The San Francisco call., 1897-09-11
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in the belief that Ryan can do Mccoy in
finish fight. In the battle between Nc
Coy and RYAN before the Empire Athletic
Club al Maspeth, l.. l., on March 22 1896,
IN which Mccoy Knocked out Ryan In the
fifteenth round, RYAN rushed Mccoy all
over the ring in the first five rounds.
In view of the fact that Walcott and
Lavlgne have signed articles Tor twenty
round contest under The auspices OF the
Occidental Club in this City the story OF
their battle at Ma.peth. L. l., in Decem-
ber, 1895, will of interest.
1t was agreed between the lads that the
decision was to go to Lavlgne II he should
be on his feet at the end OF the hfteenth
round. The colored boxer was iavoTite
at 10 to 6. 1t was stipulated IN the arucles
that the men should weigh in at 133
pounds at the ringside. The purse was
the gate. Both lads weighed pound or
so under the limit of 1873 pounds. Wal
colt was attended by Tom 0 Rourke and
George Dixon, who will second him In his
coming battle. Lavigne was seconded by
Sam Fitzpatrick, Teddy Alexander and
Tommy Ryan.
In the first and second rounds the honors
were easy, both men doing work OF the hurri-
can order
In the third round Walcott led with his left
on the jaw and then landeu a smashing right
on the ribs. Walcott put in hot left on the
rips. Walcott pc ppered Lavigne again on the
ribs, and Lavigne retaliated on the head.
Laylgne started to force the battle and landed
couple OF terrific let's the heart and
smashing right on the face.
Toward the end of the fourth round Lavlgne
appeared rather tired.
In the fifth round the colored boy neatly
closed Lavigne's left eve with hot right
handler. Lavigne rushed Waicott to the ropes,
but the colored boy quickly woke uD and
landed right and left three four times on
the face and eye. Lavigne rallied and had
Walcott on the ropes when the gong sounded.
Walcott landed lightly on the face In the
seventh round, and after taking hot right
on the face with smile, rushed at Lavigne
but the wnite lad was too clever and slipped
well. Wacott put IN couple OF eye-binders,
but the * ID" only grinned
During the eighth round Walcott sent in
some hot body blows that made the Kid vince.
The Michigander kept landing his right on
the head, but did not seem 10 bother Walcott
terrific right swung in the ninth round
nearly severed Law gne's ear, which was hang
ing half off. 1t seemed TO pain the KID"
and he adopted defensive tactics, cIinchlng
before the bell sounded.
Lavigne in the tsnth sent in hard bow on
the ri BIS with the left, but Walcott had the
better of the exchanges that followed.
In the eleventh Lavigne adopted saving
tactics and cleverly eluded Joes rushes, Wal
cott could not get inside OF the Kids" rusnes,
try as he would.
dition of things. In q hot rally The "Kid'
twice rushed Walcott to the ropes. Lavigne
had all the better of the round and ms sup
porters went wild with enthusiasm. Both
men were tired at the conclusion of the round.
Walcott started the thirteenth round by
putting in a sounding right on the riLs. but
the kid" sent in his left the ch1i and
| staggere the colored boy. Heavy exchanges
followed and Lavigne twice forced the black
fellow 10 the ropes. Lavigne swung his right
on Walcotts jaw and had the negro very
tired when the gong sounded.
Walcott rushed in the fourteenth round, but
his blows were cleverly stopped. Walcott made
terrific attempt at a rght-hand uppercut
and fairly threw himself fat on the floor In
his effort. Lavigne then went for his man
right and left hammer-anu-tongs He pum-
melled Walcott all over the ring and almost
had the black fellow out WaIcott cinched
and the gong saved him.
In thetifteenth round Walcott came up very
weak and Lavigne swung his right twice on
the neck A straigh left on the jaw staggere
the darky. Another left on the neck nearly
sent Walcott to the ropes.
The scene when the bell rang ana the ref
cree pronounced Lavigne the winner Was on e
OF great enthusiasm. The crowd clambered
into the ring and congratulated the winner,
who fully deserved it, having fought one OF
the grandest battles recorded under the Mar
quis of Queensberry rules.