of seat cushions, pop bottles and hip pocket flasks shoveled from the ring by the janitor next morning was said to beat anything on record since Tommy Ryan and Jack Root  at Jack McGuigan's place In Philadelphia White also boxed Welsh in Brooklyn, which is about all we can say of the affair, and twice boxed him ten rounds in Milwaukee.

Benny Leonard never had a 20-round chance at Welsh, He boxed him two 10-round goes, and next time, knowing all about what Freddy had and hadn't, went after him like Dempsey after Willard, and hung him on the ropes, out, in nine rounds.

That's the difference between Charley White and Benny Leonard—except that it's more so White has gone away back in the past two years and Leonard has become even a better boxer, He is bigger, stronger, far more seasoned and experienced, and has a champion's confidence On paper it looks as If this would be an easy match for Leonard, and just about as soft a $20,000 as he ever put in his bank.

Leonard hasn't fallen over his own Feet  rushing: to accept "White's challenge, at that. While he is a slow boxer and never will be arrested for exceeding the speed limit in thinking ,White has an awful kick, and sometimes lands It There  isn't a chance in a hundred that he'd land It on Leonard but If he did—well,  $20,000 would be small comfort to Benjamin for the loss of what he can gather  in the coming year by boxing here and there In the 10-round game.

However, if Benny ever gets the Idea that any one thinks he is side-stepping Mr White the Leonard-White match Will be on at once One thing Benny hasn't learned yet is the side-stepping idea He may love that title, but as he says himself, when a fellow who can take it away comes along he can have it and welcome.

Benny's Limit An Unknown Quantity. Just how good is Benny Leonard? It's fashionable to compare him with Joe Gans.

Benny may be a Joe Gans, but he hasn't had anything like Gan's list of rivals to wade through. So We don't know what his limit is. He may be
better It's sure that Leonard has done everything asked of him. And it Isn't -his fault if the competition isn't what it used to be In his class. He wins his fights as quickly as he can. He doesn't stall He doesn't content himself with winning on "points" by a small but safe margin, although he's clever enough to do it.

One thing about Leonard—which Is a. quality seen In all first-class champions— is his knack of winning whenever he meets a man for the second time, He took a hard hammering from Willie Ritchie in the San Francisco Four round bout, but when they met again, a little later, he disposed of  Willie before the end of the eighth session He knew all about how to beat  Welsh the third time they met He boxed ten rounds with Johnny Kilbane in 1915 When he was champion he met Kilbane again In a Philadelphia six-round bout, This time he knew all about clever Kilbane's style, and walking straight Into him beat him to his favorite punches and knocked him out in three rounds.

Leonard can win in a hurry when he feels like hurrying. He fought Leo Johnson, a very clever darkey lightweight,-who was regarded as extremely dangerous, When the two stripped in the ring, and stepped out to face each other, the spectators gasped' Johnson seemed to have every advantage in the world He was a perfect picture of a smooth-moving, lithe, hard-hitting fighter, Benny went Into him like a whirlwind and stopped him In the first round We never have seen Leonard in any real distress, except in the four-round bout with Ritchie, where Benny's left eye was closed tight and he was rocking from the right hand punches he couldn't see In time to block. That time no fought back magnificently in the last round, recovering and holding Ritchie even in the last two minutes of hard mixing.

But Benny hasn't been hit by any one like Dal Hawkins. Nobody knows what would happen in that case.

Ringside, Jersey City July 27

Benny Leonard, world lightweight boxing champion, successfully defended his title Against Lew Tendler of Philadelphia in a 12-round no decision contest tonight, earning, in the opinion of a majority of sports writers at the ringside, a narrow shade in a great struggle.

The challenger,  a left-hander, furnished the champion the most 'interesting combat Leonard has had since he turned back Willie Ritchie some years ago.

Tendler. starting with great confidence and skill, carried the fight to the champion. He pummeled Leonard with stiff lefts to the body and sharp right's to the head and Jaw and brought blood to the champion's nose early. It appeared in the first of the rounds that Tendler was to have things all his own way.

Then Leonard steadied himself and began to find a mark. He carried the fifth ,  sixth and seventh rounds in a burst of speed. In the seventh round his mouth bumped Tendler's shoulder and he lost a false tooth. The eighth found Tendler on the aggressive again. After taking a hard right to the jaw And another under the heart he fought Leonard at close quarters and swung in a number of hard lefts to the jaw. Leornard’s knees sagged and he clinched to save himself. From then on the champion took few chances.

The ninth was an even round, and In the last three Leonard appeared to Have a shade. When it was over the champion, battered more perhaps than he has been in any bout since he won the title from Freddie Welsh In 1917, said, "These southpaws are hard to solve."

All during his training he had belittled Tendler's pugilistic record and predicted that he would finish the Philadelphian within seven, rounds. Tendler. too, had said that he would win by a knockout, but he had nothing to say of this tonight. He said he was satisfied with his showing and would seek an engagement with Leonard in a decision match.

RINGSIDE, Jersey City, July 27.
Benny Leonard and Lew Tendler fought a twelve round no decision bout here tonight, in which honors slightly favored the champion  in the final rounds. It was 9:13 when Tendler, the challenger, escorted by a squad of police, made his way down the aisle from his dressing quarters and entered the ring. He was clad in a greenish gray bath robe and was accompanied by his seconds, Philip  Glassman, Morris Tendler, his brother, and Jack Reinfell.

Champion Leonard entered the ring a moment later and both contenders for the title Were given a great ovation. Leonards seconds were Billy Gibson, Manny Seaman and Charlie Leonard, his brother. Both Leonard and Tendler were called to the center of the ring, where the commission physicians examined their hearts and lungs and announced them to be in perfect condition.

Both boxers had their hands heavily Bandaged  with soft tape. The rival managers examined the bandages and the new gloves were taken from boxes and given to the rival seconds. The weights as announced from the ring were: Leonard 134 pounds, Tender 134 pounds 12 ounces. the weights being taken at 2 o'clock this afternoon. Rocky Kansas of Buffalo, recently defeated by Leonard, appeared with his left arm in splints.

Both Were Nervous
Both fighters appeared more or less drawn and nervous, and Leonard appeared a trifle more drawn than Tendler. Leonard leaned over the ropes and jokingly remarked to a friend at the ring side that the bout would be over in a few minutes. Tendler sat quietly in his corner with downcast eyes and listened attentively to the instructions of his seconds.

The great pine bowl built on Boyle's Thirty Acres for the memorable encounter between Jack Dempsey and Georges Carpentier in July 1921, presented another remarkable spectacle tonight as the crowds  gathered for the lightweight championship contest.

When the first preliminary fighters were called together the arena, having a seating capacity of more than 90,000, appeared to be about three fourths filled.

At the ring side Tex Rickard, the promoter, said gate receipts were about $450,000 and the attendance about 60,000. Under the terms of the agreement with the principals in the contest they are to receive from 62 ½ to 66  ½  per cent of the gross receipts. Of this sum Leonard will receive approximately  two-thirds, the other third going to the challenger.

Some Seats Vacant
The seats at the top of the bowl, cheapest in the arena, were about one-third filled. Many of the spectators in this section purchased miniature opera glasses on the outside of the arena for 50 cents.

When the lights were turned on for the first preliminary the skies, which had been overcast all day began to clear and the colours of the sunset tinged the clouds. The vigilance of the police was relaxed for  a minute on one side of the arena and several hundred boys and men came over the top. They found seats in the crowd and remained unmolested.

The Krug- Quinn bout was shortened to seven rounds when it was announced that Leonard and Tendler were ready to enter the ring. Krug finished with a rush of blows and had slightly the better of the milling.

The threatening weather, it was announced, led the promoters to advance the championship contest and avoid any possibility of postponement.

Newspaper men about the ring differed to some extent in their opinions. The majority appeared to favor Leonard at the end of the bout, although some declared for a draw. Tendler had the better of the first five rounds, but Leonard finished strongly.  Leonard was asked why he did not knock out Tendler, and replied, with a "blood-smeared grin: "Southpaws are Hard to solve."

Round 1
The bell rang at 9:28. Tendler was short with two rights and then landed a light left. They fell into a clinch and began dancing around. Tendler landed a left hook to the chest and followed with a light left to the body. Tendler landed another left and then two sharp rights to the body. Tendler was rushing the champion. Tendler slipped and fell and, standing up slowly wiped the blood from his gloves. Tendler landed a hard right to the champion's head, cutting his right eye. Tendler was warned for hitting in a clinch. They were sparing at the bell, and when he sat down Leonard said the cut was caused by a butt." Leonard held a towel to his eye to stop the bleeding.

Rounds 2
Tendler missed two rights and rushed the champion into a corner Leonard sent a hard right to the jaw. Leonard missed a right and left.Tendler had the better of a clinch Tcndler landed a hard left und followed with short uppercuts. Tendler  landed a short left. Leonard countered with a right to the body and followed with two short uppercuts Tendler continued leading and had the champion covering his face with both arms. Tendler landed hard rights and lefts to the head and then three  more lefts to the Jaw. Blood was trickling from Leonard's eyebrow.

Round 3
Tendler again jumped into the lead .Tendler was again warned for hitting in a Clinch. Leonard complained of Tendler's low hitting. Tendler replied with a left swing, to the jaw. Tendler smiled. Tendler had the better of  a body exchange and landed two rights to the Jaw. There was another exchange at close  quarters. Tendler missed with his left. Tendler told the champion, “Come  in and fight.," Tendler rushed Leonard to
his corner at the bell.



Benny Training the troops
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