BENNY LEONARD'S POPULARITY.

NZ Truth, 5 October 1918, Page 8

BENNY LEONARD'S POPULARITY.

A boxing tournament was held at San Francisco recently, which, it is confidently believed, will have an important bearing on the question of legalising boxing there and lead to the creation of a new and tolerant law on the sport (writes "Straight Left" m the "Sporting L.ife"). At present only four round bouts are permitted m San Francisco, and boxers are by law aupposed to be content to compete for prizes only; but as some of the

best professionals m the States have taken part m these contests one need scarcely ask if the law lias not been evaded. The. reason for the belief that the attitude of the authorities will undergo a change is found m the circumstance that the tourirfament referred to, which was organised for the purpose of raising funds for the purchase of athletic equipment for the soldiers m the training camps, was attended by one of the largest crowds that has ever assembled m California m the history of boxing, and that the Committee of Management, headed by James J. Coffroth, the famous promoter, comprised the most prominent citizens of San Francisco, from Mayor Rolph downwards. The gate receipts amounted, to about £5000, and an additional £800 or more was collected from the crowd of some 10,000. Lightweight champion Benny Leonard and a former champion' m Willie Ritchie appeared m contests, and the spectators gave Leonard a remarkable ovation when he entered the ring, the cheering lasting for several minutes. The champion was further honored publicly when Captain R. TV. Clampett, on behalf of the mayor, presented him with a solid gold card, and also turned over to him the Key of the City. Altogether it was a red-letter night m San Francisco, alike from the point of view of sport and patriotism, and was a crushing rebuke for the burrowing spoil-sports, who by various arts have brought San Francisco and California generally to its present contemptible position m the boxing world of America. The death some time back of the famous New York boxing instructor, Mike Donovan, recalls a great shock that was once met by the great Jack Dempsey. Donovan was a great middleweight m his day, and was champion of America from 1574 to 1882. He and Mace boxed a sixrounds affair m New York, and again over a four-rounds trip at Birmingham, just to let the fig-ht fans see the methods of two of the world's most famous fighters. In 1886, four ' years after Donovan had retired, Jack Dempsey was m his prime, and his friends were Dempsey daft. That well-known English boxing writer, J. Frank Bradley, says it was with them, Jack Dempsey this, Jack Dempsey that, and Jack Dempsey all the time. When they were asked if they had ever heard of a middleweight called Mike Donovan, they were peeved by the query, "Aw, Aiike's a has-been," they answered. "Disturb him not." Mike duly got switched up to this notion, and m the end a sixround summary was arranged. Dempsey took it for granted that Mike was the soft thing his friends had assured him was the case, and he made a great blunder when he did not train properly. He met Donovan, hard as nails from regular practice, and fit as a fiddle. The latter proceeded to give Jack the best lacing man ever received m six rounds. Then he retired again.