The San Francisco call., 1897-02-09
"MD" KEEPS THE BELT.
George LaWgne Gets the Decision From
Mcfarland in the Battle for the
Liqhtweiqht ChompionshIp.

NEW YORK, N. Y, Feb. S.-George
('Kid'0 Lavigne OF Saginaw, Mich. on
whose shoulders the mantle of light
weight champion fell recently, was called
on to defend his newly acquired title in a
twenty-five round bout with "Kid" Nc
Partland of this city tonight. Lavigne
got the decision after the full twenty-five
rounds had been fought. The champion
did all the leading from start to finish
and punched his man hard, although it
was very clean fight, without a trace of
blood. McPartland's awkward style made
it difficult for Lavigne to land his swing
ing blows on the jaw, but he kept the
local man strictly on the defensive.
McPartland's fast footwork and clever
ducking saved him several times. 1t was
very fast battle, as Lavigne cut out a
terrific pace, which he maintained to the
close. Mcfarland put up a good staying
fight, but he scarcely led, except at the
opening of a few rounds before he was
forced to resort TO saving tactics. The
of the Broadway Athletic Club tonight,
Notwithstanding the prices OF admission
had been raised to half again as much as
the ordinary figures.
Mcfarland had an advantage of nearly
six inches in height. and also had a
longer reach, but the Saginaw boys
friends were in no way doubtful of the re-
suit and very little Mcfarland money
was put up at odds of to 2.
The preliminary bout brought out Jack
Daily of Wilmington and Jack Burke of
Brooklyn, who were scheduled 10 60
twelve rounds at 13S pounds, and fought
to a draw.
The principals OF the main bout weighed
in at 3 clock. and Mcfarland barely got
inside the lr,it of 192 nOnpds vvhila
vigne scaled 1917 pounds. The Saginaw
lads seconds were Sam Fitzpatrick, Paddy
Purtell and Henry Pidgeon. McPartland's s
aiders were Jack Dougherty, Billy Hamil-
ton and Bob Clark.
The men shook hands at 10 o'clock. La
vigne started in with his customar vim
and quickly had Mcfarland busy avoid
ing his rushes. The local man was very
awkward, but managed to duck some
dangerous blows. Lavigue, however
laaded right and left on both sides of the
head and also put corking right on the
body, while McPartland's left landed on
the KIDS chest just once. Lavjgne kept
his man continually on tie run. Nc
Psrtland slipped to his hands and knees
twice in trying TO get away. Mcfarland
delighted his admirers in the third by put
ting straight left on the mouth and
right and left twice on both sides of the
head, while he managed to avoid La
vigne's rushes. The Saginaw Kid forced
Mac to the ropes several times in the
fourth and kept the local man busy with
foot work. Lavigne sent a couple of hot
ones in on the body, and Mac countered
with the left.
There was lots OF good fighting in the
next three rounds, and Lavigne opened
the seventh with two left swings on the
jaw and followed up with hard right ON
the body. Then Lavigne landed on the
body, nearly doubling Mac up, and came
back with an uppercut on the chin. La
vigne rushed furiouslY and Mac dropped
on his knees. Just as the bell rang Mac
landed straight left on the chin that
staggered Iavigne.
Mcfarland showed his left into
Lavlgne's face when they came up for the
ninth, but great right cross on the head
evened up matters for the Saginaw boy.
Alter Mac put a left on the nose
in the tenth Lavigne forced him
twice to the ropes and nearly finished
him with right on the jaw. Mcfarland
To- ked twice with the close of the eleventh, I,
but though Lavigne was doing all the
work he appeared very fresh and Kept up
the fuslllade in the twelfth. Mae rushed
In the thirteenth, but his effort only made
the Kid smile. Lavigne kept up the
herce attack anc Mac was forced to sprint.
Both put lefts on the mouth in the tif-
teenth, and Lavigne wound up with q
fearful body blow and quickly had Mac on
the defensive.
Plenty OF money exchanged hands at
this point in the betting that Mac wo uld
not last the twenty-five rounds. Mac had
plenty of work to save himself in the
nineteenth, but managed to land a right
swing on the ear. Lavigne's tremendous
exertions began to tell little bit on him
in the twenty-first.
In the twenty-second round Mac coun-
tered sharply and crossed his right once
but Lavigne nearlyfioored him with hard
swing just behind the jaw as the bell rang.
Mac took lot of body punishment IN
the next two rounds, but Lavigne could
not reach the jaw. Lavigne rushed like a
tiger in the last round, but Mac met him
with couple of stiff lefts. Lavigne was
desperate but bit wild, and Mac de-
Tended himself well and STAYED to the end.
The referee gave La7igne the decision.