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JCWeb · 02-04-2007, 08:11 PM

1916 LW Title Bouts

WBA

Willie Ritchie CH (28-10-2) vs Benny Leonard #11 (23-0-1)

Leonard, the unbeaten LW phenom, makes his first try for the WBA belt at the young age of 19. Leonard holds a previous TKO win over Ritchie for the NABF belt in 1914, so he approaches the bout with a confident approach.

Leonard looks sharp early, takes the first round. The "Ghetto Wizard" steps up the pace, mounting an inside attack against the flat-footed Ritchie in round two. Leonard continues to dominate the early action to build up a solid points lead. Ritchie tries to battle back, becoming more aggressive, but Leonard's defense is solid. Ritchie then walks into a Leonard uppercut and goes down in round 9, and is staggered by a Leonard cross in round 10. Ritchie tires from his efforts and Leonard coasts to an easy UD win to capture the WBA belt. Leonard by UD 15 (149-134, 148-137, 149-134).

Benny Leonard CH (24-0-1) vs Knockout Brown #7 (28-9-2)

First defense for Leonard is against USBA champ Brown, who is fresh off a one-round demolition of Lockport Jimmy Duffy. First meeting of the two.

Leonard comes out firing, looking impressive landing jabs and following up with a solid cross and hook that puts Brown on the defensive right away. More quick jabs and movement by the Ghetto Wizard continue to confound his opponent in round two. The end comes late in round three when Leonard traps Brown in the corner and lands a strong shot. Leonard by KO 3.

Benny Leonard CH (25-0-1) vs Freddie Welsh #3 (36-8-2)

Leonard takes on former champ Welsh in probably the toughest test yet for the young Champion. Welsh comes in win 9 wins and a draw in his last 10 bouts since he lost the WBA title to Ritchie back in 1913.

Leonard again looks strong early, winning the opening round easily. Welsh battles to a standstill in round two, tries his luck on the inside in the third but Leonard takes the round. A couple of more rounds, more of the same, and some swelling outside the left eye of the Welsh Wizard, and the unofficial card has Leonard well ahead by 50-46 after five. Leonard appears on his way to an easy win when a cut opens above the Champ's left eye in round 10. Leonard recovers, nailing Welsh with a big left hook in the 11th. Round twelve, and Welsh targets the cut which is finally closed in the corner before round 13. Leonard then seals the win with two KDs of the tiring Welshman in the 13th, followed by a third KD in round 14. Leonard by UD 15 (149-133, 150-132, 148-134).

NABF: Jack Blackburn takes on Ray Bronson for the NABF belt vacated by Leonard. Bronson starts well, but soon Blackburn wrests control, punctuating his dominance with a barrage of blows in round 7 to send Bronson to the canvas before coasting to a UD 12 win (117-110, 116-111, 116-111). Blackburn then takes on aging vet Harlem Tommy Murphy, who keeps the bout close for awhile, but falters badly in the middle rounds, going down in the 5th round to a vicious uppercut by Blackburn who once again takes a lopsided UD verdict (119-109, 118-110, 117-111). Blackburn then takes on USBA champ Knockout Brown in what proves to be a lopsided affair, with Blackburn seizing control with a KD in round 3 and finally finishing Brown off in the 11th. Blackburn by KO 11.

USBA: Brown defended the belt versus an aging vet, Young Erne, who proved to be a surprisingly strong challenger, in a close bout which Brown barely hung on to win. Brown by MD 12 (116-114, 115-115, 116-113).

CBU: Welsh, holder of the EBU and GBU titlesm seeks to add a third crown by taking on CBU champ Phil Bloom, in a bout where Welsh's British belt is also at stake. Bloom lacks the weapons to pose a serious threat to the "Welsh Wizard," who goes on to dominate in a UD 12 effort (118-110, 118-110, 115-113) to now hold three belts (EBU, CBU and GBU) simultaneously. Welsh travels Down Under to take on Herb McCoy of Australia, ripping open a cut above McCoy's left eye in round two that proves to lead to a late stoppage. Welsh by TKO 11.

GBU: Welsh defended the belt against Bloom in the same bout for the CBU title (see above paragraph).

EBU: Welsh did not defend this belt during the year.

02-04-2007, 08:11 PM	#258 (permalink)
JCWeb All Star Starter Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,052 Thanks: 0 Thanked 15x in 14 posts	1916-Lightweight Part I 1916 LW Title Bouts WBA Willie Ritchie CH (28-10-2) vs Benny Leonard #11 (23-0-1) Leonard, the unbeaten LW phenom, makes his first try for the WBA belt at the young age of 19. Leonard holds a previous TKO win over Ritchie for the NABF belt in 1914, so he approaches the bout with a confident approach. Leonard looks sharp early, takes the first round. The "Ghetto Wizard" steps up the pace, mounting an inside attack against the flat-footed Ritchie in round two. Leonard continues to dominate the early action to build up a solid points lead. Ritchie tries to battle back, becoming more aggressive, but Leonard's defense is solid. Ritchie then walks into a Leonard uppercut and goes down in round 9, and is staggered by a Leonard cross in round 10. Ritchie tires from his efforts and Leonard coasts to an easy UD win to capture the WBA belt. Leonard by UD 15 (149-134, 148-137, 149-134). Benny Leonard CH (24-0-1) vs Knockout Brown #7 (28-9-2) First defense for Leonard is against USBA champ Brown, who is fresh off a one-round demolition of Lockport Jimmy Duffy. First meeting of the two. Leonard comes out firing, looking impressive landing jabs and following up with a solid cross and hook that puts Brown on the defensive right away. More quick jabs and movement by the Ghetto Wizard continue to confound his opponent in round two. The end comes late in round three when Leonard traps Brown in the corner and lands a strong shot. Leonard by KO 3. Benny Leonard CH (25-0-1) vs Freddie Welsh #3 (36-8-2) Leonard takes on former champ Welsh in probably the toughest test yet for the young Champion. Welsh comes in win 9 wins and a draw in his last 10 bouts since he lost the WBA title to Ritchie back in 1913. Leonard again looks strong early, winning the opening round easily. Welsh battles to a standstill in round two, tries his luck on the inside in the third but Leonard takes the round. A couple of more rounds, more of the same, and some swelling outside the left eye of the Welsh Wizard, and the unofficial card has Leonard well ahead by 50-46 after five. Leonard appears on his way to an easy win when a cut opens above the Champ's left eye in round 10. Leonard recovers, nailing Welsh with a big left hook in the 11th. Round twelve, and Welsh targets the cut which is finally closed in the corner before round 13. Leonard then seals the win with two KDs of the tiring Welshman in the 13th, followed by a third KD in round 14. Leonard by UD 15 (149-133, 150-132, 148-134). NABF: Jack Blackburn takes on Ray Bronson for the NABF belt vacated by Leonard. Bronson starts well, but soon Blackburn wrests control, punctuating his dominance with a barrage of blows in round 7 to send Bronson to the canvas before coasting to a UD 12 win (117-110, 116-111, 116-111). Blackburn then takes on aging vet Harlem Tommy Murphy, who keeps the bout close for awhile, but falters badly in the middle rounds, going down in the 5th round to a vicious uppercut by Blackburn who once again takes a lopsided UD verdict (119-109, 118-110, 117-111). Blackburn then takes on USBA champ Knockout Brown in what proves to be a lopsided affair, with Blackburn seizing control with a KD in round 3 and finally finishing Brown off in the 11th. Blackburn by KO 11. USBA: Brown defended the belt versus an aging vet, Young Erne, who proved to be a surprisingly strong challenger, in a close bout which Brown barely hung on to win. Brown by MD 12 (116-114, 115-115, 116-113). CBU: Welsh, holder of the EBU and GBU titlesm seeks to add a third crown by taking on CBU champ Phil Bloom, in a bout where Welsh's British belt is also at stake. Bloom lacks the weapons to pose a serious threat to the "Welsh Wizard," who goes on to dominate in a UD 12 effort (118-110, 118-110, 115-113) to now hold three belts (EBU, CBU and GBU) simultaneously. Welsh travels Down Under to take on Herb McCoy of Australia, ripping open a cut above McCoy's left eye in round two that proves to lead to a late stoppage. Welsh by TKO 11. GBU: Welsh defended the belt against Bloom in the same bout for the CBU title (see above paragraph). EBU: Welsh did not defend this belt during the year.