Benny Leonard's acknowledged to be one of the all-time greats

Ray Arcel said Leonard's "mental energy surpassed anyone else's," including Ray Robinson.

Benny would teach youngsters that they had to think in the ring, talk to themselves (interntally), to constantly think.

Arcel said Benny watched even when two beginnings spar because "one of them might do something by accident" that he could incorporate into his game.

According to an account Arcel told, the first time Leonard met Gene Tunney he interrupted Tunney's workout and told him how to beat Greb: that Tunney would never have success with the right hand to Greb's head, but that he could land at will bringing it under to hit Greb in the heart -- a tactic Tunney used successfully.

In short, Leonard's boxing IQ was what set him apart.

 

He fought and beat great fighters, champions and top contenders of every imaginable style. And he did it over and over again. Nobody got denied their shot at the great Leonard. Plus he stopped so many fighters who had never been stopped before and never would be again.

He stopped durable, rough n tumble brawlers like Rocky Kansas and Ever Hammer.

He beat defensive boxers like Freddie Welsh and Johnny Dundee.

He beat aggressive boxers like Joe Mandot.

He beat clever stylists like Jack Britton and Willie Ritchie.

He beat crippling punchers like Charlie White.

He beat difficult southpaws like Lew Tendler.

 

Benny leonard was so highly esteemed by other boxers that when he trained at Stillman,s
gym,while sparring all other boxers would stop what they were doing just to look at the master,the incomparable Benny Leonard...My dad would tell me this...Leonard in his 7 year reign beating the greatest lightweight contenders, ducked no one....He was a killer when riled...For example he fought the top black lightweight Leo Johnson from Harlem
who did the unthinkable to Leonard. After the ref's instructions in the first round Leo Johnson intentionally mussed up Leonard's brilliantine hair ...Leonard prided himself that in all his prime bouts his hair remained perfectly combed. So Leonard promptly flattened
Leo Johnson in the very first round...Leonard did not have the height advantage that the alomost 6 ft tall Ray Robinson had, for Benny was only 5ft5" tall. But he was a master boxer,and thinker, who was also a deadly accurate 2 handed puncher to boot....He was truly an immortal...

 

His ability to think on his feet. I believe he was hurt to the body by Lew Tendler and Benny had the presence of mind to complain that the blow was low. It bought Leonard a few seconds, thats all a well conditioned champion needs to recover.

I believe Benny Leonard raised the level of the game as not many have before. He influenced an entire generation of boxers. Leonard put it all together.

 

I like leonard and love arcel but I can't really add anything to thisgood

 

good

 

He has such a ****ed up stance. I just want to put that out there. It is a transitional mix of the old fencing style boxing and a more common one. Reminds me of Vitali's stance. He made it work. Very economical fighter, a mechanic like Moore.

Leonard is growing on me like no other, though. I believe he is the best ever lightweight. He deserves to be called that.