The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-08-11
A FIFTY-ROUND DEAW.
Jim Burge, the Iron Man, and Billy
Lavigne Well Matched.


Lavigne Well Matched.
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 10.-Jim Burge, the iron
man, OF Australia, and Billy Lavigne, of Sagi-
nav, Mich, light weights, met in d finish fight
for 81 $50 at the Pacific Athletic club tonight.
Prank Purcell, of Salt Lake, and Martin
Mulverly, of Haywards. CAL, were announced
for a ten-round go previous to the finish
fight Purcell knocked his man out in the third
round. 1t was announced before the contest
that the La Blanche swing had been barred, yet
Purcell tried it twice in the third round, caus-
ing tumult that was only quieted by the police
entering the ring. Referee Allen ordered the
fight to continue, with the result that Mulverly
was knocked out and the referee gave the de-
cision to Purcell, as he stated. because OF the
conduct OF Mulverly's seconds in an attempt to
assault him. Manager Harrison, however, over
ruled this decision, holding that the contest
was not to the satisfaction OF the directors.
1t was $3.50 before the fight between Lavigne
and Burge commenced. Mike Sullivan was
referee. Lavigne had q great sdvantage In
height and reach, and duriag the first
three rounds Burgess efforts to land were
not successful. In the third round Lavigne
caught Burge with both hands and nearly drop
ped him, but in the fourth and fifth rounds
Burge scored some staggering right-handers on
the jaw. From the sixth to the ninth rounds
Burge shaped up better. He would
drop his head and take Lavigne's half
arm joints in the face at close quarters
without return, but would swing his right on
the head or kidneys as Layigne got away. The
next five rounds were slow. Lav}gne avoided
close quarters and neither man had gained any
particular advantage The next shree rounds
were little warmer. Burgess ribs were marked
and he had lost a tooth.
The seventeenth to the twenty first were much
like the preceding rounds. From the twenty
first Burge went in desperately, halt Lavigne's
stiffness saved the latter mach punish
ment. The contest looked No nearer at
the conclusion OF the twenty-third round than at
the commencement. The only thing to vary
the monotony OF the next four rounds was La
vigne's gallop around the ring ID the twenty
seventh. with Burge in hot pursuit. Burge ives
getting tired, while Lavigne's confidence was
on the increase.
The twenty ninth and thirty frat rounds were
marked by some hot exchanges. In the thirty
fourth Lavigne caught Burge fos one Of the
hardest blows of the fight, left arm Jolt
on the face, sending the Australians to the ropes.
From the thirty-seyenth to the thirty-ninth
rounds Lavigne scored some hard left drives on
Burgess jaw He was depending wholly on his
left. Lavigne injured his right hand early in
the fight. The close of the thirty-ninth was
marked By hot exchanges. honors about even.
In the forty-first round Lavigne tried the
pivot blow, but did not land The spectators
cried "Fou, As the referee had sEnounced he
would bar tina, blow. The referee ordered the
men to continue to fight, however The con-
test proceeded slowly, and at liza. the men had
fought forty two rounds.
At the end OF the fiftisth rouud the referee
stated there was no pros pect of a anish and de-
ciared the contest a draw. Owing t. the fact that
Lavigne injured his right hand the contest had
resolved itself into al exhibition of his clever
ness at jabbing with his left and getting away.
Burge made several desperate efforts during the
contest, but was handicapped By the Saginaw
mans height and reach.