BOXING.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 148, 22 June 1918, Page 14

BOXING.

Billy Gibson was telling the American writers some stories up at the Olympic Club recently about the climb of Benny Leonard to the championship throne. Benny never purposely talked to any boxer before a contest with the idea ol" getting his goat," said Billy, "but one tone he said something that won a fight Tor him. Yes, and it was one of his | hardest battles.' It was the time he boxed Richie Mitchell at Milwaukee for the American lightweight championship, before he won the title from Freddie n elsn. Richie was looked upon at that time as a wonderful boxer, and had never met with a reverse. He was an intelligent fellow. Several of ray friends in Milwaukee told mc I had ma<Ce a bad j loatch; that Mitchell was a great fightei ; —one of the greatest ever developed in Milwaukee. They all thought Benny would wind up on the floor before tht. j tenth Tound was up, and were willing to back up their opinion with thousands. When the referee called them to the centre of the ring for the usual instruction? he explained his idea of the rules that were to prevail. Benny listened and didn't 'bat' an eye. The "rules read, you | know, that if either boxer scored a knockdown he was to walk to his corner during the count, but it is seldom enforced. 'Now, boys,' said the referee, 'if there is a knockdown, the man who delivered the blow is to walk to his corner while lam counting.' 'Which corner shall I walk to?' asked Benny. Mitchell was surprised at the remark, and his face flushed up. A moment later beads ol sweat were running dc_vn his forehead and his nerves were unstrung as he waited for the bell. Benny didn't make the remark to get MitcheX's goat; he merely asked the question unconsciously. It was natural for him to expect to put his opponent down, for he had dropped i almost every opponent he had met."