[JCWeb]

1920 LW Title Bouts

WBA

Benny Leonard CH (39-0-1) vs Louis de Ponthieu #17 (22-9-3)

Leonard travels to France to defend his title versus the local hero, de Ponthieu, who has had some rather lackluster recent results (only one win in his last 6 outings) and, since turning Post-Prime, is not expected to pose much of a threat to the "Ghetto Wizard"; Leonard looks to repeat a 1917 KO win over the Frenchman.

Leonard hammers away from the outside and builds an early points lead in the first two rounds. De Ponthieu tries to work the inside in round three, but he just finds himself more vulnerable to Leonard's counters. A series of blows from Leonard puts de Ponthieu on the canvas in round four. The end comes a round later when an angry looking cut opens above the challenger's left eye; the ref is quick to step in and halt the bout, with little protest from the Frenchman's corner. Leonard by TKO 5 (cut).

Benny Leonard CH (40-0-1) vs Rocky Kansas #2 (28-6-2)

Next up for Leonard is Kansas, the newly-crowned NABF champ, winner of 6 in his last 7. Leonard owns a win over Kansas in a 1917 title bout.

Leonard looks sharp early, taking round one. Round two is closer, with Kansas trying to get more aggressive but still outboxed by the nifty Leonard. More of the same in round three. Kansas finally breaks through on the inside in round four, scoring with a couple of hooks near the end of the round. Round five, both fight inside, and Leonard is bleeding from a cut on the nose. Kansas continues to apply the pressure in the middle rounds, but Leonard's defense is strong. Kansas gets careless and walks into a strong shot from Leonard, who scores the bout's first KD in the 8th round. The cut on Leonard's nose is reopened, and targeting it appears to be Kansas' only chance. Leonard scores a second KD in round 11, and he lands a big hook for a third KD against a tired Kansas in round 14. The bout goes the distance, an easy UD win for Leonard.

Benny Leonard CH (41-0-1) vs Willie Ritchie #4 (37-15-3)

Third title try for Ritchie, who also held the NABF belt back in 1915-16 before losing it to Leonard.

After a close opening round, both pound away from long range in round two, and at this point Ritchie is doing well. Leonard gradually gains the upper hand in round three, and after some stifling defense by Leonard (who leads 50-45 after five on the unofficial card), a frustrated Ritchie tries to start headhunting. Leonard clamps down on Ritchie's attack, and the unofficial scorer has Leonard pitching a shutout (100-90) after ten. Leonard retreats into a defensive shell in the final rounds, and Ritchie is too tired to get his game off track. A dominating UD 15 win for Leonard.

Benny Leonard CH (42-0-1) vs Sam Robideau #16 (27-14-1)

Leonard's fourth title defense of the year, his 19th in succession. The bout takes place in Montreal, and as no top ten contenders were available, Sam Robideau is the default choice as challenger. Leonard won via KO in a prior bout seven years earlier, when both men were at Pre-Prime.

Leonard builds a comfortable early lead, and Leonard rocks the challenger in the second with a straight right. Robideau sustains a cut above the eye in round three. Leonard follows up with an overhand right that floors the challenger in the fourth. Robideau hangs on, and uses the following round to clear his head. Some toe-to-toe action in round 6, and this time Robideau is holding his own. Leonard re-establishes control as the cut is reopened in round 7. Everything appears to be going Leonard's way when the Champ is called for a flagrant low blow in round 8 -- and a controversial DQ is the call. Robideau takes the belt on the foul call, and Leonard's lengthy reign is at an end.

NABF: Aging vet Jack Blackburn began the year with the belt but faced a stern test from USBA titleholder Rocky Kansas. Blackburn staggered Kansas with a wicked left hand in round one but could not follow up. Kansas gradually wore the veteran down, scoring the bout's only KD in round 9 en route to a UD 12 triumph. He defended versus Ever Hammer, stepping up the pressure and nailing Hammer with an uppercut for a KD in the 7th and followed up with a second KD in the 9th round. Another UD 12 win for Kansas.

USBA: Kansas vacated the title after winning the more prestigious NABF title, and Lockport Jimmy Duffy faced off versus Andy Chaney for the vacant title. Duffy battled back from a cut eye and, in a close bout that went down to the wire, Duffy annexed the belt after a close UD win. Duffy defended versus Lew Tendler, and this one was all Tendler who pounded away at a swollen left eye and rocked Duffy in round 6 with a big cross. An easy UD win for Tendler.

CBU: Aussie Herb McCoy defended versus Brit Jem Driscoll, but suffered a cut below the left eye. "Peerless Jim" took advantage and knocked McCoy down in round 7. McCoy tried to rally, but it went down as a MD 12 for Driscoll who added the CBU belt to his GBU title. Driscoll then journeyed to Canada to take on Clonie Tait, a rapidly rising local hope. Tait broke open a close bout with a big right hand that staggered Driscoll, then he finished the bout in convincing style a round later. Tait by KO 9.

GBU: Driscoll defended against the aging ex-Champ, Freddie Welsh, who offered little resistance after suffering a split lip early in the bout. A few rounds later, the cut led to a stoppage -- TKO 8 for Driscoll.

EBU: Llew Edwards took on Welsh and appeared to be on his way to victory when both men were cut due to a clash of heads. The butt cut was ruled accidental, and eventually the bout was stopped and it went to the scorecards -- and the result was a technical draw, despite the fact Edwards had scored the bout's only knockdown. Well, at least Edwards keeps the EBU title for another year ...