The sun., 1897-05-01
LAVIGNE STILL CHAMPION.
EDDIE CONNOLLY STOPPED BY HIM
IN ELEVEN HOT ROUNDS.


bOFtuk bhCuth' bthNy hlttlnB,
ana superior strenEth-Tho Defeated Man
Puts Up Great Battle for six Rounds.
George Iavigno of Saginaw is still tho undis.
puted light weight champion Of tho world. In a
glove fight roplete with interesting features, no
succeeded in stopping Eddie Connolly OF St.
John, n b.. in eleven rounds in the ring of tho
Broadway A. c. last night. Unlike several as.
pirng pugilists who have confronted tho cham
pion In tho past, Connolly showed no inclination
TO sprint around the ring In an effort to stay
through tho twenty-five rounds, but stood up
like man who was anxious to win IL possible or
be dccisvGly beaten.
1t is an undeniable fact that for tho first six
rounds Connolly put up tho hottest argument
which has ever been experienced by Lavgnc.
He outboxed the Saginaw wonder and punished
him severely in that space Of time, and those
who did not know the phenomenal strength and
pugnacity of Lavigne believed that he would at
last be compelled to bite the dust. But ms tho
battle progressed the old story OF fighter
clashing with a game boxor was vividly illus.
tratod, and as the end drew near the triumph of
brute strength over science was apparent TO tho
large crowd.
Lavigno did not alter his well-known methods
one particle. He bored in, as has been his Gus.
tom ever since he first came out. and though he
received punching that many pugilists would
not relish, he never lot up In his vicious attack
until Connolly was hopelessly beaten. Tho
New Brunswick man clearly demonstrated that
he is very clever two handed boxer and plucky
almost to u fault, for in the last round, when ho
was repeatedly knocked down by wicked smashcs
on the jaw he stubbornly refused TO take ad-
vantage Of tho usual time limit and staggered
quickly to his feet. Had he used better judg.
mcnt, he would surely have been able TO
tinue when the bell for the twelfth round rang,
but even in such an event there was absolutely
no chance for him to win. This point was readily
appreciated by his seconds who prevented him
from sustaining further injury by throwing up
the SPONGE
Lavigno never fought better in his life. He
was trained to the hour possessed the strength
Of a lion, and put much steam behind his
blows that 1t is wonder how his opponent
stood the gaf SO long. That he is fully capable OF
defending the title OF champion for some time
to come was the consensus Of opinion among all
who saw the contest.
The big arena was not packed from pit to
DOME" but there was large attendance and
rs the ticket rates were above the average the
winner must have received the bulk of a protita-
bic percentage. AS usual the referee was Dick
Roche, who probably realizing the importance
of the big fight, took off his coat and olciated
in his shirt sleeves for the first time on record.
Lon Deckwith. colOrcd, OF Cleveland was
pittcd against George Ryan OF Milwaukee in tho
preliminary OF twelve rounds at l54 pounds.
Ryan was substituted for George Bycrs OF Bos-
ton, who sprainod his hand in training; the other
cay. Beckwth concluded that the ucst way to
win was TO sail in at the jump. So he began
swinging al close quarters and 20; in several
and frce-hand hitting, however. the Milwaukee
man demonstrated great strength. Ryan was
so shifty on his feet III the second round that his
opponents swings Landed on air, Ryan mean
while throwing in skilifully directed JabS at long
range.
cOlorud mans jaw with a right t.hander in tho
third. But Beckwith cvened this up with II
wind-condensing body smash and rough clinch,
IA which Ryan was pushed TO the floor. This
bit ot poiitcness was 80 vigorously Missed TINT
the master Of ceremonies requested the crowd
Another heavy punch in the stomach made
Ryan retreat all through the fourth round as il
decided to show his real speed. He quickly
forced Ryan 10 the ropes and with q couple OF
rallied and put in some jolts that were secml-
ingly, Responsible for let down in Beckwiths
Beckwith's blows were very effective in the
sixth. 50 much SO that Ryan kept on the jump
and simply ricd To get out OF harm way. The
rushed in like Tiger and soon knocked Ryan
down. The latter took nine seconds to arise,
and then, TO the surprise of the crowd, he landed
a couple OF desperate right handcrs on the jaw.
Bcckwith was sroggy and the crowd yelled ike
madmen There was such n tumult that ii was
with difficulty the men heard the sound Of the
gong ,. -. ,, ..,..,
sports cried as the eighth opened; The Miiwau-
kcc fighter, though clearly tired, sized up his
rival for few seconds and then. after an ex
squareIy on tho point OF The jaw. There was
victory IN that punch. for the Clcvclandcr
fell, his head striking the padded floor with
bang.
BSdlam wasn't in it with the cheering OF the
crowd as lteleree Roche slowly counted Off tho
seconds. and when he threw up his hands as "a
signal that tho coiorcd pugilist had been
raised. Bcckwith was literally dragged to his
corner, where ho revived in a few moments.
Ryan as he left the ring and made his way to his
room. The time of the round was Just IL seconds.
The crowd. which contained all OF tho noted
sporting men hereabouis, now began TO discuss
the coming event in which the lightweight
championship wou Id he involved. l.avigne was
the fayortc IN the betting, the prevailing figures
being 100 TO 20. Sam Fitzpatrick, his manager
and trainer, was SO conidcnt OF success that he
men. Those who pinned their money on Con-
molly chances did so with the hope that he
would a. repeat ms FORMER acnieyemGnis oy WIN.
had won nearly all OF his fights quickly by aS-
grcssi irencss that was diiiicult task TO Offset.
But they also realized that If the battle went
beyond The tenth round 1t might go hard with
their man.
visited England last year and signally defeated
Tom Causer in four rounds. Bat his sensational
ar1M Wh 'hS hat pSK
practically had Burgc where no wanted him,
but the fight wHs % ended r"teiy by the cTb for some
On coming to this country. therefore,
Lnvigno. who recently received tho lightweight
championship bolt from Jack McAuliffe. The
match was readily made and created widespread
interest. The fact that l.avigne. while abroad,
did not put Burge TO sleep until tho
eighteenth round MAS used All argument in
favor OF an exciting fight, and when the time
came for the pugilis,s 10 step into their corners
last night there was considerable speculation as
TO the outcome.
Both fighters were well fixed for seconds.
Connolly had three well-known pugilists and his
manager behind him, Joe Choynski, Dick Moore.
MYSTERIOUS Billy Smith. and Prof, Jimmy Kelly.
The lightweight champion wants were looked
after by Sam Fitzpatrick Benny Murphy. Jim
Ryan, ANA Tom Tracey, When Connolly entered
the ring ho was carefully sized up by the critics.
He was taller than Layigno By several inches
and did not display the stocky, muscular de-
yelopment of the champion. But both hc and
his seconds were exceedingly confident. lnvigne
never looked better and impatiently waited Tor
tho sound OF the first bell. They were 10 fight
twenty-five rounds at 1873 pounds, and began
their work at 0:4O O'Clock.
FIRST RouSD.-They exchanged lefts tho head
without moments delay. Eddie put In another loft
pilI he npAan md ANyl IA lur url ruht n fha