The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-06-02
KID" LAVIGNE

Gave TDlCIs" barge Decisive Heating
Inst NIEht--The American OutclalSsd
the Brltlsher.
LONDON, June 1.-"KId" Lavlgne
fought ''DIck" Burge this evening be-
fore the National Sporting Club for the
international lightweight champion
ship Of the world, purse OF 200 pounds
tS3,5OO) and side bet Of 500 pounds
ts2,5OO). Laylgne won in eighteen
rounds. The fight was to be limited 70
twenty rounds. Every seat Tor the
event was sold several weeks ago, ana
the National Sporting Club was very
much crowded Tonight with fashion
able audience to witness the night.
Burge was q strong favorlte and his
friends were willing to lay odds OF two
to one on him 20 any amount. As
matter OF fact, fancy bets were leld IN
many instances at much greater odds,
When the pair entered the arena and
shook hands Burgess superiority In sta
ture and rench were specially noticeable:
Both men were well inside the stipulated
weight, which was 1913 pounds. La
yigne looked well and confident OF vic
tory, while 1t was generally conceded
that Burge must win quickly or he
would be liable to be worn down.
Strange 10 Gay though, there was no
wearing down In the case, as the Yankee
led from start to finish and won IN
romp,
There were loud shouts 10 back Burge
as they faced each other, but these were
suddenly bushed when Is was seen that
the Kid meant to take the battle right
into the cnemy's camp. He rushed and
drove Burge before him, planting his
left on the stomach and swinging his
right on the ribs. Burge cOuntered with
his left, but there was no force In his
blows and LaYigne did not seem To mind
them, when the first round ended the
betting ceased and every ono seemed to
realize that BuTge had run foul Of a
cyclone. Burgess admirers were simply
paralyZed aud even his seconds were Mt
a loss how to advise him. The features
OF the two following rounds were similar
to the first Lavigne took them with
rush and never gave Burgc time to con-
slider what was best to be done. At the
end of the third round there were many
offers to back the American at odds 0f
three to one, but II was vain attempt
to hedge lost money.
For twelve rounds I.avigne beat tor
rible tattoo OF Burgess body and ribs.
He then altered his tactics, and tried for
the face OF his opponent. This gave
Burge n chance and he did better than
Mt any other period In the fight. One Of
his left handlers landed straight on the
Kids nose spurtlng the blood. The
Tnglishmen then began to hope that
Burge might yet pull through but La
vlgne quickly dispellsd the Illusion.
He rushed Burge around the ring with
double fury. His blows seemed TO dou-
bic up and almost kill BurBe
And now Lavigne was able easily tn
reach his opponents hend and face,
Every blow left Its mark and made
Burge weaker on his pins He strug-
gled along. however. to the sixteenth
round, when LavIEne landed two swing
ing knock down hlows nn the side Of
Burgess head. He was only just able
TO get on his feet for the next round
IaviEnc gave him terrific LETT handed
punch on the stomach, and as his head
came forward, he swung his right on the
head. Burge fell iiat on his face. II
was not a knock -Out blow, but Burge
wnB practically beaten and. In order 70
prevent any serious accident, the referee
stopped the fight
Bllrge was awfully punished about
the stOmack chest and rlbl while La-
vigne was scarcely marked.