by Hank Kaplan

Like the tax man who's got you coming and going," crack lightweight of years past, Leach Cross enjoyed the enviable position of being the best in two worlds.

As a fighting dentist, Leach was paid for knocking them out, and putting them back in again.

Louis Charles Wallach, born February 12, 1886, was the second of four brothers to emerge from a teeming ghetto known as New York's lower East side.

Upon graduation from high school, Louis entered New York University school of dentistry.

Taking up the friendly art of "beak bashing" to supplement his income, Louis boxed under the name of Leach Cross to avoid detection by his family, particularly his father, whom Leach was sure would not approve of his engaging in so brutal and primitive a sport.

As his need for funds were immediate, Leach had no time nor patience to learn his trade in the amateurs. He turned pro right from the start, and absorbed his lessons the hard way.

Launching his career in 1906, Leach was unceremoniously KO'd in the first round of his pugilistic debut.  He'd fare slightly better in his next bout -- KO'd in 2! But determination and natural ability gradually began to form Leach into really a capable fighter.

In October 1907, Leach received a degree in dentistry and began a limited practice in his neighborhood. Comically enough, there were a number of occasions in which his opponents of the previous evenings would visit him to repair the damage he had wrought upon their choppers.

Dentistry soon began to take a back seat to his boxing career, as Leach's exciting performances, and now more frequent victories, elevated Cross to New York's most popular and exciting fistic attractions.

By this time of course, his family did become aware of his activities , and reluctantly accepted the facts of life.

Managed by his older brother Sam, Leach fought from 1906 to 1916, engaging in 155 bouts, losing only ten. Despite being one of the leading lightweights of the time, he never did achieve his greatest ambition, to fight for the championship.

Still, he fought many great champions, both former and future: Jack Britton, Battling Nelson, Ad Wolgast, Willie Ritchie, Freddie Welsh, and Johnny Dundee, with never a title at stake.

After being knocked out in six rounds by Milburn Saylor in 1916, Leach decided to call it a day, and he quit.

He went back to dentistry full time, and except for a brief comeback in 1921, never laced up the gloves again.   

Moving to California, Leach entered a period of great prosperity. With a flourishing dental practice as his mainstay, Leach built a luxurious apartment building in Hollywood, naming it the "Cross Arms." He also found time to open up a cafe and restaurant in the same town. Unfortunately, like most people in the late 1920's, Leach lost most of his assets through bad investments.

So Leach decided to make a "comeback" one more time!

Returning to New York in the late twenties, he resumed his practice and managed to prosper again, although nowhere near his former level.

Sad to say, Leach's last days were not good ones. Failing health as he he reached his mid sixties, he was soon unable to work. Hospitalized the last three years of his life, Leach died Sept 7, 1957.

CT     

 Remembering Henry Hank . . .

   The boxing community lost a true warrior when Henry Hank of Detroit recently passed away. He was born in 1935 and began his long professional career in 1953. In less then two years he was fighting the likes of Virgil Akins.

   By 1959 Henry was good enough to mix it up with the best middleweights and light heavyweights in the world. Fighting men like Holly Mims, George Benton, Jesse Bowdry, Hank Casey, Randy Sandy and Gene Armstrong.    In 1961 Henry beat Joey Giardello. They met again in 1962 with Joey turning the tables. The rematch was voted the Fight Of The Year by Ring Magazine for 1962.

   Other top names on his record are Chic Calderwood, Dick Tiger and Mauro Mina. Henry also defeated future heavyweight titleholder Jimmy Ellis.

   On October 23, 1963 Henry met Eddie Cotton for the Michigan version of the light heavyweight title. Henry lost in fifteen rounds.

   Henry would go on to meet Harold Johnson and Johnny Persol. The great Bob Foster halted Henry in ten in 1964 and Bob outscored him in a 1965 return match. Henry would also cross gloves with Roger Rouse and Heschel Jacobs.

 Henry became the "Man" for young contenders to fight on their way up the ladder. Henry tested tough upstarts like Mark Tessman, Eddie "Bossman" Jones, Hal Carroll and Charlie "Devil" Green.

   In one of his last fights Henry went ten rounds with the then unbeaten mammoth heavyweight heavyweight, Claude "Humphrey"McBride.

   Henry's last fight was a decision loss to highly ranked Andy Kendall.

   In all Henry had 97 fights with 62 wins and 31 losses with 4 draws. He scored forty KO victories. An impressive record considering the quality of opposition he faced in his outstanding career. He was halted only once and that was by the fearsome Foster. No shame there.