The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-10-12
Whirlwind Bag-Punching and
Rope-Skipping Between
Bouts.
TRAINER SAN FITZPATRICK'S LETTER.
Fe Says the Battle Will Be Furious
One and Will Not Last
Twenty Rounds.

DO you want to have a look at Lavigne,
the great little fighter. when he is extend
ing himself i'll front OF a punching bag
asked john Herget-"Young MITCHELL
yesterday afternoon of CALL representa-
tive.
An affirmative answer was quickly given
and then rhe president of the OcciIen tai
Club pointed toward handsome convey
ance and invited the newsgatherer to step
IN and make himself sat home"
Behind two fast trotters Herget, the re-
porter and two sportSmen from Corvallis,
Or, nioyed a most pleasant drive TO The
training quarters OF the great little fighter
Bankers Six-miIe House
Lavigne and his brother were found
resting on the veranda OF the hotel
Blanken, after having freely satisfied
the cravings OF the inner man, and with
a warm shake OF the hand and Welcome
'hOw-do.y ou-do," the president OF the
Occidental Club and his friends were
greeted by the man who will try con-
illusions with the colored gladiator, Joe
WaIcott, on the evening of the 29th inst
at Mechanics Pavilion.
Time for bag-smashing having arrived,
Lavigne repaired to the attic over the sa-
loon.
sented magnificent physique. His skin
looked healthy and he perspired freely
after each round OF bag-punching
Young Mitchell held the watch, and at
the call OF time Lavigne went to work with
a Will He smashed the oval six minutes
without rest, at rapid rate and then,
taking one minute rest between rounds,
he fought the pigskin" nine hard rounds,
using right and left with equal freedom
apd force.
He then skipped the rope and took a
turn at the puiIeys. All present agreed
that he was the quickest little fellow on
his feet they had ever seen. Altogether
Lavigne worked hard for one horr. then
he was bbed down by his brother until
hi' skin was red and as dry as a Done.
The puglllst said that ii nothing unfore-
seen happens between now and the 18th
inst. he will enter the ring in condition to
fight Tor any mans life. He now weighs
134 pounds. His measurements are:
CHEST, IS inches: waist. 81 inches; neck,
1512 inches; cali. 10 inches; reach 81
incnes; biceps, - inches; forearm, l2]%
inches; wrist IA inches; thigh, 2O%
inches.
Apropos of the great battle between
Lavtgne ana Walcoti, the following letter
flom Lavlgne's old manager and trainer,
Sam Fitzpatrick, Will interest the admir-
erS OF tlStlC sport:
NEW YORK n. Y, Oct. 4. 1897.
To the Sporting Editor Of "The san Francisco
CCu,' san francisco, CGi.-pEAR SIR: Comply
ing with your REQ uest to furnish the readers OF
HE ALL with my opinion as to how Lavigne
and WaIcott viii tight in their coming ma tch,
Will say tina l am led to do so by my friend
ship for you alone.
Lavignc as a fighter is the greatest 133-
pound man OF his time. lie is very strong,
game as a pebble, an aggressive fighter,
can take and give any amount of pun
ishmtnt and can easily get down to the Ii ht-
weight limit without weakening him -elf. In
reining he IS faithful worker. The only
trouble trainer will find with him is 10 pre-
vent b Is doing 100 much work.
Unlike most fighters, his early lie stands
him in good stead. He had to get out when
quite young and gain MS own livelihood. He
was industrious, frugal never dissipated, aud
on his own account, and on account OF his
COCA mother, took exceedingly good care OF
himself and did not acquire abits like many
others, that would have tended to weaken mis-
constitution further along in life. He Is al
ways, therefore. in good physical condition,
and when ne meets WalcOtt, if ne has been
properly trained, the lucky sports VINO witness
the bout Will see the greatest fighting machine
OF the present time al 1873 pounds, his proper
weight
Had l been making the present match for
him would not have stood for the weight
being one ounce over 1873 pounds. At this
weight Layigne defeated Walcott at Mespeth
after the greatest and most even-up fight ever
seen in this or any other country. The extra
two pounds may not be the means OF bringin.
defeat to Lavigne, but l look upon il as too
much OF handicap to give to such a great
fighter WaicotI. Wa.cott is certainly a
good fighter, trains well takes good care of
himself and is always fairly conditioned. ANY
man who meets MIN a. his weight viii know
al or it is over that he has been to a fight.
Like L1vigne, Nslcott is two-handed
fighter, and, like Layigne, is willing to take a
punch in order 10 land one. They are each
clever two-handcd fighters novel in their
me thods with both hands, aud viii give the
man who pays to see them a run for his
money. AS soon the gong sounds in The
first round they Will go at each other. There
VIII be plenty OF fighting. As long as it lasts
other and unless they have changed their tao
ties the go will prove fast and furious and the
spectators, most of the me, VIII be carried
away with the excitement consequent.
have ne idea that the ii htwlIl last twent y
rounds. 1t seems to me matter of impossi-
billty that two such aggressive fighters, gated
much alike, G ,uId last that leng h OF time
Their fight at Mespeth lasted fifteen rounds.
have never in all my experience al the ring
side seen anything quite so furious. | saw
Wslcott time and again strike IaVigne full in
the face a blow that il might be thong 1T would
split MIN in two. 1t never seemed 10 phase
Lav.gne, who would shake his head ike a
bulldog and deliver q return blow just as ard
Both are great body punishers will say
this for Lay !gne, that the men who have met
him in the ring have never been DESTROYS OF
meeting him again-I mean down deep in
their hearts. Ii Walcott had not Layigne at
his own terms in the coming engagement
would not except him in this, what might up
pear 10 some sweeping statement. though
! have a very high regard tor Walcott as a
frhter.
francisco that unless something has occurred
{gi;hin the last couple of weeks OF which ]
have not been made aware that in the La
ktigue-W alcott contest they Will have q treat
- orth going miles to witness. Yours truly.
SAM FITZPATRICK.