Benny Leonard boxer

Benny Leonard boxer
bouts
100
won
89
lost
6
draw
1
Status
inactive
Division
lightweight
Debut
1911-10-14
Height
5′ 5″/165cm
Reach
69″/175cm
Age
51
Born
1896-04-07
Death
1947-04-18
Nationality
USA

Benny Leonard (born Benjamin Leiner; April 7, 1896 – April 18, 1947) was a Jewish American professional boxer who held the world lightweight championship for eight years, from 1917 to 1925. Widely considered one of the all-time greats, he was ranked 8th on The Ring magazine's list of the "80 Best Fighters of the Last 80 Years" and placed 7th in ESPN's "50 Greatest Boxers of All-Time". In 2005, the International Boxing Research Organization ranked Leonard as the #1 lightweight, and #8 best pound-for-pound fighter of all time. Statistical website BoxRec rates Leonard as the 2nd best lightweight ever, while The Ring magazine founder Nat Fleischer placed him at #2. Boxing historian Bert Sugar placed him 6th in his Top 100 Fighters catalogue.Benjamin Leiner was born and raised as a youth in the Jewish ghetto, located in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, New York City, near Eighth Street and Second Avenue, where he learned to fight the sons of other immigrants. His religious Jewish parents Minny and Gershon Leiner, who immigrated from Russia, disapproved of his fighting but understood his frequent need to defend himself in the poor neighborhoods in which he grew up. His father struggled to support a wife and eight children by working twelve-hour days in a garment sweatshop at twenty dollars a week. His annual take-home pay rarely eclipsed $1400.Leiner began his professional career in 1911 at age 15. He took the Americanized name Benny Leonard to prevent his parents from discovering he had taken up professional boxing to earn extra money for them and himself.Leonard was known for his speed, lightning reflexes, excellent boxing technique, and ability to think fast on his feet. Equally important, he taught himself to be a powerful hitter, who scored 70 Knock Outs from his 89 wins. He was defeated only six times in his career and was held to a draw on few occasions. As was common in the era in which he fought, he engaged in many no-decision matches and is believed to have fought in around 96 bouts. He most distinguished himself by decisively winning over 90% of his career matches in his prime between 1921–32, and winning all of his matches decided by judges and based on points.Leonard debuted his boxing career on a Saturday in November 1911, losing in three rounds at the Fondon Athletic Club in New York. The fight was stopped because he was bleeding through the nose. He won 12 of his next 18 bouts which included three no-decisions, establishing a reputation as a good local fighter before meeting Canadian Frankie Fleming in May 1912. Leonard was knocked out for only the second time in his career. He lost a rematch with Fleming 16 months later. Not surprisingly, Fleming got the first shot at Freddie Welsh, failing to unseat the world lightweight champion in a May 1915 fight, which the newspapers awarded to Welsh.On August 14, 1914, Leonard knocked out talented contender Tommy Houck in the seventh of ten rounds at Elmsford, New York. Apparently Leonard had learned Houck's strategy after a previous loss to him one year earlier on September 27, 1913, in a ten round newspaper decision in Atlantic Garden, New York.

Date Opponent Last Opponents' Results Place Result
1932-10-07 Jimmy McLarnin WWLWWL Madison Square Garden, New York LOST
Technical knockout
1932-09-12 Mike Sarko LLDLLL Starlight Park, Bronx WIN
Points
1932-09-08 Jimmy Abbott WLLLLL Fort Hamilton Arena, Brooklyn WIN
Technical knockout
1932-09-02 Phil Rafferty LDLLWL Long Beach Stadium, Long Beach WIN
Points
1932-08-19 Mike Sarko LLLDLL Long Beach Stadium, Long Beach WIN
Points
1932-08-11 Paulie Walker LWLDLL Ebbets Field, Brooklyn WIN
Unanimous decision
1932-07-28 Billy Townsend WLLWWL Queensboro Stadium, Long Island City, Queens WIN
Points
1932-07-22 Eddie Shapiro LDWWWL Coney Island Stadium, Brooklyn WIN
Points
1932-06-20 Joe Trippe LWDWLD Bonacker's Stadium, Rensselaer WIN
KO
1932-06-16 Billy Angelo DWWLDW Baker Bowl, Philadelphia WIN
Points
1932-06-08 Andy Saviola WDWLLL Coney Island Stadium, Brooklyn WIN
Points
1932-05-23 Jimmy Abbott DWLLLL Paterson WIN
Technical knockout
1932-05-16 Marty Goldman DLWDLL Laurel Garden, Newark WIN
KO
1932-05-02 Willie Garafola LLLDDL St. Nicholas Arena, New York WIN
Technical knockout
1932-04-19 Mike Sarko LLLLLW Ridgewood Grove, Brooklyn WIN
Points
1932-04-11 Buster Brown LLLLLL St. Nicholas Arena, New York WIN
Points
1932-02-29 Billy McMahon WWWLDL St. Nicholas Arena, New York WIN
Points
1931-11-23 Buster Brown LWLWLL Carlin's Park, Baltimore WIN
Points
1931-11-06 Johnny Kasper LLLLWL Memorial Auditorium, Burlington DRAW
Points
1931-10-27 Vittorio Livan WLDWLL Arena, Boston WIN
KO
1931-10-06 Pal Silvers LWLDLL Queensboro Stadium, Long Island City, Queens WIN
Technical knockout
1924-08-11 Pal Moran WWLLWL Olympic Arena, Brooklyn WIN
1923-09-07 Johnny Mendelsohn LDWLLL Shibe Park, Philadelphia WIN
1923-07-24 Lew Tendler WWWWWW Yankee Stadium, Bronx WIN
Unanimous decision
1923-07-09 Alex Hart WWWLWL Shibe Park, Philadelphia WIN
1923-05-29 Pinky Mitchell WWWWWW Dexter Park Pavilion, Chicago WIN
Technical knockout
1922-08-05 Ever Hammer WWWWWW Floyd Fitzsimmons' Arena, Michigan City WIN
1922-07-27 Lew Tendler WWLWWW Boyle's Thirty Acres, Jersey City WIN
1922-07-04 Rocky Kansas WDWLWW Floyd Fitzsimmons' Arena, Michigan City WIN
Technical knockout
1922-06-26 Jack Britton DWDWWD Velodrome, Bronx LOST
1922-05-19 Soldier Bartfield LLLWDW Madison Square Garden, New York WIN
Points
1922-03-20 Johnny Clinton LLWWWW Arena, Boston WIN
1922-02-25 Pal Moran WLDWWD Louisiana Auditorium, New Orleans WIN
1922-02-10 Rocky Kansas WWWWDW Madison Square Garden, New York WIN
Unanimous decision
1921-12-20 Tim Droney DLLLWW Ice Palace, Philadelphia WIN
1921-11-22 Sailor Friedman DWLLWW Ice Palace, Philadelphia WIN
1921-06-06 Rocky Kansas WWWLWW Federal League Baseball Park, Harrison WIN
1921-02-24 Joe Welling WWLLLL Coliseum, Saint Louis WIN
1921-02-21 Eddie Moy LDWLLL Miami Club, Dayton WIN
Technical knockout
1921-01-14 Richie Mitchell WWWWWW Madison Square Garden, New York WIN
Technical knockout
1920-11-26 Joe Welling WLWWLL Madison Square Garden, New York WIN
Technical knockout
1920-11-17 Harlem Eddie Kelly WLWLDL Commonwealth Sporting Club, New York WIN
1920-11-12 KO Willie Loughlin LDLWLL Camden Sportsmen's Club, Camden WIN
1920-10-18 Johnny Tillman DDDLDL Armory, Akron WIN
Points
1920-10-08 Johnny Sheppard LLLLLL 6th Regiment Armory, Paterson WIN
Technical knockout
1920-10-04 Frankie Britt WDWLDW Wethersfield Baseball Grounds, Hartford WIN
Technical knockout
1920-09-25 Pal Moran LWWWW East Chicago WIN
1920-09-10 KO Willie Loughlin WWLWLD Armory, Camden WIN
KO
1920-07-05 Charley White WWWWWW Floyd Fitzsimmons Arena, Benton Harbor WIN
KO
1920-02-09 Johnny Dundee WWWLWW 4th Regiment Armory, Jersey City WIN
1919-12-22 Jake Abel WWLWWW Auditorium, Atlanta WIN
1919-12-19 Red Herring WLWDW Southern A.C., Memphis WIN
Technical knockout
1919-12-10 Mel Coogan WWWWWL 4th Regiment Armory, Jersey City WIN
Technical knockout
1919-11-27 Soldier Bartfield LLLWLL Olympia A.C., Philadelphia WIN
1919-11-17 Lockport Jimmy Duffy WLWWWW Convention Hall, Tulsa WIN
Technical knockout
1919-11-10 Soldier Bartfield WLLLWL 4th Regiment Armory, Jersey City WIN
1919-10-15 Phil Bloom WLWDLL Arena Gardens, Detroit WIN
1919-10-01 Charley Metrie LWDLLW Arena Gardens, Detroit WIN
Technical knockout
1919-09-17 Johnny Dundee WWLWWW 1st Regiment Armory, Newark WIN
1919-09-08 Johnny Clinton WWDWWD Arena, Syracuse WIN
1919-09-04 Soldier Bartfield LWWDWL Shibe Park, Philadelphia WIN
1919-08-11 Patsy Cline WWWWLW Shibe Park, Philadelphia WIN
1919-07-23 Joe Malone LLLWW Newport WIN
Technical knockout
1919-06-16 Johnny Dundee WWDWWW Shibe Park, Philadelphia WIN
1919-06-09 Charley Pitts LLDWLW Theatre francais, Montreal WIN
1919-05-21 Young George Erne LDLLLW Grand Theater, Trenton WIN
KO
1919-04-28 Willie Ritchie DWWLWW 1st Regiment Armory, Newark WIN
Technical knockout
1919-03-26 Harvey Thorpe WDLLW Joplin WIN
1919-02-21 Willie Ritchie WDWWLW Civic Auditorium, San Francisco LOST
1919-02-07 Wildcat Leonard WDWDDL Hoffman A.C., Sacramento WIN
KO
1919-02-05 Spider Roach DDWWWW Auditorium, Oakland WIN
1919-01-31 Joe Benjamin LDLWLW Civic Auditorium, San Francisco WIN
1919-01-20 Johnny Dundee WWDWLL 1st Regiment Armory, Newark WIN
1919-01-13 Harlem Eddie Kelly WLWWD Olympia A.C., Philadelphia WIN
1919-01-01 Paul Doyle WLWWW Olympia A.C., Philadelphia WIN
1918-09-23 Ted Kid Lewis WLWWWW Weidenmeyer's Park, Newark DRAW
1918-09-16 Harry Pierce WWWDLL Olympia A.C., Philadelphia WIN
1918-07-22 Willie Gradwell WWLLWW 4th Regiment Armory, Jersey City WIN
Technical knockout
1918-07-16 Willie Jackson DLDLWD Madison Square Garden, New York WIN
1918-07-04 Jack Brazzo LWWWDL Wildwood Beach Baseball Park, Wildwood WIN
Technical knockout
1918-06-25 Jack Britton WDWWWW Shibe Park, Philadelphia WIN
1918-06-06 Barney Adair WLWLWW Broadway Auditorium, Buffalo WIN
1918-05-25 Mike Golindo WWLDLD City Stadium, San Diego WIN
Points
1918-05-20 Louis Rees DDDWWD Shrine Temple, Los Angeles WIN
1918-05-10 Johnny McCarthy WWWLWD Civic Auditorium, San Francisco WIN
1918-04-13 Jack Brazzo LLWWWD National A.C., Philadelphia WIN
Technical knockout
1918-04-08 Young Joe Borrell WLWWDL Olympia A.C., Philadelphia WIN
1917-12-19 Freddie Kelly WWWDWD National A.C., Philadelphia WIN
1917-12-17 Chick Brown DWDDDW Arena, New Haven WIN
Technical knockout
1917-12-12 Patsy Cline WWWWWW Olympia A.C., Philadelphia WIN
1917-12-05 Gene Delmont LDLDW Auditorium, Saint Paul WIN
KO
1917-11-28 Frank Kirke WWDWWW Stockyards Stadium, Denver WIN
KO
1917-10-24 Toughy Ramser WWDWWW Cleveland A.C., Cleveland WIN
KO
1917-10-23 Young George Erne WWWLDW Broadway Auditorium, Buffalo WIN
1917-10-22 Eddie Wagond WLWLWL Olympia A.C., Philadelphia WIN
1917-10-19 Jack Britton LLLLWW Harlem S.C., New York WIN
1917-10-05 Vic Moran LWLDLL Harlem S.C., New York WIN
KO
1917-09-27 Eddie Dorsey DWLLWW Broadway Auditorium, Buffalo WIN
KO
1917-09-21 Leo Johnson LWWWW Harlem S.C., New York WIN
Technical knockout
1917-09-14 Phil Bloom WLLWWW Forbes Field, Pittsburgh WIN
KO
1917-09-12 Jimmy Paul WLLLW Fairmont A.C., Bronx WIN
1917-09-03 Young Rector LDWL Island Stadium, Toronto WIN
Technical knockout
1917-07-25 Johnny Kilbane WWDWWW Shibe Park, Philadelphia WIN
Technical knockout
1917-06-18 Johnny Nelson LWDLWL Harlem S.C., New York WIN
Technical knockout
1917-06-04 Joe Welsh DWLWWD Olympia A.C., Philadelphia WIN
1917-05-28 Freddie Welsh LLWLLL Manhattan Casino, New York WIN
Technical knockout
1917-05-10 Eddie Shannon LWWWLL Clermont Avenue Rink, Brooklyn WIN
Technical knockout
1917-05-07 Charley Thomas LWLLWL Olympia A.C., Philadelphia WIN
Technical knockout
1917-04-19 Richie Mitchell DWDWWW Auditorium, Milwaukee WIN
Technical knockout
1917-03-22 Packy Hommey WLWLLW Fairmont A.C., Bronx WIN
KO
1917-03-12 Johnny Tillman WDWWWL Olympia A.C., Philadelphia WIN
1917-02-28 Jimmy Reagan LWLLLL Manhattan Casino, New York WIN
1917-02-01 Frankie Callahan WWDLWW Clermont Avenue Rink, Brooklyn WIN
1917-01-30 Phil Bloom WLWLWD Broadway S.C., Brooklyn WIN
1917-01-22 Eddie Wallace LLDWLD Olympia A.C., Philadelphia WIN
1916-11-28 Chick Simler LWLWLL Empire A.C., New York WIN
1916-11-21 Harvey Thorpe WLDWDW Coliseum, Saint Louis WIN
KO
1916-11-15 Johnny Dundee DWWWWW Olympia A.C., Philadelphia LOST
1916-11-10 Stanley Yoakum LLLWLD Harlem S.C., New York WIN
1916-10-18 Ever Hammer WWLLWL Convention Hall, Kansas City WIN
Technical knockout
1916-10-09 Johnny Nelson WLLWLW Olympia A.C., Philadelphia WIN
1916-09-25 Johnny Tillman DWDDWW Olympia A.C., Philadelphia WIN
1916-09-14 Frankie Conifrey WDWWWW Empire A.C., Harlem WIN
Technical knockout
1916-09-09 Eddie McAndrews LWWLLW National A.C., Philadelphia WIN
KO
1916-08-18 Joe Azevedo LWWDWW Convention Hall, Saratoga Springs WIN
1916-07-28 Freddie Welsh LDLDWW Washington Park A.C., Brooklyn LOST
1916-06-23 Vic Moran DLLWLW Harlem S.C., New York WIN
1916-06-12 Johnny Dundee DWWWWW Madison Square Garden, New York DRAW
1916-05-01 Charley Thomas WLWWWW Olympia A.C., Philadelphia WIN
1916-04-20 Phil Bloom WLLLWL Manhattan Opera House, New York WIN
1916-03-31 Freddie Welsh WLLWWW Madison Square Garden, New York WIN
1916-03-17 Shamus O'Brien LDWLLL Harlem S.C., New York WIN
Technical knockout
1916-03-13 Sam Robideau DLWWWW Olympia A.C., Philadelphia WIN
1916-03-08 Johnny Dundee WWWWWL Madison Square Garden, New York DRAW
1916-02-28 Rocky Kansas DDWLWW Broadway Auditorium, Buffalo WIN
1916-02-21 Jimmy Murphy DWWWLL Olympia A.C., Philadelphia WIN
KO
1916-02-11 Shamus O'Brien LWLDWL Arena, Syracuse WIN
1916-02-08 Phil Bloom WWLLWL Hippodrome, Boston WIN
Technical knockout
1916-01-01 Joe Welsh WWLDWL Olympia A.C., Philadelphia WIN
KO
1915-12-17 Joe Mandot WLDDDL Harlem S.C., New York WIN
KO
1915-11-19 Joe Azevedo DLLWWL Harlem S.C., New York WIN
1915-11-13 Banty Sharpe DLWL Fairmont A.C., Bronx WIN
1915-11-08 Gene Moriarty WDLLWD Clermont Avenue Rink, Brooklyn WIN
KO
1915-10-19 Johnny Drummie DWLLLW Madison Square Garden, New York WIN
1915-10-01 Al Thomas WLWWLL American A.C., New York WIN
1915-08-13 Johnny Drummie WWDWLL Brown's Gym A.A., Far Rockaway, Queens WIN
1915-06-19 Al Schumacher DLLLLL Fairmont A.C., Bronx WIN
Technical knockout
1915-05-18 Frankie Callahan LLLLL 135th Street A.C., New York WIN
1915-04-29 Johnny Kilbane WWWWWW Federal A.C., Atlantic Gardens, New York LOST
1915-03-24 Joe Goldberg WWLLD Fairmont A.C., Bronx WIN
1915-03-20 Westside Jimmy Duffy WWLLLL Fairmont A.C., Bronx WIN
1915-03-02 Johnny Dundee DWDWLD 135th Street A.C., New York LOST
1915-02-18 Patsy Cline WWWWW Fairmont A.C., Bronx WIN
1915-02-15 Tommy Langdon WWWWWL Olympia A.C., Philadelphia WIN
1915-01-16 Johnny Drummie WLWWLD Fairmont A.C., Bronx WIN
1915-01-11 Jack Sheppard WDLWLL Long Acre A.C., New York WIN
1914-12-12 Frankie Conifrey WDWWLD Fairmont A.C., Bronx WIN
1914-11-26 Phil Bloom WWWWDL Fairmont A.C., Bronx WIN
1914-11-07 Harry Condon WDLWLL Fairmont A.C., Bronx WIN
1914-10-31 Young Driscoll WWDLLD Irving A.C., Brooklyn WIN
1914-10-03 Phil Bloom LWWWWW Irving A.C., Brooklyn DRAW
1914-09-16 Joe Thomas LLWLDW St. Nicholas Arena, New York WIN
1914-09-07 Philadelphia Pal Moore LLWWDD Fairmont A.C., Bronx WIN
1914-08-25 Eddie Wallace DWWWWL Broadway Arena, Brooklyn WIN
1914-08-22 Bobby Reynolds LWLWDW Fairmont A.C., Bronx DRAW
1914-08-14 Tommy Houck LWWLWW Alexandria A.C., Elmsford WIN
KO
1914-07-18 Billy Kramer DWLWLL Fairmont A.C., Bronx WIN
1914-06-20 Teddy Hubbs LLLWLL Fairmont A.C., Bronx WIN
1914-05-30 Willie Schaefer WWLWLW Fairmont A.C., Bronx WIN
1914-04-03 Young Abe Brown WWDWDL Empire A.C., New York LOST
1914-03-03 Patsy Kline WWWLLD Atlantic Garden A.C., New York WIN
1914-01-24 Joe Stacey LWLWW Fairmont A.C., Bronx WIN
1914-01-20 Phil Bloom WDLLLL Atlantic Garden A.C., New York LOST
1914-01-06 Kid Black DWLLWW Brown's Gym, New York LOST
1914-01-03 Charley Barry DLLDLW Irving A.C., Brooklyn WIN
1913-12-30 Special Delivery Hirsch LLDWDL Atlantic Garden A.C., New York WIN
1913-12-20 Danny Ridge LLLLWD Brown's Gym, New York WIN
1913-12-08 Harry Tracey WLLWW Olympic A.C., New York LOST
1913-11-15 Jack Sheppard WWWD Atlantic Garden A.C., New York WIN
1913-10-23 Willie Jones LDDL Postman A.C., Brooklyn DRAW
1913-10-04 Young Fitzsimmons LLLLD Fairmont A.C., Bronx WIN
1913-09-27 Tommy Houck WLWWLW Atlantic Garden A.C., New York LOST
1913-09-02 Harry Ah Chung LLDLLW Atlantic Garden A.C., New York WIN
Technical knockout
1913-08-16 Frankie Fleming WWWWWD Fairmont A.C., Bronx LOST
1913-08-02 Walter Hennessey LWLWWW Fairmont A.C., Bronx WIN
Technical knockout
1913-07-12 Walter Brooks WDWDLD Fairmont A.C., Bronx WIN
1913-06-20 Johnny Carroll LLWLDW Fairmont A.C., Bronx WIN
KO
1913-05-29 Dave Cronin LWLWLW New Polo A.C., New York WIN
1913-05-22 Eddie Powers LWLWLW Elks Hall, Rutherford LOST
1913-05-03 Eddie Powers LLWLWL Atlantic Garden A.C., New York LOST
1913-01-14 Johnny Lustig WWLLLL Brown's Gym, New York DRAW
1912-12-12 Jimmy McVeigh DD Rutherford LOST
1912-11-02 Special Delivery Hirsch LWWDLW Fairmont A.C., Bronx WIN
1912-09-28 Kid Herman DLLWLW Fairmont A.C., Bronx LOST
1912-09-13 Kid Ghetto LLLLLW Madison Square Garden, New York WIN
KO
1912-08-30 Hank McGowan DLWL Rutherford WIN
1912-07-31 Kid Ghetto LLLLLL St. Nicholas Arena, New York LOST
1912-07-19 Young Price debut New York WIN
KO
1912-06-28 Kid Goldman LW New York NC
1912-05-03 Frankie Fleming WWWWWW New Polo A.C., New York LOST
KO
1912-04-13 Packey Brennan debut Brown's Gym, New York WIN
Technical knockout
1912-04-08 Young Gross debut Newark WIN
1912-03-26 Battling Travis New York NC
1912-03-05 Joe Shugrue LWDLWW Brown's Gym, New York LOST
Technical knockout
1912-02-24 Young Goldie DWWWL Brown's Gym, New York WIN
Technical knockout
1912-02-12 Billy Meyers debut Carlyle A.C., Brooklyn WIN
Technical knockout
1912-02-03 Joe Kane debut Brown's Gym, New York WIN
KO
1912-01-22 Bobby Dunn debut Malvern A.C., Bronx LOST
KO
1912-01-09 Willie Singer debut Brown's Gym, New York WIN
KO
1912-01-08 Lewis Gibbs debut Fordon A.C., New York WIN
KO
1911-12-30 Paddy Parker debut Brown's Gym, New York WIN
KO
1911-12-25 Smiling Kemp debut Fordon A.C., New York WIN
KO
1911-12-09 Young Goldie DWWW Brown's Gym, New York WIN
1911-11-25 Young Frankie Pass debut Brown's Gym, New York WIN
KO
1911-11-11 Battling Travis debut New York NC
1911-11-04 Johnny Falters D Olympic A.C., New York NC
1911-10-28 Young Joe Stanley LL New York WIN
KO
1911-10-14 Mickey Finnegan WL Fordon A.C., New York LOST
Technical knockout