Benny Leonard
(Benjamin Leiner)

BORN    April 6 1896; New York, New York (Some sources report April 7 1896; Some report April 17 1896)
DIED April 18 1947; New York, New York
HEIGHT  5-5
WEIGHT  123-153 lbs
MANAGERS  William "Buck" Areton, Louis Wallach, Billy Gibson, Jack Kearns, Joey Leonard
TRAINER "Doc" Robb

Leonard was as good as they get; He was quick and shifty, clever and game, could box and punch - and was super smart; Benny spoke softly but hit hard and had great "savvy" for a foe's movements; He was one of the all-time great lightweights and pound-for-pound fighters that ever entered the ring

As a beginner, Benny lost three of his first 13 bouts by knockout; It was more than 200 bouts later (20 years) when he was stopped again - in his very last contest; In a career of more than 210 bouts, he lost just 21 official contests; He was
lightweight champion for 7 years and 6-1/2 months and lost only one bout in the twenty year span from May 1912 until October 1932

Herb Goldman ranked Leonard as the #1 All-Time Lightweight; Charley Rose ranked him as the #1 All-Time Lightweight; Nat Fleischer ranked him as the #2 All-Time Lightweight; Leonard was inducted into the Ring Boxing Hall of Fame in 1955 and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990


Leonard-Tendler 1922 Fight Video Clip

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1911
Sep    Mickey Finnegan            New York, NY                     LK  3
       Johnny Faulter             New York, NY                     ND  4
       "Young" Joe Stanley        New York, NY                     KO  2
       Billy Meyers               New York, NY                     KO  1
       Frankie Pass               New York, NY                     KO  3
Dec  9 Young Goldie               New York, NY                     ND  4
Dec 25 Smiling Kemp               New York, NY                     KO  1
Dec 25 Sammy Marino               New York, NY                     ND  6
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date

1912
Feb  3 Joe Kane                   New York, NY                     KO  5
Feb 24 Young Goldie               New York, NY                     TK  2
Mar  5 Joe "Young" Shugrue        New York, NY                     LK  4
Apr 13 Packey Brennan             New York, NY                     KO  3
May  3 Frankie Fleming            New York, NY                     LK  4
May    Battling Travis            New York, NY                     ND  6
May    Battling Travis            New York, NY                     ND  6
Jun    Young Cross                New York, NY                     ND  6
Jun    Young Price                New York, NY                     KO  5
Jun    Kid Goodman                New York, NY                     ND  6
Jul    Mike "Kid" Ghetto          New York, NY                     KO  6
Jul    Paddy Parker               New York, NY                     KO  2
Aug    Young McGowan              Rutherford, NJ                   ND  6
Sep    Willie Singer              New York, NY                     KO  1
Sep 28 Herman Schneider           New York, NY                     ND 10
Nov  2 "Special Delivery" Hirsch  New York, NY                     ND 10
Dec    Jimmy McVeigh              New York, NY                     ND  6
          -Some sources report "ND 10"

1913
Jan 14 Johnny "Young" Lustig      New York, NY                     ND 10
May  3 Eddie Powers               New York, NY                     ND 10
May 22 Eddie Powers               Newark, NJ                       ND  6
May 29 Dave Cronin                New York, NY                     ND 10
Jun 20 Johnny Carroll             New York, NY                     KO  1
Jul 12 Walter Brooks              New York, NY                     ND 10
Aug  2 Walter Hennessey           New York, NY                     TK  3
Aug 16 Frankie Fleming            New York, NY                     ND 10
Sep  2 Ah Chung                   New York, NY                     TK  6
          -Some sources report 9/03/13
Sep 27 Tommy Houck                New York, NY                     ND 10
Oct  4 Young Fitzsimmons          New York, NY                     ND 10
Oct 23 Willie Jones               Brooklyn, NY                     ND 10
Nov 15 Jack Sheppard              New York, NY                     ND 10
Dec  8 Harry Tracey               New York, NY                     ND 10
Dec 20 Danny Ridge                New York, NY                     ND 10
Dec 30 "Special Delivery" Hirsch  New York, NY                     ND 10

1914
Jan  3 Charlie Barry              Brooklyn, NY                     ND 10
Jan  6 Kid Black                  New York, NY                     ND 10
Jan 20 Phil Bloom                 New York, NY                     ND 10
Jan 24 Joe Stacey                 New York, NY                     ND 10
Mar  3 Patsy Kline                New York, NY                     ND 10
Apr  3 "Young" Abe Brown          New York, NY                     ND 10
May 30 Willie Schaeffer           New York, NY                     ND 10
Jun 20 Teddy Hubbs                New York, NY                     ND 10
Jul 18 Billy Kramer               New York, NY                     ND 10
Aug 14 Tommy Houck                Elmsford, NY                     KO  7
Aug 22 Bobby Reynolds             New York, NY                     ND 10
Aug 25 Eddie Wallace              Brooklyn, NY                     ND 10
Sep  7 "Philadelphia" Pal Moore   New York, NY                     ND 10
Sep 16 Joe Thomas                 New York, NY                     ND 10
Oct  3 Phil Bloom                 Brooklyn, NY                     ND 10
Oct 31 Young Driscoll             Brooklyn, NY                     ND 10
Nov  7 Harry Condon               New York, NY                     ND 10
Nov 26 Phil Bloom                 New York, NY                     ND 10
Dec 12 Frankie Conifrey           New York, NY                     ND 10

1915
Jan 11 Jack Sheppard              New York, NY                     WF  5
Jan 16 Johnny "Young" Drummie     New York, NY                     ND 10
Feb 15 Tommy Langdon              Philadelphia, Pa                 ND  6
Feb 18 "Irish" Patsy Cline        New York, NY                     ND 10
Mar  2 Johnny Dundee              New York, NY                     ND 10
Mar 20 "Westside" Jimmy Duffy     New York, NY                     ND 10
Mar 24 Joe Goldberg               New York, NY                     ND 10
Apr 29 Johnny Kilbane             New York, NY                     ND 10
May 18 Frankie Callahan           New York, NY                     ND 10
Jun 19 Al Schumacher              New York, NY                     TK  7
Aug 13 Johnny "Young" Drummie     New York, NY                     ND 10
Oct    Al Thomas                  New York, NY                     ND 10 
Oct 19 Johnny "Young" Drummie     New York, NY                     ND 10 
Nov  8 Gene Moriarty              Brooklyn, NY                     KO  3
Nov 13 Banty Sharpe               New York, NY                     ND 10
Nov 19 Joe Azevedo                New York, NY                     ND 10
Dec 17 Joe Mandot                 New York, NY                     KO  7

1916
Jan  1 Joe Welsh                  Philadelphia, Pa                 KO  5
Feb  8 Phil Bloom                 Boston, Ma                       TK  8
Feb 11 Shamus O'Brien             Syracuse, NY                     ND 10
Feb 21 Jimmy Murphy               Philadelphia, Pa                 KO  6
Feb 28 Rocky Kansas               Buffalo, NY                      ND 10
Mar  8 Johnny Dundee              New York, NY                     ND 15
          -Some sources report "ND 10"
Mar 13 Sam Robideau               Philadelphia, Pa                 ND  6
Mar 17 Shamus O'Brien             New York, NY                     KO  7
Mar 31 Freddie Welsh              New York, NY                     ND 10
May  1 Charlie "Kid" Thomas       Philadelphia, Pa                 ND  6
Apr 20 Phil Bloom                 New York, NY                     ND 10
Jun 12 Johnny Dundee              New York, NY                     ND 10
Jun 23 Vic Moran                  New York, NY                     ND 10
Jul 28 Freddie Welsh              Brooklyn, NY                     ND 10
Aug 18 Joe Azevedo                Saratoga Springs, NY             ND 10
          -Some reports "New York, NY"
Sep  9 Eddy McAndrews             Philadelphia, Pa                 KO  5
Sep 14 Frankie Conifrey           New York, NY                     TK  7
Sep 25 Johnny Tillman             Philadelphia, Pa                 ND  6
Oct  9 Johnny Nelson              Philadelphia, Pa                 ND  6
Oct 18 Ever Hammer                Kansas City, Mo                  TK 12
          -Some sources report "St. Louis, Mo"
Nov 10 Stanley Yoakum             New York, NY                     ND 10
Nov 15 Johnny Dundee              Philadelphia, Pa                 ND  6
Nov 21 Harvey Thorpe              St. Louis, Mo                    KO 12
Nov 28 Chick Simler               New York, NY                     ND 10

1917
Jan 23 Eddie Wallace              Philadelphia, Pa                 ND  6
          -Some sources report 1/23/17
Jan 30 Phil Bloom                 Brooklyn, NY                     ND 10
Feb  1 Frankie Callahan           Brooklyn, NY                     ND 10
Feb 28 "Fighting" Jimmy Reagan    New York, NY                     ND 10
Mar 12 Johnny Tillman             Philadelphia, Pa                 ND  6
Mar 22 Packey Hommey              New York, NY                     KO  9
Apr 19 Richie Mitchell            Milwaukee, Wi                    KO  7
May  7 Charley "Kid" Thomas       Philadelphia, Pa                 KO  6
May 10 Eddie Shannon              Brooklyn, NY                     KO  6
May 28 Freddie Welsh              New York, NY                     TK  9
          -Lightweight Championship of the World
Jun  4 Joe Welsh                  Philadelphia, Pa                 ND  6
Jun 18 Johnny Nelson              New York, NY                     TK  3
Jul 25 Johnny Kilbane             Philadelphia, Pa                 KO  3
Sep  3 Young Rector               Toronto, Ont, Canada             TK  5
Sep 12 Jimmy Paul                 New York, NY                     ND  6
Sep 14 Phil Bloom                 Pittsburgh, Pa                   KO  2
Sep 21 Leo Johnson                New York, NY                     KO  1
Sep 27 Eddie Dorsey               Buffalo, NY                      KO  2
Oct  5 Vic Moran                  New York, NY                     KO  2
Oct 19 Jack Britton               New York, NY                     ND 10
Oct 22 Eddie Wagond               Philadelphia, Pa                 ND  6
Oct 23 George "Young" Erne        Buffalo, NY                      ND 10
Oct 24 Toughey Ramser             Cleveland, Oh                    KO  7
Nov 12 Gene Delmont               St. Paul, Mn                     TK  8
Nov 28 "Sailor" Frank Kirk        Denver, Co                       KO  1
Dec 12 "Irish" Patsy Cline        Philadelphia, Pa                 ND  6
Dec 17 Chick Brown                New Haven, Ct                    TK  5
Dec 19 Fred Kelley                Philadelphia, Pa                 ND  6

1918
Apr  8 "Young" Joe Borrell        Philadelphia, Pa                 ND  6
Apr 13 Jack Brazzo                Philadelphia, Pa                 TK  4
May 10 Johnny "Young" McCarthy    San Francisco, Ca                ND  4
May 14 Jimmy Ford                 San Francisco, Ca                EX  2
May 14 Joe Leopold                San Francisco, Ca                EX  2
May 14 Johnny Arroussey           San Francisco, Ca                EX  2
          -The previous 3 bouts were held the same date
May 20 Louie Rees                 Los Angeles, Ca                  ND  4
May 25 Mike Golindo               San Diego, Ca                     W  4
Jun  6 Barney Adair               Buffalo, NY                      ND  4 
          -Some sources report "EX 4"
Jun 25 Jack Britton               Philadelphia, Pa                 ND  6
Jul  4 Jack Brazzo                Wildwood, NJ                     TK  8
Jul 22 Willie "Young" Gradwell    Jersey City, NJ                  TK  5
Jul 16 Willie Jackson             New York, NY                     ND  4 
Sep 16 Harry Pierce               Philadelphia, Pa                 ND  6 
Sep 23 Ted "Kid" Lewis            Newark, NJ                       ND  8 

1919
Jan  1 Paul Doyle                 Philadelphia, Pa                 ND  6
Jan 13 "Harlem" Eddie Kelly       Philadelphia, Pa                 ND  6
Jan 20 Johnny Dundee              Newark, NJ                       ND  8
Jan 31 Joe Benjamin               San Francisco, Ca                ND  4
Feb  5 Spider Roche               Oakland, Ca                      ND  4
Feb  7 Wildcat Leonard            Sacramento, Ca                   KO  4
Feb 19 Willie Meehan              San Rafael, Ca                   EX  4
Feb 21 Willie Ritchie             San Francisco, Ca                ND  4
Mar 26 Harvey Thorpe              Joplin, Mo                       ND 10
          -Some sources report 4/26/19
Apr 28 Willie Ritchie             Newark, NJ                       TK  8
Apr 30 Jack McAuliffe             New York, NY                     EX  2
May 21 George "Young" Erne        Trenton, NJ                      KO  6
Jun  9 Charlie Pitts              Montreal, Que, Canada            ND 10
Jun 16 Johnny Dundee              Philadelphia, Pa                 ND  6
Jul 23 Joe Malone                 Newport, RI                      KO  3
Aug 11 "Irish" Patsy Cline        Philadelphia, Pa                 ND  6
Sep  4 Jacob "Soldier" Bartfield  Philadelphia, Pa                 ND  6
Sep  8 Johnny Clinton             Syracuse, NY                     ND 10
Sep 17 Johnny Dundee              Newark, NJ                       ND  8
          -Some sources report "Newport, RI"
Oct  1 Charlie Metrie             Detroit, Mi                      TK  7
Oct 15 Phil Bloom                 Detroit, Mi                      ND 10
Nov 10 Jacob "Soldier" Bartfield  Jersey City, NJ                  ND  8
Nov 17 "Lockport" Jimmy Duffy     Tulsa, Ok                        KO  2
Nov 27 Jacob "Soldier" Bartfield  Philadelphia, Pa                 ND  6
Dec 10 Mel Coogan                 Jersey City, NJ                  TK  2
Dec 19 James "Red" Herring        Memphis, Tn                      TK  6
Dec 22 Jake Abel                  Atlanta, Ga                      ND 10

1920
Feb  9 Johnny Dundee              Jersey City, NJ                  ND  8
May  1 Jack McAuliffe             New York, NY                     EX  2
Jul  5 Charley White              Benton Harbor, Mi                KO  9
          -Lightweight Championship of the World
Sep 10 Willie "K.O." Loughlin     Camden, NJ                       KO  9
Sep 25 Pal Moran                  East Chicago, In                 ND 10
Oct  4 Frankie Britt              Hartford, Ct                     TK  5
Oct  8 Johnny Sheppard            Patterson, NJ                    TK  3
Oct 18 Johnny Tillman             Akron, Oh                        ND 10
Nov 11 Willie "K.O." Loughlin     Camden, NJ                       ND 10
          -Some sources report 11/12/20
Nov 17 "Harlem" Eddie Kelly       New York, NY                     TK  5
          -Some sources report "WF 5"
Nov 26 Joe Welling                New York, NY                     TK 14
          -Lightweight Championship of the World

1921
Jan 14 Richie Mitchell            New York, NY                     TK  6
          -Lightweight Championship of the World
Feb 21 Eddie Moy                  Dayton, Oh                       TK  3
Feb 24 Joe Welling                St. Louis, Mo                    ND  8
          -Some sources report 2/25/21
Jun  6 Rocky Kansas               Harrison, NJ                     ND 12
Nov 22 Sailor Friedman            Philadelphia, Pa                 ND  8
Nov 29 George Ward                New York, NY                     EX  6
Dec 20 Tim Droney                 Philadelphia, Pa                 ND  8
          -Lightweight Championship of the World

1922
Feb 10 Rocky Kansas               New York, NY                      W 15
          -Lightweight Championship of the World
Feb 25 Pal Moran                  New Orleans, La                  ND 10
Mar 20 Johnny Clinton             Boston, Ma                       ND 10
May 19 Jacob "Soldier" Bartfield  New York, NY                     EX  4
Jun 26 Jack Britton               New York, NY                     LF 13
          -Welterweight Championship of the World
Jul  4 Rocky Kansas               Michigan City, In                TK  8
          -Lightweight Championship of the World
Jul 27 Lew Tendler                Jersey City, NJ                  ND 12
Aug  5 Ever Hammer                Michigan City, In                ND 10
          -Lightweight Championship of the World

1923
May 29 Myron "Pinkey" Mitchell    Chicago, Il                      TK 10
Jul  9 Alex Hart                  Philadelphia, Pa                 ND  8
Jul 24 Lew Tendler                New York, NY                      W 15
          -Lightweight Championship of the World
Sep  7 John Mendelsohn            Philadelphia, Pa                 ND  8

1924
Aug  1 Pal Moran                  Cleveland, Oh                    ND 10
          -Some sources report 8/11/24

1925
Jan 15 -Leonard retired from boxing (only to return later)

1929
        -Leonard suffered financially in the stock market
           crash and was forced into a comeback

1931   
Sep  9 Karl Lautchlager           New Haven, Ct                    EX  2
Sep  9 Mickey Terry               New Haven, Ct                    EX  2
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Sep 16 Eddie Murray               Newark, NJ                       EX  1
          -Leonard knocked Murray out   
Sep 16 Manuel Madera              Newark, NJ                       EX  1
          -Leonard knocked Madera out   
Sep 16 Teddy Hayes                Newark, NJ                       EX  1
          -Leonard knocked Hayes out;
           The previous 3 bouts were held the same date
Oct  6 Pal Silvers                Long Island City, NY             KO  2
Oct 27 Vittorio Livan             Boston, Ma                       KO  3
Nov  6 Johnny "K.O." Casper       Burlington, Vt                    D 10
Nov 15 Henry Firpo                Barry, Vt                         W 10
Nov 23 Buster Brown               Baltimore, Md                     W 10

1932
Feb 29 Billy McMahon              New York, NY                      W 10
Apr 11 Buster Brown               New York, NY                      W 10
Apr 19 Mike Sarko                 Brooklyn, NY                      W  6
May  2 Willie Garafola            New York, NY                     TK  4
May 16 Marty Goldman              Newark, NY                       KO  2
May 23 Jimmy Abbott               Paterson, NJ                     TK  6
Jun  8 Andy Saviola               Coney Island, NY                  W 10
Jun 16 "Young" Billy Angelo       Philadelphia, Pa                  W 10
Jul 22 Eddie Shapiro              Coney Island, NY                  W  8
Jul 28 Billy Townsend             Long Island City, NY              W 10
Aug 11 Paulie Walker              Brooklyn, NY                      W 10
Aug 19 Mike Sarko                 Long Beach, NY                    W  6
Sep  2 Phil Rafferty              Long Beach, NY                    W  6
Sep  8 Jimmy Abbott               Brooklyn, NY                     TK  3
Sep 12 Mike Sarko                 Bronx, NY                         W  6
Oct  7 Jimmy McLarnin             New York, NY                     LT  6

1941
Feb  4 Lew Tendler                Philadelphia, Pa                 EX  

Review courtesy of Tracy Callis, Historian, International Boxing Research Organization