Benny Leonard

Benny Leonard ( born April 17, 1896 in New York as Benjamin Leiner, † April 18, 1947 in New York ) was an American boxer.

He is regularly evaluated by the Ring Magazine as the second best lightweight of all time behind Roberto Durán and before Joe Gans, Tony Canzoneri and Ike Williams.

Leonard, a light-footed counter- boxer who was famous for his ring intelligence, in addition to Barney Ross the most famous Jewish boxer before the war. He began his career in 1911 but with a KO loss. In the build phase and suggested he defeated Johnny Dundee, which he still repeatedly faced later.

In 1917, he won against Freddie Welsh in the fight for the lightweight world title by knockout in the ninth round. In the same year he beat Johnny Kilbane, 1918, he defeated Jack Britton and 1921 Rocky Kansas. In 1922, he was disqualified against his former opponent Britton in the fight for the welterweight title. As a result, he defeated the hard hitting southpaw twice Lew Tendler in lightweight title fights.

In 1924 he resigned, but makes for the " Black Friday" in 1929 due to financial problems in 1931 and 1932, made ​​a comeback in the welterweight division and won 19 battles until he finally defeated Jimmy McLarnin and finally ended his career.

During the Second World War, Leonard served in the U.S. Navy. He then worked as a referee. In a boxing match on April 18, 1947, he died from a heart attack. In 1990 he was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.