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From Boxing Illustrated January 1973
What lies ahead for Hutchins? Michigan light heavyweight could be headed for title shot
BY ROGER NOLAN
In a Midwest city in the United States rises a young, energetic professional prospect who
challenges the ever thunderous Bob Foster for the light heavyweight crown. The city is Detroit,
where a young man by the name of Leonard Hutchins, 23 years old, started his career in the amateur
ranks in 1964. Hutchins was quickly noticed in the gym by an abundance of trainers and boxing fans,
and word began to spread of his courage, ability and the tremendous interest he displayed in the
gym. At the early age of 15, Hutchins began working out at the King. Solomon Baptist Church under
the tutorship of Taylor (D.S. &R) Smith. He credits a lot of his success as an amateur to the late
Sonny Banks, who was a popular heavyweight; Skeeter McClure, an Olympic Gold Medal winner in
1960 and Henry Hank, a ranked middleweight at the time. Hutchins feels he gained a lot of
knowledge from these great men. Of 40 amateur fights one of his most memorable bout pitted him
against Al "Tiger Cat" Jones in Detroit. The fight is still talked about in Detroit as a rip-roaring battle,
with Hutchins being the winner on a decision. The boxing fans gave Hutchins a standing ovation at
the end of the fight. Jones went on in the amateur ranks to achieve the bronze medal in the
Olympics. As a pro, Jones won 17 consecutive victories before his first defeat, at the hands of Dave
Thach for the Michigan Middleweight championship. This concluded Jones's career.
Hutchins developed into one of the finest amateur boxers in the country and displayed his talents
across the United States. He possesses the looks of Sugar Ray Robinson and was at one time called
"Small Sugar Ray." He developed scientific boxing skills, quickness of hands and feet as well as a
thunderous right hand which carried him to the centre of the ring on many occasions as a victor in
bout after bout. 1968 was a big year for Hutchins in as much as he won the Michigan Golden Gloves
Tournament for the third consecutive year; the National Golden Gloves title in Salt Lake City, Utah;
the National AAU title and traveled to New Mexico as an alternate an the Olympic Team for the
Olympic lariats at which time he boxed Art Redding for the Olympic Championship for the United
States and lost on a close decision. Hutchins returned home to give boxing some serious
consideration. Should he continue as an amateur or become a professional boxer? He had received
many offers to sign a professional contract.. It took some time for him to make this decision as he
felt that it was the most important one of his life. Finally, he decided that because all he had ever
thought about was boxing and all of his concentration was on boxing he would turn - professional
with a lifelong dream to achieve the championship of the world, a decision both of his parents
strongly supported their son and his boxing career and still do. They are his greatest fans. It is not
unusual to see his mother and father in the crowds cheering him on to victory, loudly rooting for
their son at ringside with' cries of "Come on Pookie!" "Pookie" is the nickname that had been
given/to Leonard long ago by his parents and family. This cry continues to echo through the crowd
during his fistic wars.
After a serious conference with his parents and getting their blessings Hutchins decided to do
business with Cloverlay, Inc., coming under the tutorship of none other than Yank Durham, manager
of Joe Frazier, the heavyweight champion of the world. Leonard traveled to Philadelphia and signed
a contract with Cloverlay, Inc., for a period of three years. Thus, an exciting challenge began for
Leonard Hutchins.
In his first professional endeavor, he faced Lee Phillips in Philadelphia and won the bout in 6
rounds. His next challenger was Ned Edwards in New York's Madison Square Garden. He picked up
another victory. His next foe, Preston Donaldson, lost the battle to Hutchins in Philadelphia.
Hutchins then moved on to KO Dickie Wills in Houston, Texas, in the 3rd round. This particular bout
was a preliminary bout on a championship card pitting Joe Frazier against Dave Zyglewicz. Hutchins
returned to Madison Square Garden to pound out another win over Ray Ayala: His next opponent, Al
Benoit, also lost. Again, at Madison Square Garden Hutchins fought Getulia Bueno to a draw. In
Detroit at Cobo Hall, Herschel Jacobs lost to Hutchins in 8 rounds. Hutchins was then pitted against
A1 Evans for the state title and Hutchins stopped Evans in 7 rounds. In Houston, Joe Burns lost to
Hutchins.
Then came a highly disputed loss for Hutchins to Richie Kates. With his first taste of defeat in a
highly disputed war, Hutchins with only 1 1 fights in three years, began to psychologically develop in
two areas: (1). the number of fights and the amount of activity he was getting with Cloverlay and (2)
his strong desire to go back to the midwest to continue his boxing career. He decided to leave
Philadelphia and return to Detroit where he did not box for a year. It was agreed by both Cloverlay
and Hutchins to dissolve the contract they had at that time. Hutchins began working out in the gym
where he started as a youngster.
On to the scene came a gentleman who tends to drop inland out of the gymnasiums in Detroit and
has been in boxing for 40 years, the well-known "Pops" Andy Brown. "Pops" is a matchmaker and
was doing some work with Hank Grooms of Kalamazoo. Brown and Grooms traveled to Canton, Ohio,
to seek information relative to the possibility of a show there and during the course of conversation
Brown mentioned Hutchins to Grooms. After hearing about Hutchins, Grooms gave Hutchins a call.
The call led to the signing of a contract between Hutchins and Grooms and a renewal of his
professional boxing career.
Under the management of Grooms, Hutchins first opponent was James Parks in Canton, Ohio. Parks
had never been stopped in his amateur or professional career. But there is always a first time for
everything. Parks was stopped by Hutchins in the ninth round. Then came the experiences and
once highly-respected threat in the light- heavyweight class, Roger Rouse. Rouse faced Hutchins in
a 10-round main event in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and lost on a decision. Hutchins then traveled to
Albuquerque, New Mexico, to work with Bob Foster, the light heavyweight champion of the world,
who was preparing to fight Mike Quarry. Upon his return to Kalamazoo, Hutchins was pitted against
Harold Carter in Detroit. Carter found himself helpless against the thunderous hands of Hutchins
and lost by a KO in the fourth round. The biggest challenge of Hutchins' career was yet to come. On
September 14, 1972, in Kalamazoo, Michigan, Hutchins was pitted against Eddie "Bossman" Jones,
the fifth ranked contender. Early in the sixth round Hutchins opened a cut over the right eye of
Jones but the fight was allowed to continue. In the eights round, Hutchins drove Jones to the ropes
with a score of right and left hands but due to Jones' experience and excellent defense boxing, he
was able to withstand the pressure. Hutchins won the bout handily on a unanimous decision.
What lies ahead for Hutchins? It is hard to speculate, but one thing is for sure: he is seeking every
opportunity to have a chance at the title.
What lies ahead for Hutchins? Michigan light heavyweight could be headed for title shot
BY ROGER NOLAN
In a Midwest city in the United States rises a young, energetic professional prospect who
challenges the ever thunderous Bob Foster for the light heavyweight crown. The city is Detroit,
where a young man by the name of Leonard Hutchins, 23 years old, started his career in the amateur
ranks in 1964. Hutchins was quickly noticed in the gym by an abundance of trainers and boxing fans,
and word began to spread of his courage, ability and the tremendous interest he displayed in the
gym. At the early age of 15, Hutchins began working out at the King. Solomon Baptist Church under
the tutorship of Taylor (D.S. &R) Smith. He credits a lot of his success as an amateur to the late
Sonny Banks, who was a popular heavyweight; Skeeter McClure, an Olympic Gold Medal winner in
1960 and Henry Hank, a ranked middleweight at the time. Hutchins feels he gained a lot of
knowledge from these great men. Of 40 amateur fights one of his most memorable bout pitted him
against Al "Tiger Cat" Jones in Detroit. The fight is still talked about in Detroit as a rip-roaring battle,
with Hutchins being the winner on a decision. The boxing fans gave Hutchins a standing ovation at
the end of the fight. Jones went on in the amateur ranks to achieve the bronze medal in the
Olympics. As a pro, Jones won 17 consecutive victories before his first defeat, at the hands of Dave
Thach for the Michigan Middleweight championship. This concluded Jones's career.
Hutchins developed into one of the finest amateur boxers in the country and displayed his talents
across the United States. He possesses the looks of Sugar Ray Robinson and was at one time called
"Small Sugar Ray." He developed scientific boxing skills, quickness of hands and feet as well as a
thunderous right hand which carried him to the centre of the ring on many occasions as a victor in
bout after bout. 1968 was a big year for Hutchins in as much as he won the Michigan Golden Gloves
Tournament for the third consecutive year; the National Golden Gloves title in Salt Lake City, Utah;
the National AAU title and traveled to New Mexico as an alternate an the Olympic Team for the
Olympic lariats at which time he boxed Art Redding for the Olympic Championship for the United
States and lost on a close decision. Hutchins returned home to give boxing some serious
consideration. Should he continue as an amateur or become a professional boxer? He had received
many offers to sign a professional contract.. It took some time for him to make this decision as he
felt that it was the most important one of his life. Finally, he decided that because all he had ever
thought about was boxing and all of his concentration was on boxing he would turn - professional
with a lifelong dream to achieve the championship of the world, a decision both of his parents
strongly supported their son and his boxing career and still do. They are his greatest fans. It is not
unusual to see his mother and father in the crowds cheering him on to victory, loudly rooting for
their son at ringside with' cries of "Come on Pookie!" "Pookie" is the nickname that had been
given/to Leonard long ago by his parents and family. This cry continues to echo through the crowd
during his fistic wars.
After a serious conference with his parents and getting their blessings Hutchins decided to do
business with Cloverlay, Inc., coming under the tutorship of none other than Yank Durham, manager
of Joe Frazier, the heavyweight champion of the world. Leonard traveled to Philadelphia and signed
a contract with Cloverlay, Inc., for a period of three years. Thus, an exciting challenge began for
Leonard Hutchins.
In his first professional endeavor, he faced Lee Phillips in Philadelphia and won the bout in 6
rounds. His next challenger was Ned Edwards in New York's Madison Square Garden. He picked up
another victory. His next foe, Preston Donaldson, lost the battle to Hutchins in Philadelphia.
Hutchins then moved on to KO Dickie Wills in Houston, Texas, in the 3rd round. This particular bout
was a preliminary bout on a championship card pitting Joe Frazier against Dave Zyglewicz. Hutchins
returned to Madison Square Garden to pound out another win over Ray Ayala: His next opponent, Al
Benoit, also lost. Again, at Madison Square Garden Hutchins fought Getulia Bueno to a draw. In
Detroit at Cobo Hall, Herschel Jacobs lost to Hutchins in 8 rounds. Hutchins was then pitted against
A1 Evans for the state title and Hutchins stopped Evans in 7 rounds. In Houston, Joe Burns lost to
Hutchins.
Then came a highly disputed loss for Hutchins to Richie Kates. With his first taste of defeat in a
highly disputed war, Hutchins with only 1 1 fights in three years, began to psychologically develop in
two areas: (1). the number of fights and the amount of activity he was getting with Cloverlay and (2)
his strong desire to go back to the midwest to continue his boxing career. He decided to leave
Philadelphia and return to Detroit where he did not box for a year. It was agreed by both Cloverlay
and Hutchins to dissolve the contract they had at that time. Hutchins began working out in the gym
where he started as a youngster.
On to the scene came a gentleman who tends to drop inland out of the gymnasiums in Detroit and
has been in boxing for 40 years, the well-known "Pops" Andy Brown. "Pops" is a matchmaker and
was doing some work with Hank Grooms of Kalamazoo. Brown and Grooms traveled to Canton, Ohio,
to seek information relative to the possibility of a show there and during the course of conversation
Brown mentioned Hutchins to Grooms. After hearing about Hutchins, Grooms gave Hutchins a call.
The call led to the signing of a contract between Hutchins and Grooms and a renewal of his
professional boxing career.
Under the management of Grooms, Hutchins first opponent was James Parks in Canton, Ohio. Parks
had never been stopped in his amateur or professional career. But there is always a first time for
everything. Parks was stopped by Hutchins in the ninth round. Then came the experiences and
once highly-respected threat in the light- heavyweight class, Roger Rouse. Rouse faced Hutchins in
a 10-round main event in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and lost on a decision. Hutchins then traveled to
Albuquerque, New Mexico, to work with Bob Foster, the light heavyweight champion of the world,
who was preparing to fight Mike Quarry. Upon his return to Kalamazoo, Hutchins was pitted against
Harold Carter in Detroit. Carter found himself helpless against the thunderous hands of Hutchins
and lost by a KO in the fourth round. The biggest challenge of Hutchins' career was yet to come. On
September 14, 1972, in Kalamazoo, Michigan, Hutchins was pitted against Eddie "Bossman" Jones,
the fifth ranked contender. Early in the sixth round Hutchins opened a cut over the right eye of
Jones but the fight was allowed to continue. In the eights round, Hutchins drove Jones to the ropes
with a score of right and left hands but due to Jones' experience and excellent defense boxing, he
was able to withstand the pressure. Hutchins won the bout handily on a unanimous decision.
What lies ahead for Hutchins? It is hard to speculate, but one thing is for sure: he is seeking every
opportunity to have a chance at the title.
