Benny Leonard v Lew Tendler

NEW YORK, July 26.—An axiom of boxing promoters is “always build up the contender.”

That is what they are doing for Lew Tendler. A month ago, around New York, Leonard was considered a sure winner in tomorrow’s fight, but the “bull” reports coming from Tendler’s training camp have raised a doubt. George B. Rickard, the promoter, expects to cash in heavily on this doubt.

Leonard, speaking more frankly to newspaper men than he ever did on the eve of an important championship battle, makes light of Tendler’s chances to go twelve rounds with him.

“I hope you boys continue to boost Tendler’s stock,” he said at his Budd Lake camp, “for that will make the gate a big one. However, I want to say right here that I consider this one of the softest bouts I ever signed for. I can’t see Tendler at all. He can’t box with me, and I can hit with him. Those stories about him developing a crushing left hand make me laugh. I’ve fought those hard sockers before. He could open up with Bobby Barrett, who is a ring novice, and Johnny Dundee, who is a notoriously light hitter. Just let him come at me wide open and watch what happens.”

Leonard is not given to idle boasting, hence his remarks on Tendler must be taken as an indication of perfect confidence in his own powers.

“One reason I am so sure Tendler will not stay the limit with me,” says Benny, “is that I am approaching this fight in the best physical and mental condition I have enjoyed for three years. Training out here in the open has brought wonderful results.

“Tendler’s crowd I notice, are figuring on Lew to beat the Leonard who fought Jack Britton a few weeks ago. There is no comparison between my form then and now. Before I met Britton I hadn’t had a fight in three months. I trained in a gymnasium and rain kept me off the road. I did everything badly when I got into the ring with Britton.

“That fight and the one with Kansas put me on edge. The few New Yorkers who saw the bout at Michigan City marvelled at my improvement. I have kept on improving. I think you will admit that my boxing and footwork are good against my sparring partners here. No, Tendler will not meet the Leonard that lost to Britton.”

Tendler’s actions and words bespeak confidence suppressed. Lefty Lew has not replied publicly to Leonard’s scornful estimate of his prowess. Privately, he has expressed bitter resentment.. Lew is not much of a talker on any subject. He maintains, however, that the impending combat is not preying on his mind.

“The best man will win,” is what he tells the interviewers who are flocking to his camp at Delanco, N. J.

A majority of the Philadelphia boxing experts, who have been observing Tendler closely this last week, incline to the belief that the fight will go the limit or will end with a claim of foul by Leonard. They base this belief on the probability of Tendier fighting carefully to avoid Leonard’s right-hand punches.

“Tendler, according to the form he has shown us,” writes Jimmy Gantz, a Quaker City expert, “and the lack of condition Leonard has been inclined to exhibit, should beat the champion on points. A knockout is not expected, but if there is one, we expect Tendler to score it. Leonard is the champion and cannot lose the title in a decisionless bout no matter how far Lew outpoints him. He will be inclined to box carefully to avoid a knockout, which is Tendler’s one chance to kick Benny out from under his crown.”

Gantz goes on to show how easily Tendler could have finished Leonard if he had been in the ring against Benny the night he clashed with Britton. However, nobody thinks Leonard will be that far off his real form tomorrow night.

Charley White, of Chicago. is the first prominent challenger to arrive here from a distant point. White came in yesterday from Chicago. He already has posted $2,500 with the New York State boxing commission as evidence of his sincere desire to engage the winner of the big bout.

Tendler Thinks His Body Attack Will Win Title for Him.

By Lew Tendler.

There will be a new lightweight champion of the world before midnight. I feel confident that my body attack will stop Leonard. I don’t think he can take it in the midsection, and that’s the spot that I’m going to be after from the start, and it won’t take me long to have the champion so that he will be in a position to succumb to a good punch on the jaw if the body bombardment doesn’t do the trick.

Don’t think that I am cocky about this fight-that I am all swelled up with my own importance. I have been watching Leonard in action for some months and I feel sure that I can whip him.

Benny has been telling every one that I am a dub-well, a dub is going to beat him to-night.

I was never in such fine condition for a bout as I am for this one. This is the opportunity for which I have long awaited. It means a million dollars to me to win the title, and if trying my best will earn the championship for me I’m already returned a winner.

Leonard Says That He Will Win the Bout Inside of Seven Rounds.

By Benny Leonard

I will win inside of seven rounds.

When I enter the ring to-night I will face Tendler in the greatest shape of my career. And in the condition I am right now I do not think Tendler is the man to relieve me of my title.

Candidly, I have not much respect for my opponent’s defense. I do not think it sufficently strong to withstand my punching ability. I am punching harder than ever right now, and my wind and speed could not be improved upon.

No matter what form of battle Tendler may depend on, I am confident I am prepared for him. He can make it a rushing battle or fight defensively, his style is immaterial to me. He will find that I am primed to meet him at any style he may choose.

Every blow that I land will be driven home with my full power, and I do not anticipate much trouble in landing. I will enter the ring with just one object—a knockout of Tendler as quickly as possible. I may finish him in the very first round-at least I am positive I will be able to stop Tendler inside of seven rounds.

Champion Gets $191,250 as His Share of Gate, While Challenger Tendler Receives $90,000.

NEW YORK, July 28.-Benny Leonard still holds the world’s lightweight boxing championship, but realizes that Lew Tendler, Philadelphia lefthander, is neither a “second rater” nor a “dub.”

Champion since 1917, when he bowled over English Freddie Welsh, Leonard walked out of the great pine bowl on Boyle’s Thirty Acres last night with the crown perched far back on his head. Tendler put it there. Had the challenger the stamina to hold the lead he gained in the early rounds he would have knocked it off. Leonard won by the palest of shades.

Silent throughout the arduous days of training to the belittling statements that Leonard made about him, Tendler gave his answer last night. It came hard and straight from his left shoulder. Leonard had predicted that he would finish Tendler within seven rounds. In that period Leonard brushed aside blood that trickled from his brow, turned his head to one side, spat out a tooth and grunted dissatisfaction.

Tendler, always a body crusher, employed a style unexpected of him. Perhaps it was strategy. Anyway his attack was diversified, especially after he had been warned repeatedly for striking dangerously near the foul line. Yet Leonard’s defense had much to do with this. Tendler found that he could not pump both hands indiscriminately into the champion’s torso. Leonard’s big failure was in his legs. Not until near the finish did he prance about, striking and darting away.

After Tex Rickard announced today that the receipts from the Leonard-Tendler fight were about $450,000, fight fans figuring Leonard’s share which was 42 ½ per cent. of the gross estimated that the lightweight champion would get about $191,250, while Tendler would receive about $90,000 on a basis of 30 per cent. Rickard’s expenses for the battle were reckoned at $15,000 aside from the fighters’ shares and his profit was declared to be $153,750.