THE STORY OF BENNY LEONARD

IRON FISTS AND A BRAINY HEAD

THE MAGNIFICENCE OF LEONARD

"The Ghetto Wizard"

Amazing boxer called "King of Lightweights"

In boxing, there are a million stories told, later deemed unthinkable yet understandable, sometimes exaggerated but always interesting.

But a story told time and time again by the lords of boxing folklore is that of one Benny Leonard, one which is unique in character and a parallel of the times in which he lived.  The roaring twenties, the stock market crash, the opponents he talked his way into defeating, the way he died --- all were taken by this master of the sweet science and parlayed into legendary status in the boxing arena. To characterize Benny Leonard as a fighter one can use the word smart, and with that you can add on savvy, experience, energetic, quick thinking, and a punch that carried the "TNT of ambition with it."

Soft spoken, genuine, Leonard possessed all the tools a ringmaster could attain. You could try and compare him with today's boxers but that would be a mistake -- since Benny Leonard stood a giant  among men in a 135 pound frame.

Leonard was born April 7, 1896 on the lower East side of New York City. Of Jewish American descent, Leonard quickly became aware of the dangerous city streets and was forced to defend himself and a tender young age.  Turning professional at 15, Benny was stopped in 3 by an Irishman named Mickey Finnegan. Leonard went on to learn his craft fighting many Irish fighters, since in the year 1912, the Irish had the power structure in the boxing world.  Other fighters who were not Irish would have nicknames such as "Kid Ghetto," " Young Goldie," and "Frankie Pass," all of whom Leonard defeated early in his career. But the early stages of Leonard was not a cakewalk --- he was banged around in the old rough and tumble days of illegal fights, bootleg brawls, and learned his craft through on the job training. In the 1910's and 20's there were hungry fighters, fighting for the few dollars (or sometimes just a meal) that would let them survive another day or week. There were many no decisions and a couple of "KO by," but this did not deter the 5'5 kid from fighting on and learning more.

In the time when street thugs flourished, Benny, the kid from "Eighth and Avenue C" would be the representative of his gang or turf. When he would win money, sometimes a whopping .60 cents, he would treat his friends to ice cream. One could only wonder what his skills would garnish today. 

Leonard developed a fast, quick, colorful style that was effective on the offensive and defensive front. As he grew into the game, there was little about the science of boxing that Benny did not know and he combined his experience with excellent showmanship. No opponent could ever make a mistake with Benny, for one mistake often meant the fate of disaster. 

In 1916 the rivalry between the Jews and Irish began to take on a serious text -- neighborhood brawls were frequent and the best fighters were modeled on who would take home the turf, or pugilistic bragging rights. Leonard was gaining a national reputation as a fighter, and an Irishman named Frankie Conifrey, a hard banger who many thought had the boxing skill to match Leonard. Although the match was even for the first four rounds, Leonard was fresher and the master boxer entering the fifth.  He had Conifrey gasping for air and out on his feet as the bell ended the frame. In the sixth Leonard went to work, punching his opponent from pillar to pillar --- and  Conifrey's brother threw in the towel, sparking a riot from the crowd. Hoodlums and backers of Conifrey threw things into the ring, and in their drunken stupor started fights with any Leonard rooter. This was boxing in the days of New York, circa 1916.

CHAMPION IN THE MOLD

Benny was special --- and it was only a matter of time when he would leave New York for a more challenging climate -- fighting men in other parts of America.

A match that would prove to be a momentum builder in Leonard' career was with Ever Hammer, a square jawed mid westerner who could, like his name implied, bang.  The bout took place on October 18, 1916, in Kansas City, in which he a huge following. Hammer greeted Benny with a right to the mouth, opening a cut on the lip. During the next two rounds, Leonard was beaten, smashed, upended, and hammered like a sack of potatoes. 

"So this is the best they got in New York, eh?" muttered Hammer.  But Leonard had other ideas -- like launching a body attack that no one, even Hammer himself, would ever see. Looking like an easy winner it was not noticed until the 8th frame that Hammers legs were starched and he could no longer punch with authority. In the tenth Leonard's moment of opportunity came. Leonard countered a left hook with a cross that landed under the heart of Hammer, who held on to Benny for dear life. The bell rang so the New Yorker couldn't finish him off.

Benny was behind on all cards and this was his chance to shine. His body attack worked for the long haul and he sensed the kill.

The 11th round was all Leonard, using his jab and skill, he had Hammer going, but to his opponents credit, he stayed on his feet. The 12th would be a round for the ages -- Hammer came out swinging for life, and forcing Benny onto the ropes. They went at it for 30 seconds. But Benny knew his opponent was exhausted. Hammer was almost out on his feet. His legs were gone. Benny jabbed, knocking Hammer to his right, then turned with a terrific right that had on his back. Hammer lay motionless for the first seven seconds, then popped up miraculously at nine. Benny looked at the referee and opponent in amazement. He thought he had the win then and there. Disappointed, Benny raised his arms to resume fighting. Hammer, though, crumpled to the canvas again and this time counted out. Hammer took two counts totaling nineteen seconds from one punch! 

The fight carried national headlines and seemed to make Benny a star. It was only a matter of time he would be challenging for the lightweight title.

WELSH AND THE CROWN

Freddie Welsh had beaten Willie Ritchie over 20 rounds on July 7, 1914 to win the Lightweight title. In fact before Leonard even took on Hammer, he twice boxed Welsh in a non title 10 rounder, both which was contested as a No Decision. But Benny learned a lot about the champions style in those two bouts, and if given the opportunity felt he could beat him. In fact, the local papers gave Benny the nod over Welsh in their second battle. Welsh was a defensive genius that would make a puncher look foolish. Benny was a boxer, 10 years younger, and felt good about his chances. The bout took place on May 28, 1917 in the shadow of the New York's Polo Grounds. Benny and the "Welsh Wizard" had trained hard  because both knew the struggles of their first meeting. Welsh was floored three times and stopped in the ninth round. The bout ended in controversy because Welsh's camp felt the referee could not not stop the bout without a count. Welsh refused for a time to recognize Leonard as the champion but the fact remained that Welsh was out of it. Leonard had beaten a great fighter and was now Champion of the World!

Leonard became a credit to the sport. His head didn't swell up because he was the champion. He was a regular guy from the lower Eastside and was that until his death. 

BRAINS, BRAINS, BRAINS

What made Benny go was his smarts -- he never let his ego get the better of him, and capitalized on his opponents mistakes. His fists did the talking but it was his hair trigger brain that orchestrated the chaos. The lightweight class was loaded with talent at the time and this is evidenced by the members that are in Boxings Hall Of Fame.  Check out the names on Benny's list ---  Welsh, Johnny Dundee, Rocky Kansas, Johnny Kilbane, Willie Ritchie, Lew Tendler, and Solder Bartfield.  Only five men defeated Benny in his career -- Britton, who was the welterweight champion when Leonard was a lightweight, Jimmy McLarnin, which was the fading Leonards' last bout,  and three early KO's by Mickey Finnegan, Joe Shrugue, and Frankie Fleming, when Leonard was earning his stripes.

THE BRITTON FIGHT

Leonard was lightweight champion when he moved up to fight fellow New Yorker and welterweight champion Jack Britton. On  June 26, 1922, Leonard boxed sluggishly but still outgunned the welter champ for 13 rounds.  Suddenly Leonard caught Britton with a right, which was low, knocking him down. Without explanation, Leonard hit Britton again when he was down, and was disqualified. The lousy sense of a "fix" filled the air as the decision was announced. 

Leonard relinquished the lightweight crown in 1924, but returned to the ring following the stock market crash of 1929. His investments and money gone, Leonard clearly was not the same fighter as the good life had taken its toll. Campaigning as a welterweight, Leonard still had some of the skill but he was slower and easier to hit.  Facing a .500 fighter in his comeback, Leonard was slow footed and booed as he tussled with his opponent, Pat Silvers. Weighing as high as 155lbs, Leonard won many bouts before being stopped in Madison Square Garden by future welterweight champion  Jimmy McLarnin in 6 rounds on October 7, 1932. It was Leonard's last fight as a professional but marked a new era in his life.

RETIREMENT AND UNTIMELY DEATH

Upon retiring, Benny bore no resemblance of a used up fighter. His skill and craftiness had kept his face as clear as a bell and his teeth in place.  Benny Leonard was honored at his retirement party for his brilliant career in boxing --- and most important his clean living and the example he had set for young America. To think about boxing in Leonards' era, check this out --- Benny defended his title one week after he won the crown, and in the following four months he scored 8 KO's in 13 title defenses.   

When Benny Leonard joined the Maritime Service in World War II, he stated this about boxing at a function, which should be reminded to many a parent and youth today:  

"Until my dying day, I will always have a kindly word for the boxing game. It gave me a chance of a lifetime --- that is, to travel about the world, learn of the people and get a chance to mingle with them. It gave me the opportunity to make friends and persons in all classes, men of the business world, the bench, the college. It taught me more than I could have gained had I gone to an institution of learning. It was the school of hard knocks that I had to endure before reaching my goal . . . that made a real man out of me. I made a fortune out of boxing," he said, " and if I never made a penny I would still be grateful, most appreciative to the sport for what it has done for me. And yes, I wouldn't hesitate teaching my boy the finer points of boxing and even permit him to box as a professional if he had such a desire."

Unlike most boxing heroes, Leonard died in the same place he made his living --- the ring. On April  18, 1947, eleven days after his 51st birthday, while refereeing a match in old St. Nicholas Arena, Leonard suffered a heart attack and had to be carried from the ring in a stretcher. Over the radio, the ringside announcer stated "Something has happened. Benny Leonard has collapsed in the ring."  By the time Benny and the  NYSAC doctors reached the dressing room, the fighter once known as the Boxing Wizard was dead. With it, part of a magical era had also passed. Leonard is buried in Mount Carmel Cemetery in Ridgewood Queens.

END

Sources: "Leonard the Magnificent" by Nat Fleischer 1947 

BoxREC for corresponding stats

"Boxing, Heroes and Champions" Bob Mee / Chartwell Books 1996

FROM BOX REC:

A Benny Leonard Anecdote: 

(From a January 1919 THE SEATTLE DAILY TIMES newspaper article. We paraphrase:) Not too long ago World Champion Benny Leonard agreed to referee the main event of a Brooklyn benefit boxing carnival. The bout featured Soldier Bartfield and Jack London. As the fight progressed Leonard, displeased with the effort Bartfield was giving, instructed him to "do a little more fighting and less hippodroming." Leonard continued to criticize Bartfield until The Soldier got upset and cast aspersions upon Leonard's refereeing. They both continued to "talk trash" (our modern terminology) to each other. Finally Bartfield hazarded the guess that Leonard "was just as much a false alarm as a fighter" as he was a referee. Leonard said words to the effect that "You're about to find out!" He immediately pushed London back into his corner and proceeded to strip his clothing off right in front of the startled crowd. Leonard then ordered London to give him his gloves and asked him to remain in the corner to act as his second. What next happened was described by the contemporary press - according to this January 1919 article - as "the most furious staged in New York in many years." The two fought all over and around the ring. Leonard had gone into the fray with an injured thumb, which had prevented him from going on tour, and the reason he had not fought recently. He could have injured it more and thus lost out on thousands of dollars in ring earnings, but he didn't care - according to this article. Those fortunate spectators who happened to witness this bout say (again according to this Jan. 1919 article) that Leonard emerged from the battle unmarked, but the same could not be said about Bartfield.