Leo Bens
Name: Leo Bens
Alias: Butte Wildcat
Hometown: Butte, Montana, USA
Birthplace: Iron River, Michigan, USA
Died: 1987-12-14 (Age:97)
Pro Boxer: Record
Manager: Henry Irslinger (known as a wrestler)
The January 10, 1916 (p. 4) Brattleboro Daily Reformer reported that Bens was a Butte copper miner, and had had less than three years ring experience:
"Bens first demonstrated his strength when he was working in a shaft of one of the Butte mines. This mine was just starting, and the shaft was down fifty feet when an accident occurred to the ladder, and the miners found themselves trapped unless some one could climb the hemp rope that swung from a timber at the top. Bens essayed the task and climbed hand over hand to the surface, where he soon procured help for his companions.
A week later Bens underwent a severe test for his courage. He was then working for the Anaconda company in one of the 'fire mines' of the Butte district, in which the heat was intense. In some way Bens' partner became overheated and fainted in a tunnel at a spot where the heat was so great it was dangerous even to falter. Three miners went to the assistance of the unfortunate man and were forced to retreat by the awful heat. Nothing daunted, Bens darted into the tunnel and at the risk of his own life half dragged and half carried the miner to a place of safety. Later Bens collapsed and was in the hospital a week, but he had saved his partner's life."
1914-06-18: Bens EXH KO-4 Charlie Norvall at Butte, MT, USA
Unconfirmed Bouts:
- Bens KO-4 White Hope Gray
- Bens KO-1 John Scahill
- Bens KO-2 White Hope Gray
- Bens KO-3 White Hope Gray
- Bens LKO-3 Bob Moha at Youngstown, OH, USA (John Benz. Leo Bens?)
- Bens LKO-9 Wild Bill Reed (1919-1920)
According to the pedigree records on the Family Library website maintained by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Leo Bens, Sr. died on December 14, 1987 in Billings. The Social Security Death Records database on the same website lists Bens' birthday as March 5, 1881. However, the pedigree records say that Bens was born March 1890 and an obituary says that he was 97 when he died.