The record-union., 1895-12-03
WALC0TT-L T-LAVIGNE FIGHT.
A LARGE CROWD WITNE ESSES a
GAME BATTLE.
The ''Saginaw Kid'' Given the De-
ciSion at the End of the Eif-
teenth Round.

MASPETH q. j., Dec. 2.-The fif-
teen-round contest between Joe Wal
cott, Tom ORourke's colored protege,
and George Lavigne, better known as
the Saginaw Kid" attracted one Of
the largest crowds to the Empire Ath-
letic Club that has been seen since the
club was organized. Both men are un-
beaten lightweights, and the decision
practically decided the lightweight
championship. By previous arrange
ment between the lads, the decision
was to 60 to LaVigne If he should be
Cn his feet at the end of the fifteenth
round. The colored boxer was faVOrite
at 10 to Is on Lavigne.
The opening bout was to be between
Solly Smith and Jerry Marshall, but at
the last moment it was announced that
as Marshall weighed in three pounds
oJ eIweisht, Smith refused 10 fight, and
Casper Leon of New York and Joe Elms
of Boston (cOlored) were substituted in
d SiX-round bout, Leon getting the de-
cision in the fourth round on account
of the fouling tactics of Elms.
Walcott was the first Of the stars to
enter the ring. He was attended by
Tom O'Rourke and George Dixon. La
vigne was loudly cheered as he clam
onGed by Sam Fitzpatrick, Teddy Alex
ander and Tommy Ryan. Both lads
weighed a pound or so under the limit
OF l33 pounds.
Round 1-Walcott opened up with a
right lightly on the ear. Lavigne led
with the left, but the colored lad
stepped away smiling. Lavigne sent a
geod right on the ribs, and Walcott
retaliated with his left on the body.
Lavigne 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 blow on the neck. Futile
sparring followed, and again Walcott
got in on the neck. Lavigne fell short,
and WalcOtt again got his left on the
| neck. rafting exchange followed,
but Lavigne's blows did not seem to
bother the colored man any. Lavigne
forced the fighting for a time, but Wal
colt got in left uppercut.
Round 3-Walcott led with his left
on the jaw, getting away from the re-
turn. Again Walcott reached the jaw,
and then landed a smashing right on
the ribs. WalcOtt put in a hot left on the
ribs, and Lavigne retaliated on the
head. Lavigne started to force the bat
tie, and landed a couple of terrific lefts
/ on the heart and a smashing right in
the face
Round 4-After some sparring Wal
colt led with his left but Lavigne got
! his jaw out of the way. Lavigne landed
I his right on the ribs and his left on the
head. A 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
hrr+ pa yyrpT Oc
sent a hard right into the ribs, taking
a left in the same place from Walcott
/ The colOred boy neatly closed Lavigne' 8
! left eye with a hot right handler. La
! viene rushed Walcott to the ropes, but
! the coIored boy quickly woke up and
! landed right and left three or four times
/ OF the face and eye. LaVigne rallied
and had Walcott on the ropes when the
/ bell rang.
Round 6-Walcott landed both hands
| on the chest. Lavigne kept trying fol
! the head, but his blows did not seem tC
affect Walcott much. Lavigne sent in
! his right on the neck, repeated a mo-
ment later on the jaw, and bringing
Walcott to his knees. Lavigne landed
! his right under the ear, and had Wal
colt on the ropes when the bell rang
Rounds and s resulted in some hot
blows. honors being about even.
Round 9-After a lot of fiddling Wal
| colt put his right twice on the Kids
face Walcott tried an uppercut, but
missed and took left swing on the
law as he turned. A terrible right
swing nearly severed Lavigne's ear,
which was hanging half off. It seemed
to pain the Kid, and he adopted defens-
| i've tactics clinching before the bell
sounded
Round 1O.-Walcott's left fell short
but q moment later he succeeded in
sending in a right and left on the sides
or the head. LaVigne sent in a hard
| blow on the ribs with the left, but Wal
colt had the best of the exchanges that
followed. Lavigne was putting up a
strong and game fight, but Walcott ap-
peared to have the advantage.
In the llth, 18th and 18th rounds
there was heavy slugging, the colored
boy getting the worst of it.
! Round 14-Walcott rushed but his
blows were cleverly stopped. Walcott
made a terrible attempt at a right hand
uppercut. and fairly threw himself fiat
on the floor in his efforts. Lavigne
then went for his man right and left
/ hammer and tongs. He pummeled
WaIcott all over the ring, and almost
had the black fellow out Walcott
clinched and the bell saved him.
Round f.,-Waleott came up very
weak. and Lavigne swung his right
twice on the neck. A straight left on
the jaw staggered the coon. Another
on the neck nearly sent Walcott TO the
ropes.
The scene when the bell rang. and
when the referee, according to agree
ment. pronounced Lavigne the winner
was one of great enthusiasm. Young
Critic got in the ring and threw up his
hat and the crowd clambered into the
ring and congratulated the winner, who
i f11Ilr daserund IL having fought a era n 6