Benny Leonard

                                                             A look into a marvelous career

                                              Written By Alden Chodash

  Boxing in the 20's was highlighted by some of the greatest fighters the ring has ever known. Jack Dempsey, Harry Greb, Gene Tunney, Georges Carpentier, Jimmy Wilde, and the greatest lightweight champion in the history of prize fighting, the "Magnificent" Benny Leonard.

  Benny Leonard was born Benjamin Leiner April 7th 1896 in New York. Leiner lived in an environment where nationality gangs often fought for supremacy. Leiner, who was already made up to be an exceptional fighter by fellow gang members, was put up against Irish Joey Fogarty, who was respected by his fellow gang members with his fighting skills. The two fought to become the leader of a combined gang of Jews and Irishmen. Leiner thrashed the tough though limited skilled Fogarty and knocked him cold in round three. Currently working in a printing plant at the time, Leiner met "Buck" Areton. The two befriended. Areton then ask Leonard if he'd like to try his luck at boxing and make five dollars. Leiner liked the offer and was soon matched up with Mickey Finnegan. Leiner, fearing that his mother would discover that he was boxing, changed his name to Benny Leonard. Leonard dominated in his pro debut in the first but in the second, a right hand by Finnegan caused Leonard's nose to bleed profusely. The fight was called to a halt during the third frame because of Leonard's nose. In many record books it puts the fight down as a win for Leonard before the truth was discovered. Leonard would suffer two more kayo defeats in the hands of Joe Shugrue and Frank Fleming before Leonard decided he would never be knocked out again. And it never happened again. After some managerial problems Leonard signed with Billy Gibson who stuck with Leonard until the end of Leonard's first career. After fifty some-odd fights, Leonard's manager Gibson hired George Engel (manager and trainer of legendary Harry Greb)  to polish the raw talent Leonard held. The Engel contribution paid off brilliantly as Leonard went on to knock out glass jawed Gene Moriarity and stopping Joe Mandot, a top lightweight contender. A dramatic and impressive knockout of durable Ever Hammer put Leonard in line for a world title bout.

   The following year Leonard got his chance at a world title against extremely elusive and respected, Freddie Welsh. Leonard already had prior experience on how to fight Welsh due to two no-decision bouts earlier in Leonard's career. This time, Leonard did what no other man was ever able to accomplish, knocking out Welsh. Less than a month later, Leonard took on current featherweight title-holder Johnny Kilbane in Leonard's first defense of the title. Leonard used his size and skill to stop Kilbane in the third. In his second defense of the title, Leonard solidified his claim to the title once more with a knockout over Joe Welling. In his next defense Leonard fought Ritchie Mitchell, a top contender who Leonard beat before his title run. In a magnificent affair, Leonard dropped Mitchell three times in the first only to be dropped and nearly knocked out later in the round by a tremendous right hand. Leonard barely made it out of the round. After struggling over the course of the next four rounds, Leonard finally retained his title via sixth round knockout of Mitchell. Following two defenses against Rocky Kansas, Leonard faced Lew Tendler. Tendler, in the sixth, landed a crushing left to the jaw and nearly decapitated Leonard but Leonard verbally fended Tendler off and survived the distance. The bout was under the no-decision rules. Their rematch, however, was to be decided by judges in case they last the scheduled fifteen. Leonard put on a masterful display of boxing and successfully defended his title for the last time, winning a unanimous decision.

  Benny Leonard, at this point, had reached his peak and was looking to become a welterweight champion. The current welterweight champion was the crafty Jack Britton who squared off with Leonard two previous times, both no-decision bouts. It was noted that Leonard had no intentions of taking the title and was disqualified for hitting Britton while Jack was taking a knee. Leonard's mother, who was taking emotional punches by watching her son box, was always trying to persuade Leonard to leave the fight game. Leonard became increasingly inactive and declined an offer to battle welterweight champion Mickey Walker and retired to please his mother. Seven years later, Leonard tried his luck again in the fight game but his comeback was snapped by Jimmy McClarnin. Leonard also tried movies as a profession after boxing and then he became a storyteller. Leonard then became a referee. In a boxing show, Leonard refereed all of the fights on the card and passed out during a bout and never woke up. It was said that he was totally dehydrated and that contributed to his death.

  Benny "The Ghetto Wizard" Leonard will always be thought of in my mind as the greatest all time lightweight. Ray Arcel, a legendary trainer who trained both Leonard and Roberto Duran, stated that Leonard was the greatest pound for pound fighter he's ever seen. Leonard's combination of speed, strength, and savvy has put him at a level that extremely few exceed, let alone fellow lightweights.