The Romance of the Ring

 

"Give me a Jewish fighter who can be built up into a challenger for the heavyweight championship and I'll show you the man who can bring back the $1,000,000 gate." - Tex Rickard.

"Benny Leonard had done more to conquer anti-Semitism than a thousand text books have done." Arthur Brisbane.

Somewhere between these two statements lies the significance of the Jew in boxing. And the Jew in pugilism has been a tremendous figure. From boxing's infancy, when Daniel Mendoza founded the modern school of fighting and won the heavyweight crown and held it from 1790 to 1795, Jews have won many titles and have added lustre to the old, savage ring game.

It is generally acknowledged that the Irish, the Jews and the Blacks have contributed the greatest champions, the most spectacular ringmen, the best everyday pugs. There have been more than twenty Jewish ring champions and many of them, like Abe Attell, Benny Leonard and Barney Ross rank with the top names in the sport. But even on the lower levels there has been a steady list of Jewish fighters.

Boxing is a hard racket. Tough people make a living out of it and, by and large, people with primitive instincts pay