RCM Historical Boxing – How Would Benny Leonard, The Ghetto Wizard, Have Fared Against Today’s Lightweights? A Historical Comparison
By Robert Brizel, Head RCM Boxing Correspondent
Known as ‘The Ghetto Wizard’, Benny Leonard (1896-1947) is ranked by the International Boxing Research Organization as the greatest lightweight fighter of all time. Leonard fought between 1911 to 1924, between 126 and 140 pounds, and then again from 1931 to 1932, between 147 and 152 pounds. The undisputed world lightweight champion for over seven years, he earned over a million dollars during his career, but he lost everything when the stock market crashed in 1929. Leonard went 20-0-1 in his comeback attempt, before Jimmy McLarnin stopped him in six rounds at Madison Square Garden in October 1932 and ended Benny Leonard’s career for good. Benny Leonard died of a heart attack while refereeing at St. Nicholas Arena in Manhattan on April 18, 1947.
Statistical Record
BoxRec has Benny Leonard ranked in the number three position all-time at lightweight.
ESPN has Benny Leonard ranked in the number seven position 50 greatest boxers all-time.
Ring Magazine has Benny Leonard ranked number 8 on list of 80 greatest fighters in last 80 years.
Historian Bert Sugar has Benny Leonard ranked sixth all-time, greatest pound for pound fighters.
Historian Teddy Atlas has Benny Leonard ranked fourthall-time, greatest pound for pound fighters.
Benny Leonard’s Career Record: Won 90, Lost Six, Drew 1, with 70 Knockouts
Benny Leonard’s Career Newspaper Decision Record: Won 95, Lost 7, Drew 7
Total Bouts: 219 (other are unverified) Rounds Boxed: 577 Regular, 1004 Newspaper
Benny Leonard has been inducted into the International and World Boxing Hall of Fame.
Note: The late Benny Leonard is not related to charismatic Maryland boxer Sugar Ray Leonard (born 1956), who fought between welterweight and light heavyweight from 1977-1997.
Match Number One: Benny Leonard versus Tony Canzoneri
Predicted Result: Benny Leonard Win 15 Tony Canzoneri
Match Number Two: Benny Leonard versus Roberto Duran (The Hands of Stone)
Predicted Result: Benny Leonard Win 15 Roberto Duran (comments: close technical bout)
Match Number Three: Benny Leonard versus Carlos Ortiz
Predicted Result: Benny leonard Win 15 Carlos Ortiz
Match Number Four: Benny Leonard versus Beau Jack
Predicted Result: Benny Leonard TKO 13 Beau Jack
Match Number Five: Benny Leonard versus Edwin Valero
Predicted Result: Edwin Valero Win 12 Benny Leonard (Valero comes off canvas)
Match Number Six: Benny Leonard versus Sammy Angott
Predicted Result: Benny Leonard Draw 15 Sammy Angott
Match Number Seven: Benny Leonard versus Adrien Broner
Predicted Result: Benny Leonard KO 8 Adrien Broner
Match Number Eight: Benny Leonard versus Esteban De Jesus
Predicted Result: Benny Leonard KO 11 Esteban De Jesus
Match Number Nine: Benny Leonard versus Ike Williams
Predicted Result: Benny Leonard KO 14 Ike Williams
Match Number Eleven: Benny Leonard versus Billy Petrolle (The Fargo Express)
Predicted Result: Benny Leonard TKO 15 Billy Petrolle
Match Number Twelve: Benny Leonard versus Barney Ross (at lightweight)
Predicted Result: Benny Leonard TKO 12 Barney Ross
Match Number Thirteen: Benny Leonard versus Alexis Arguello
Predicted Result: Benny Leonard TKO 10 Alexis Arguello
Match Number Fourteen: Benny Leonard versus Edwin Rosario (El Chapo)
Predicted Result: Benny Leonard KO 8 Edwin Rosario
Match Number Fifteen: Benny Leonard versus Ray Mancini (Boom-Boom)
Predicted Result: Benny Leonard TKO 15 Ray Mancini
Match Number Sixteen: Benny Leonard versus Howard Davis Jr.
Predicted Result: Benny Leonard TKO 9 Howard Davis Jr.
Match Number Seventeen: Benny Leonard versus Jose Luis Ramirez
Predicted Result: Benny Leonard KO 7 Jose Luis Ramirez
Match Number Eighteen: Benny Leonard versus Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Predicted Result: Benny Leonard Draw 15 Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Match Number Nineteen: Benny Leonard versus Diego Corrales (Chico)
Predicted Result: Benny Leonard KO 5 Diego Corrales (Leonard comes off canvas)
Match Number Twenty: Benny Leonard versus Manny Pacquiao
Predicted Result: Benny Leonard KO 12 Manny Pacquiao
Match Number Twenty-one: Benny Leonard versus Juan Manuel Marquez
Predicted Result: Benny Leonard Win 12 Juan Manuel Marquez
Match Number Twenty-Two: Benny Leonard versus Azumah Nelson
Predicted Result: Azumah Nelson Win 12 Benny Leonard
Match Number Twenty Three: Benny Leonard versus Paul Spadafora
Predicted Result: Benny Leonard Win12 Paul Spadafora
Match Number Twenty-Four: Benny Leonard versus Erik Morales
Predicted Result: Benny Leonard TKO 9 Erik Morales
Match Number Twenty-Five: Benny Leonard versus Pernell Whittaker
Predicted Result: Benny Leonard Win Split Decision 12 Pernell Whittaker
Match Number Twenty-Six: Benny Leonard versus Ken Buchanan
Predicted Result: Benny Leonard Win 15 Ken Buchanan
Match Number Twenty-Seven: Benny Leonard versus Davey Lee Armstrong
Predicted Result: Benny Leonard KO 5 Davey Lee Armstrong
Match Number Twenty-Eight: Benny Leonard versus Jim Watt
Predicted Result: Benny Leonard Win 15 Jim Watt
Match Number Twenty-Nine: Benny Leonard versus Livingston Bramble
Predicted Result: Benny Leonard TKO 11 Livingston Bramble
Match Number Thirty: Benny Leonard versus Julio Cesar Chavez Sr.
Predicted Results: Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. Win Split decision 12 Benny Leonard or
In a longer 15 round bout, Benny Leonard Win Majority 15 Julio Cesar Chavez Sr.
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