Benny Leonard

“Ghetto Wizard”

Boxing · Deceased

185-22-9 (3 NC)RECORD

70WINS BY KO / TKO

115WINS BY DECISION

219PRO FIGHTS

Profile

Full name	Benjamin Leiner
Nickname	Ghetto Wizard
Date of birth	7 Apr 1896
Died	18 Apr 1947
Nationality	American
Birthplace	New York City, US
Based in	Not added yet
Weight classes	Welterweight, Lightweight
Trainers	Not added yet
Height	165 cm (5′5″)
Reach	175 cm (69″)
Stance	Orthodox
Years active	Not added yet
Status	Deceased
Last fight	Loss vs Jimmy McLarnin, 7 Oct 1932

Details on this page were compiled from public information on 11 Oct 2026. The fight history below may be incomplete. Is this you? Claim this profile to correct anything and add your photo and bio. Claim this profile

Titles and honours

World lightweight champion (1917–1925)

Background

American lightweight from New York's Lower East Side whose world lightweight title reign from 1917 to 1925 is the longest in the division's history. He came out of retirement in 1931 and boxed until 1932.

Fight history

152 fights on file. More fights can be added when this profile is claimed.

Result	Opponent	Method	Round	Date	Location	Notes
Loss	Jimmy McLarnin	TKO	6	7 Oct 1932	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, US
Win	Mike Sarko	Decision (points)	6	12 Sep 1932	Starlight Park, New York City, New York, US
Win	Jimmy Abbott	TKO	3	8 Sep 1932	Fort Hamilton Arena, New York City, New York, US
Win	Phil Rafferty	Decision (points)	6	2 Sep 1932	Long Beach Stadium, Long Beach, New York, US
Win	Mike Sarko	Decision (points)	6	19 Aug 1932	Long Beach Stadium, Long Beach, New York, US
Win	Paulie Walker	Decision (unanimous)	10	11 Aug 1932	Ebbets Field, New York City, New York, US
Win	Billy Townsend	Decision (points)	10	28 Jul 1932	Queensboro Stadium, New York City, New York, US
Win	Eddie Shapiro	Decision (points)	8	22 Jul 1932	Coney Island Stadium, New York City, New York, US
Win	Joe Trippe	KO	2	20 Jun 1932	Bonacker's Stadium, Rensselaer, New York, US
Win	Billy Angelo	Decision (points)	10	16 Jun 1932	Baker Bowl, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
Win	Andy Saviola	Decision (points)	10	8 Jun 1932	Coney Island Stadium, New York City, New York, US
Win	Jimmy Abbott	TKO	6	23 May 1932	Paterson, New Jersey, US
Win	Marty Goldman	KO	2	16 May 1932	Laurel Garden, Newark, New Jersey, US
Win	Willie Garafola	TKO	4	2 May 1932	St. Nicholas Arena, New York City, New York, US
Win	Mike Sarko	Decision (points)	6	19 Apr 1932	Ridgewood Grove, New York City, New York, US
Win	Buster Brown	Decision (points)	10	11 Apr 1932	St. Nicholas Arena, New York City, New York, US
Win	Billy McMahon	Decision (points)	10	29 Feb 1932	St. Nicholas Arena, New York City, New York, US
Win	Buster Brown	Decision (points)	10	23 Nov 1931	Carlin's Park, Baltimore, Maryland, US
Draw	Johnny Kasper	Decision (points)	10	6 Nov 1931	Memorial Auditorium, Burlington, Vermont, US
Win	Vittorio Livan	KO	3	27 Oct 1931	Arena, Boston, Massachusetts, US
Win	Pal Silvers	TKO	2	6 Oct 1931	Queensboro Stadium, New York City, New York, US
Win	Pal Moran	Newspaper decision	10	11 Aug 1924	Olympic Arena, New York City, New York, US
Win	Johnny Mendelsohn	Newspaper decision	8	7 Sep 1923	Shibe Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
Win	Lew Tendler	Decision (unanimous)	15	24 Jul 1923	Yankee Stadium, New York City, New York, US	Retained NYSAC and NBA lightweight titles
Win	Alex Hart	Newspaper decision	8	9 Jul 1923	Shibe Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
Win	Pinky Mitchell	TKO	10	29 May 1923	Dexter Park Pavilion, Chicago, Illinois, US
Win	Ever Hammer	Newspaper decision	10	5 Aug 1922	Sky Blue Arena, Michigan City, Indiana, US
Win	Lew Tendler	Newspaper decision	12	27 Jul 1922	Boyle's Thirty Acres, Jersey City, New Jersey, US	NYSAC and NBA lightweight titles at stake (via KO only)
Win	Rocky Kansas	TKO	8	4 Jul 1922	Sky Blue Arena, Michigan City, Indiana, US
Loss	Jack Britton	Disqualification	13	26 Jun 1922	Velodrome, New York City, New York, US	For NYSAC and NBA welterweight titles
Win	Jakob "Soldier" Bartfield	Decision (points)	4	19 Apr 1922	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, US
Win	Johnny Clinton	Newspaper decision	10	20 Mar 1922	Arena, Boston, Massachusetts, US
Win	Pal Moran	Newspaper decision	10	25 Feb 1922	Louisiana Auditorium, New Orleans, Louisiana, US
Win	Rocky Kansas	Decision (unanimous)	15	10 Feb 1922	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, US	Retained NYSAC and NBA lightweight titles
Win	Tim Droney	Newspaper decision	8	20 Dec 1921	Ice Palace, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
Win	Sailor Friedman	Newspaper decision	8	22 Nov 1921	Ice Palace, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
Win	Rocky Kansas	Newspaper decision	12	6 Jun 1921	Federal League Baseball Park, Harrison, New Jersey, US	NYSAC and NBA lightweight titles at stake (via KO only)
Win	Joe Welling	Newspaper decision	8	24 Feb 1921	Coliseum, St. Louis, Missouri, US
Win	Eddie Moy	TKO	3	21 Feb 1921	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, US
Win	Richie Mitchell	TKO	6	14 Jan 1921	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, US	Retained NYSAC and NBA lightweight titles
Win	Joe Welling	TKO	14	26 Nov 1920	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, US	Retained NYSAC lightweight title
Win	Harlem Eddie Kelly	Disqualification	5	17 Nov 1920	Commonwealth Sporting Club, New York City, New York, US
Win	K.O. Willie Loughlin	Newspaper decision	10	12 Nov 1920	Third Regiment Armory, Camden, New Jersey, US
Win	Johnny Tillman	Decision (points)	10	18 Oct 1920	Armory, Akron, Ohio, US
Win	Johnny Sheppard	TKO	3	8 Oct 1920	6th Regiment Armory, Paterson, New Jersey, US
Win	Frankie Britt	TKO	5	4 Oct 1920	Wethersfield Baseball Grounds, Hartford, Connecticut, US
Win	Pal Moran	Newspaper decision	10	25 Sep 1920	East Chicago, Illinois, US
Win	K.O. Willie Loughlin	KO	9	10 Sep 1920	Armory, Camden, New Jersey, US
Win	Charley White	KO	9	5 Jul 1920	Floyd Fitzsimmons Arena, Benton Harbor, Michigan, US
Win	Johnny Dundee	Newspaper decision	8	9 Feb 1920	4th Regiment Armory, Jersey City, New Jersey, US
Win	Jake Abel	Newspaper decision	10	22 Dec 1919	Auditorium, Atlanta, Georgia, US
Win	James Red Herring	TKO	6	19 Dec 1919	Southern A.C., Memphis, Tennessee, US
Win	Mel Coogan	TKO	2	10 Dec 1919	4th Regiment Armory, Jersey City, New Jersey, US
Win	Jakob "Soldier" Bartfield	Newspaper decision	6	27 Nov 1919	Olympia A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
Win	Lockport Jimmy Duffy	TKO	2	17 Nov 1919	Convention Hall, Tulsa, Oklahoma, US	Retained world lightweight title
Win	Jakob "Soldier" Bartfield	Newspaper decision	8	10 Nov 1919	4th Regiment Armory, Jersey City, New Jersey, US
Win	Phil Bloom	Newspaper decision	10	15 Oct 1919	Arena Gardens, Detroit, Michigan, US
Win	Charley Metrie	TKO	7	1 Oct 1919	Arena Gardens, Detroit, Michigan, US
Win	Johnny Dundee	Newspaper decision	8	17 Sep 1919	1st Regiment Armory, Newark, New Jersey, US
Win	Johnny Clinton	Newspaper decision	10	8 Sep 1919	Arena, Syracuse, New York, US
Win	Jakob "Soldier" Bartfield	Newspaper decision	6	4 Sep 1919	Shibe Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
Win	Patsy Cline	Newspaper decision	6	11 Aug 1919	Shibe Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
Win	Joe Malone	TKO	3	23 Jul 1919	Newport, Rhode Island, US
Win	Johnny Dundee	Newspaper decision	6	16 Jun 1919	Shibe Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
Win	Charley Pitts	Newspaper decision	10	9 Jun 1919	Theatre Français, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Win	Young George Erne	KO	6	21 May 1919	Grand Theater, Trenton, New Jersey, US
Win	Willie Ritchie	TKO	8	28 Apr 1919	1st Regiment Armory, Newark, New Jersey, US
Win	Harvey Thorpe	Newspaper decision	10	26 Mar 1919	Joplin, Missouri, US
Loss	Willie Ritchie	Newspaper decision	4	21 Feb 1919	Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California, US
Win	Wildcat Leonard	KO	4	7 Feb 1919	Hoffman A.C., Sacramento, California, US
Win	Spider Roach	Newspaper decision	4	5 Feb 1919	Auditorium, Oakland, California, US
Win	Joe Benjamin	Newspaper decision	4	31 Jan 1919	Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California, US
Win	Johnny Dundee	Newspaper decision	8	20 Jan 1919	1st Regiment Armory, Newark, New Jersey, US
Win	Harlem Eddie Kelly	Newspaper decision	6	13 Jan 1919	Olympia A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
Win	Paul Doyle	Newspaper decision	6	1 Jan 1919	Olympia A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
Draw	Ted Kid Lewis	Newspaper decision	8	23 Sep 1918	Weidenmeyer's Park, Newark, New Jersey, US	World welterweight title at stake (via KO only)
Win	Harry Pierce	Newspaper decision	6	16 Sep 1918	Olympia A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
Win	Willie Gradwell	TKO	5	22 Jul 1918	4th Regiment Armory, Jersey City, New Jersey, US
Win	Willie Jackson	Newspaper decision	6	16 Jul 1918	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, US
Win	Jack Brazzo	TKO	8	4 Jul 1918	Wildwood Beach Baseball Park, Wildwood, New Jersey, US
Win	Jack Britton	Newspaper decision	6	25 Jun 1918	Shibe Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
Win	Barney Adair	Newspaper decision	4	6 Jun 1918	Broadway Auditorium, Buffalo, New York, US
Win	Mike Golindo	Decision (points)	4	25 May 1918	City Stadium, San Diego, California, US
Win	Johnny McCarthy	Newspaper decision	4	10 May 1918	Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California, US
Win	Jack Brazzo	TKO	4	13 Apr 1918	National A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
Win	Young Joe Borrell	Newspaper decision	6	8 Apr 1918	Olympia A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
Win	Freddie Kelly	Newspaper decision	6	19 Dec 1917	National A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
Win	Chick Brown	TKO	5	17 Dec 1917	Arena, New Haven, Connecticut, US
Win	Patsy Cline	Newspaper decision	6	12 Dec 1917	Olympia A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
Win	Gene Delmont	KO	8	5 Dec 1917	Auditorium, St. Paul, Minnesota, US
Win	Battling Sailor Frank Kirk	KO	1	28 Nov 1917	Stockyards Stadium, Denver, Colorado, US
Win	Toughy Ramser	KO	7	24 Oct 1917	Cleveland A.C., Cleveland, Ohio, US
Win	Young George Erne	Newspaper decision	6	23 Oct 1917	Broadway Auditorium, Buffalo, New York, US
Win	Young Eddie Wagond	Newspaper decision	6	22 Oct 1917	Olympia A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
Win	Jack Britton	Newspaper decision	10	19 Oct 1917	Harlem S.C., New York City, New York, US
Win	Vic Moran	KO	2	5 Oct 1917	Harlem S.C., New York City, New York, US
Win	Eddie Dorsey	KO	2	27 Sep 1917	Broadway Auditorium, Buffalo, New York, US
Win	Leo Johnson	TKO	1	21 Sep 1917	Harlem S.C., New York City, New York, US	Retained world lightweight title
Win	Phil Bloom	KO	2	14 Sep 1917	Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US
Win	Jimmy Paul	Newspaper decision	6	12 Sep 1917	Fairmont A.C., New York City, New York, US
Win	Young Rector	TKO	5	3 Sep 1917	Island Stadium, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Win	Johnny Kilbane	TKO	3	25 Jul 1917	Shibe Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
Win	Johnny Nelson	TKO	3	18 Jun 1917	Harlem S.C., New York City, New York, US
Win	Joe Welsh	Newspaper decision	6	4 Jun 1917	Olympia A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
Win	Freddie Welsh	TKO	9	28 May 1917	Manhattan Casino, New York City, New York, US	Won world lightweight title
Win	Eddie Shannon	TKO	6	10 May 1917	Clermont Avenue Rink, New York City, New York, US
Win	Charley Thomas	TKO	6	7 May 1917	Olympia A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
Win	Richie Mitchell	TKO	7	19 Apr 1917	Auditorium, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US
Win	Packy Hommey	KO	9	22 Mar 1917	Fairmont A.C., New York City, New York, US
Win	Johnny Tillman	Newspaper decision	6	12 Mar 1917	Olympia A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
Win	Jimmy Reagan	Newspaper decision	10	28 Feb 1917	Manhattan Casino, New York City, New York, US
Win	Frankie Callahan	Newspaper decision	10	1 Feb 1917	Clermont Avenue Rink, New York City, New York, US
Win	Phil Bloom	Newspaper decision	10	30 Jan 1917	Broadway S.C., New York City, New York, US
Win	Eddie Wallace	Newspaper decision	6	22 Jan 1917	Olympia A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
Win	Chick Simler	Newspaper decision	10	28 Nov 1916	Empire A.C., Harlem, New York City, New York, US
Win	Harvey Thorpe	KO	12	21 Nov 1916	Coliseum, St. Louis, Missouri, US
Loss	Johnny Dundee	Newspaper decision	6	15 Nov 1916	Olympia A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
Win	Stanley Yoakum	Newspaper decision	10	10 Nov 1916	Harlem S.C., New York City, New York, US
Win	Ever Hammer	TKO	12	18 Oct 1916	Convention Hall, Kansas City, Missouri, US
Win	Johnny Nelson	Newspaper decision	6	9 Oct 1916	Olympia A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
Win	Johnny Tillman	Newspaper decision	6	25 Sep 1916	Olympia A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
Win	Frankie Conifrey	TKO	7	14 Sep 1916	Empire A.C., Harlem, New York City, New York, US
Win	Eddie McAndrews	KO	5	9 Sep 1916	National A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
Win	Joe Azevedo	Newspaper decision	10	18 Aug 1916	Convention Hall, Saratoga Springs, New York, US
Loss	Freddie Welsh	Newspaper decision	10	28 Jul 1916	Washington Park A.C., New York City, New York, US
Win	Vic Moran	Newspaper decision	10	23 Jun 1916	Harlem S.C., New York City, New York, US
Draw	Johnny Dundee	Newspaper decision	10	12 Jun 1916	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, US
Win	Charley Thomas	Newspaper decision	6	1 May 1916	Olympia A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
Win	Phil Bloom	Newspaper decision	10	20 Apr 1916	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, US
Win	Freddie Welsh	Newspaper decision	10	31 Mar 1916	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, US	World lightweight title at stake (via KO only)
Win	Shamus O'Brien	TKO	7	17 Mar 1916	Harlem S.C., New York City, New York, US
Win	Sam Robideau	Newspaper decision	6	13 Mar 1916	Olympia A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
Draw	Johnny Dundee	Newspaper decision	10	8 Mar 1916	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, US
Win	Rocky Kansas	Newspaper decision	10	28 Feb 1916	Broadway Auditorium, Buffalo, New York, US
Win	Jimmy Murphy	KO	6	21 Feb 1916	Olympia A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
Win	Shamus O'Brien	Newspaper decision	10	11 Feb 1916	Arena, Syracuse, New York, US
Win	Phil Bloom	TKO	8	8 Feb 1916	Hippodrome, Boston, Massachusetts, US
Win	Joe Welsh	KO	5	1 Jan 1916	Olympia A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
Win	Joe Mandot	KO	7	17 Dec 1915	Harlem S.C., New York City, New York, US
Win	Joe Azevedo	Newspaper decision	10	19 Nov 1915	Harlem S.C., New York City, New York, US
Win	Banty Sharpe	Newspaper decision	10	13 Nov 1915	Fairmont A.C., New York City, New York, US
Win	Gene Moriarty	KO	3	8 Nov 1915	Clermont Avenue Rink, New York City, New York, US
Win	Johnny Drummie	Newspaper decision	10	19 Oct 1915	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, US
Win	Al Thomas	Newspaper decision	10	1 Oct 1915	American A.C., New York City, New York, US
Win	Johnny Drummie	Newspaper decision	10	13 Aug 1915	Brown's Gym A.A., Far Rockaway, New York City, New York, US
Win	Al Schumacher	TKO	7	19 Jun 1915	Fairmont A.C., New York City, New York, US
Win	Frankie Callahan	Newspaper decision	10	18 May 1915	135th Street A.C., New York City, New York, US
Loss	Johnny Kilbane	Newspaper decision	10	29 Apr 1915	Federal A.C., Atlantic Gardens, New York City, New York, US
Win	Joe Goldberg	Newspaper decision	10	24 Mar 1915	Fairmont A.C., New York City, New York, US
Win	Westside Jimmy Duffy	Newspaper decision	10	20 Mar 1915	Fairmont A.C., New York City, New York, US
Loss	Johnny Dundee	Newspaper decision	10	2 Mar 1915	135th Street A.C., New York City, New York, US
Win	Patsy Cline	Newspaper decision	10	18 Feb 1915	Fairmont A.C., New York City, New York, US

Record source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).