Benny Leonard

Benny Leonard (born Benjamin Leiner; April 17, 1896—April 18, 1947) was an American boxer. He was named as number 8 on Ring Magazine's list of the 80 Best Fighters of the Last 80 Years.

Early life and professional career

The "Ghetto Wizard" as he was known was born and raised in the Jewish ghetto, which was then located in the lower east side of Manhattan, New York City, on whose streets he learned to fight.

Leonard was known for his speed, excellent boxing technique and ability to think fast on his feet. He also was a hard hitter, who scored 69 KOs out of his 157 wins. Leonard was defeated 11 times and was held to a draw on 5 occasions. As was common in the era in which he fought, Leonard engaged in several no-decision matches and is believed to have fought 213 bouts.

Besides being lightweight champion, Leonard challenged welterweight champion Jack Britton for his title on June 26, 1922. He lost the fight when he was disqualified for hitting Britton when Britton was down in the thirteenth round.

Retirement and comeback

Leonard retired from boxing in 1924, undefeated, as the reigning world's lightweight champion, because his mother told him to.

He lost most of his considerable fortune in the stock market crash of 1929, and embarked on an ill-advised comeback in 1931. Although described as pudgy and slow, the balding Leonard won 23 fights, albeit against nondescript opposition, before meeting a championship caliber fighter. On October 7, 1932, his career ended when he was TKOed in 6 rounds by future champion Jimmy McLarnin.

Fighting with his head

Leonard holding back Harry Houdini, mock punched by heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey

Leonard fought with his head. His most famed rival, Lew Tendler, claimed that Leonard had talked him out of the title by whispering disconcerting things between punches. Leonard's version: "He caught me over the eye with a left and I felt my knees going under me. I said, That was a good punch, Lew.' I said it in a friendly, matter-of-fact tone of voice and it put the fight on a different plane. Lew snarled, 'Never mind that stuff, come on and fight.' But I stuck out a restraining hand and said, 'No, Lew. That was really a good punch. It was all right.' Lew paused again, and by that time I had recovered my senses."

Before Leonard's fight with Richie Mitchell, the referee explained the then-new rule that after scoring a knockdown, a boxer must go to a neutral corner. Leonard suddenly registered perplexity. "Let me get this straight," he said. "As I understand it, every time I knock him down I'm to go to a neutral corner." Mitchell looked nervous. Leonard knocked him out in the sixth round after Mitchell knocked Leonard down in the first round.^[1]

Life after Boxing

After his boxing career was over, Leonard was a front man for National Hockey League owner Bill Dwyer of the New York Americans, who had secretly purchased the Pittsburgh Pirates of that league. Leonard was supposed to appear as if he owned the team. The team suffered both at the gate and on the ice. The team moved to Philadelphia for 1930-31, and then folded.

Later, Leonard became a popular boxing referee. After refereeing the first six bouts of the April 18, 1947, card at the St. Nicholas Arena in New York, Leonard was stricken with a massive heart attack during the first round of the next bout, toppled to the canvas, and died in the ring. He was 51 years of age.^[2]

Halls of Fame

Leonard was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

Leonard was also inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame.

Leonard, who was Jewish, was inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 1996.^[3]

Leonard was inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 1979.^[4]

In its September 2001 issue, The Ring magazine ranked Leonard number 2 in its list of the greatest lightweights of all time.

References

External links

• Professional boxing record for Benny Leonard from Boxrec
• Benny Leonard at Find a Grave
• "Benny the Brain," Time Magazine, 4/28/47