The San Francisco call., 1895-12-03
WON BY THE ''K|D, "
Rattling Battle Between
Lavigne and Joe
Walc0tt.
FIGHT OF LIGHTWEIGHTS
The Saginaw Lad Held Out for
Fifteen Rounds and Won
the Decision.
GIVE AND TAKE TO THE CLOSE.
During the Lively Scrimmages, How
ever, the Champion Came Very
Near Losing an Ear.

Kid" attracted one of the largest crowds
to the Empire Athletic Club that has been
seen since the club was opened.
Both men we're unbeaten lightweights,
and the decision practically decided the
lightweight championship. By a previous
arrangement between the lads the decision
was to go to Lavigne if he should be on
his feet at the end of fifteen rounds. The
colored boxer was favorite at 10 to 6. The
opening bout was to be between Solly
Smith and Jerry Marshall, but at the last
moment it was announced that as Mar
shall weighed in three pounds overweight
Smith refused to fight, and Caspar Leon
of New York and Joe Elms of Boston
(colored) were substituted in a six-round
bout.
1t was 9 o'clock when Elms and Leon
got together. Tim Hurst was referee.
Leon commenced the attacks, but for few
moments the colored lad held his own.
Toward the end of the first round Leon,
however, fought the Boston boy all over
the ring knocking him to the floor. The
second and third rounds were in Leon's
favor and showed that Elms was out
classed
Leon slipped IN the fourth round and
Elms made a desperate attempt to foul
him but was prevented by the referee. I'M
mediately after Elms repeated his fouling
tactics and the referee stopped the bout
after one minute and 3S seconds, awarding
the decision to Leon.
Walcott was the first OF the stars to en-
ter the ring. He was attended by Tom
O'Rourke and George Dixon. Lavigne was
loudly cheered as he clambered through
the ropes. He was seconded by Sam
Fitzpatrick, Teddy Alexander and Tommy
Ryan. Both lads weigh pound or so un
der the limit of 133 pounds.
Round 1-Walcott opened up with a right
lightly on the ear. Lavigne led with his left,
but the colored lad stepped away smiling. La
vigne put in his right lightly on the wind.
Lavigne sent good right on the ribs and Wal
cott retaliated with his left on the body. La
yigne sent in hot right on the jaw, but did
not phase Walcott. Lavigne fell short with
left lead for the ribs.
Round 2-Walcott was the first to lead with
q blow on the neck. Futile sparring followed
and again Wslcott got in on the neck, Lavigne
fell short and Walcott again got his left on the
neck. A rattling exchange followed, but La
vignes blows did not seem to bother the col
ored lad any. Lavigne forced the fighting Tor
q time, DuL w alCOII got IN q lelL upperCuJ De-
fore the end of the round.
Round 3-Walcott led with his left on the
jaw, getting away from the return again. Wal
colt reached the jaw and then landed a smash
ing right on the ribs. Walcott put in hot
left on the ribs and Lavigne retaliated on the
head. Lavigne started to force the battle and
landed couple OF terrific let's on the heart
and smashing right in the face.
Round AFTER some sparring Walcott led
with his left, but Lavigne got his jaw
out OF the way. Lavigne landed his right
on the ribs and his LETT on the head. couple
OF hot rallies followed and Lavigne appeared
rather tired but was smiling at the end of the
round. The referee cautioned Walcott about
not breaking away from clinches.
Round 5-They got together quickly, but
exchanges were light. Lavigne sent hard
right into the ribs, taking a left in the same
place from Walcott. The colored boy neatly
closed Lavigne's left eye with hot right
handler. Lavigne rushed Walcott to the ropes
but the coored boy quickly woke up and land
ed right and left three or four times on the
face and eye. Lavgne rallied and had Walcott
on the ropes when the bell rang.
Round 6-walcott landed both hands on
the chest. Lavigne kept trying for the head,
but his blows did not seem to affect Walcott
much. Lavigne sent in his right on the neck,
repeated moment later on the jaw and bring
ing Walcott to his knes Lavigne landed his
right under the ear and had Walcott on the
ropes when the bell rang.
Round 7-Walcott landed lightly on the face
and after taking hot right in the face with a
smile rushed at Lavigne but the white lad was
too clever and slipped we'll Lavigne rushed,
and slipping came to his knees. Walcott put
in couple of eye-binders, but the '.Kid"
only grinned as he lodged the rushes that
followed.
Round S-Walcott led with his left on the
jaw and a moment after an uppercut with the
right. Walcott rushed but the ''Kld" clinched,
and on breaking away the negro sent his right
in the wind. Walcott sent in some hot body
blows that made the kid vince. The Michi-
gan boy kept landing his right on the head,
but did not seem to bother Walcott.
Round S-After lot of folding Walcott put
his right twice on the kids face Walcott
tried an uppercut but missed and took left
swing on the jaw as he turned. A terrific right
swing nearly severed Lavigne's ear, which was
hanging half off. 1t seemed to pain the "Kid"
and he adopted defensive tactics, clinching be-
fore tn bell sounded
Round 10-Walcotts left fell short but a
moment later he succeeded in sending in
right and left on the sides of the head. Layigne
sent in a hard blow on the ribs with the left,
but Walcott had the best of the exchanges
that followed. Lavigne was putting up a
strong and game fight, but Walcott appeared to
have the advantage.
Kound IL They exchanged lefts .and
Lavigne clinched. Lavigne adopted saving
tactics, and ceverly eiuded Joes rushes
Lavignes ear commenced to bleed afresh, and
his face and chest were covered with blood.
Walcott could not get inside the "Kid's"
guard in this round try as he would
Round 12-Walcott started with the left on
the 'Kids" damaged ear. In a hot rally the
"Kid" rushed Walcott to the ropes. The
"Kid" slipped to his knees in a rush, but
quickly recovered, and again forced the BLACK
to the ropes. Lavigne had all the best O: the
round, and his supporters went wild with
enthusiasm. Both men were tired at the end
OF the round.
Round 13-Walcott put sounding right on
the ribs, but the kid sent in his left on the
chin and staggered the colored boy. Heavy
exchanges followed and Lavigne twice forced
the black fellow to the ropes. Lavigne swung
his right on Walcott's jaw and had the negro
very tired when the bell rang.
Round 14-Walcott rushed, but his blows
were cleverly stopped. Walcott made terrific
attempt at right-hand uppercut and fairly
threw himself fat on the floor in his effort.
Lavigne then went for his man right and left,