This pretty much sums up why boxing is my favorite sport, beautifully said by the great Sugar Ray Leonard.
“The sweet science of boxing is all about the most effective and economical means of defeating your opponent both physically and mentally. Boxing is one of the most, if not, the most challenging sport in the world because at your bleakest moment you ask yourself, can I go on - can I go any further? Ask yourself that question when one of your eyes is swollen, your hand is injured, and you've been knocked down for the first time. Boxing is one of the most primal sports, calling upon not only your physical strength but also your mental fortitude. People are amazed by boxers' ability to somehow go beyond what they see as possible when it comes to the body, mind and spirit.” - Sugar Ray Leonard
Leach Cross, aka "The Fighting Dentist", early 1900s lightweight. Cross was an actual dentist, and he once repaired an opponents teeth after knocking them out. Born Louis Wallach in 1905, he.turned to boxing as a way to pay for tuition to dentistry school at NYU. He adopted the name Leach Cross so his parents wouldn't find out he was boxing. Fascinating story.
A Look Back: Leach Cross
Leach Cross had one the most colorful nicknames in boxing history, "The Fighting Dentist." He actually was an accomplished professional boxer and a practicing dentist- hence the moniker. The lightweight never won a title, but was well respected in the ring. In fact, Cross was the great Benny Leonard's idol.
Born Louis Wallach on February 12, 1886, he was raised in New York's Lower East Side. Wallach's parents were from Vienna and his father became a successful businessman in New York. But Wallach grew up in a tough neighborhood and was often forced to fight in the streets. Because of his father's success, Wallach was able to go to NYU for college where he studied dentistry. He only began boxing while in school to pick up a few extra dollars. In 1905, he fought his first fight in which he earned $6.
As a boxer, Wallach took on the name Leach Cross in the hopes that his parents would not find out about his alternative career path. On January 13, 1908, he knocked out Joe Bernstein in the first round and earned $100. After the fight, Cross's father was offered congratulations by an acquaintance. Mr. Wallach was thoroughly confused until the acquaintance explained that his son Louis had won his last fight. Cross's father was not happy, but the purse from the fight helped sooth his anger.
For a guy who eventually graduated with a degree in dentistry, the 5'7" Cross was not a particularly intellectual fighter. He fought out of a crouch and threw powerful right crosses and uppercuts. Against the crafty Packey McFarland, who he fought twice, once on October 21, 1908 and the other on March 23, 1909, Cross was unable to adjust to McFarland’s style.
During Cross's era, a winner of a match could not be determined unless there was knockout or a disqualification. To get around this law, newspapers declared a winner. In one such eventual newspaper decision which took place in December of 1911, Cross knocked out KO Brown's teeth. Brown then went to get his teeth repaired by Dr. Louis Wallach, aka Leach Cross himself.
On November 10, 1913, Cross faced the scientific boxer and lightweight champion Willie Ritchie. Cross was taught a boxing lesson. After a few more years of relative success, Cross retired in 1916. He briefly returned five years later, but retired for good on November 7, 1921. Through it all he continued his dental practice.
According to BoxRec.com, Cross's record was 33-10-4 with 21 KOs which doesn't include his newspaper record of 56-28-13. Cross died in New York, New York on September 7, 1957.
Here's an original program from the Leach Cross -"KO" Brown fight in 1912, it's a fascinating story, Cross knocking out Brown's teeth and then Brown having them repaired by Cross, the very man that knocked them out. It should be noted that George "KO" Brown is a legend in his own right, he was a murderous puncher, they didn't call him "KO" for nothing.
Leach Cross was one tough son of a gun, they were built different back then. Cross put on one of the gamest performances seen in boxing history when he took on "Fighting" Dick Hyland in California in 1909. Cross was floored 15 times + and even knocked into press row on one occasion, but refused to quit before finally being KO'd in round 41 of 45.
It should be noted that "Fighting" Dick Hyland was one of the toughest sons of bi..... to ever enter a boxing ring, he's the one on the right, in the White trunks, in this epic photo from 1913. The 1913 Dick Hyland vs. Ray Campbell bout went for 110 rounds, lasting for more than seven hours and ending in a draw (or no-contest) after both fighters were too exhausted to continue. The fight took place over the night into the morning and is a famous example of an exceptionally long bout from an era with different rules before modern safety measures were implemented. Like I said before, they were built different back then.
Leach Cross (on the right) with Jimmy Clabby, Clabby was a world welterweight champion nicknamed "The Indiana Wasp", Clabby had a chin made of pure granite, he was never knocked down or out in his entire career.
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This pretty much sums up why boxing is my favorite sport, beautifully said by the great Sugar Ray Leonard.
“The sweet science of boxing is all about the most effective and economical means of defeating your opponent both physically and mentally. Boxing is one of the most, if not, the most challenging sport in the world because at your bleakest moment you ask yourself, can I go on - can I go any further? Ask yourself that question when one of your eyes is swollen, your hand is injured, and you've been knocked down for the first time. Boxing is one of the most primal sports, calling upon not only your physical strength but also your mental fortitude. People are amazed by boxers' ability to somehow go beyond what they see as possible when it comes to the body, mind and spirit.” - Sugar Ray Leonard
Leach Cross, aka "The Fighting Dentist", early 1900s lightweight. Cross was an actual dentist, and he once repaired an opponents teeth after knocking them out. Born Louis Wallach in 1905, he.turned to boxing as a way to pay for tuition to dentistry school at NYU. He adopted the name Leach Cross so his parents wouldn't find out he was boxing. Fascinating story.
A Look Back: Leach Cross
Leach Cross had one the most colorful nicknames in boxing history, "The Fighting Dentist." He actually was an accomplished professional boxer and a practicing dentist- hence the moniker. The lightweight never won a title, but was well respected in the ring. In fact, Cross was the great Benny Leonard's idol.
Born Louis Wallach on February 12, 1886, he was raised in New York's Lower East Side. Wallach's parents were from Vienna and his father became a successful businessman in New York. But Wallach grew up in a tough neighborhood and was often forced to fight in the streets. Because of his father's success, Wallach was able to go to NYU for college where he studied dentistry. He only began boxing while in school to pick up a few extra dollars. In 1905, he fought his first fight in which he earned $6.
As a boxer, Wallach took on the name Leach Cross in the hopes that his parents would not find out about his alternative career path. On January 13, 1908, he knocked out Joe Bernstein in the first round and earned $100. After the fight, Cross's father was offered congratulations by an acquaintance. Mr. Wallach was thoroughly confused until the acquaintance explained that his son Louis had won his last fight. Cross's father was not happy, but the purse from the fight helped sooth his anger.
For a guy who eventually graduated with a degree in dentistry, the 5'7" Cross was not a particularly intellectual fighter. He fought out of a crouch and threw powerful right crosses and uppercuts. Against the crafty Packey McFarland, who he fought twice, once on October 21, 1908 and the other on March 23, 1909, Cross was unable to adjust to McFarland’s style.
During Cross's era, a winner of a match could not be determined unless there was knockout or a disqualification. To get around this law, newspapers declared a winner. In one such eventual newspaper decision which took place in December of 1911, Cross knocked out KO Brown's teeth. Brown then went to get his teeth repaired by Dr. Louis Wallach, aka Leach Cross himself.
On November 10, 1913, Cross faced the scientific boxer and lightweight champion Willie Ritchie. Cross was taught a boxing lesson. After a few more years of relative success, Cross retired in 1916. He briefly returned five years later, but retired for good on November 7, 1921. Through it all he continued his dental practice.
According to BoxRec.com, Cross's record was 33-10-4 with 21 KOs which doesn't include his newspaper record of 56-28-13. Cross died in New York, New York on September 7, 1957.
Here's an original program from the Leach Cross -"KO" Brown fight in 1912, it's a fascinating story, Cross knocking out Brown's teeth and then Brown having them repaired by Cross, the very man that knocked them out. It should be noted that George "KO" Brown is a legend in his own right, he was a murderous puncher, they didn't call him "KO" for nothing.
Leach Cross was one tough son of a gun, they were built different back then. Cross put on one of the gamest performances seen in boxing history when he took on "Fighting" Dick Hyland in California in 1909. Cross was floored 15 times + and even knocked into press row on one occasion, but refused to quit before finally being KO'd in round 41 of 45.
It should be noted that "Fighting" Dick Hyland was one of the toughest sons of bi..... to ever enter a boxing ring, he's the one on the right, in the White trunks, in this epic photo from 1913. The 1913 Dick Hyland vs. Ray Campbell bout went for 110 rounds, lasting for more than seven hours and ending in a draw (or no-contest) after both fighters were too exhausted to continue. The fight took place over the night into the morning and is a famous example of an exceptionally long bout from an era with different rules before modern safety measures were implemented. Like I said before, they were built different back then.
Another good shot of the Dick Hyland-Ray Campbell bout.
Back to Leach Cross, it's a fascinating story, being a licensed, practicing dentist, and a pretty darn good prizefighter at the same time.
Leach Cross (on the right) with Jimmy Clabby, Clabby was a world welterweight champion nicknamed "The Indiana Wasp", Clabby had a chin made of pure granite, he was never knocked down or out in his entire career.
Sick 1910-11 T9 Turkey Red Cabinet card of Leach Cross, love the SGC holder.
Of course a legend like Leach Cross has a book written about him.