In 1912, Benjamin Leiner, a skinny little Semite with a pallid, solemn face, had his first professional prizefight. Five years later he won the lightweight championship of the world by technically knocking out Freddie Welsh. In 1924, after a fight with Pal Moran in which he hurt his right hand but retained his championship, he retired. Said he: "My mother does not want me to fight any more."
At that time, Benjamin Leiner (Benny Leonard) had about $500,000 which he invested in real estate and a professional hockey team. A clean-cut little man with...
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