The herald., 1898-11-26
THE KID FROM SAGINAW
STANDS UP WITH A MAN FROM
THE ANTIPoDES
NEITHER PUG WAS FL00RED
Lavigne Takes the Decision After
Twenty Rounds for Doing Most
of the Leading
Press Special Wire

Associated PreSS Opecidi Niio
PAVILION, SAN FRANCISCO, Nov
o5-Georre Lavigne gained the deeisloK
over Tom Tracy tonight at the end OF
twentv-round fight at l42 pounds or under
Tbe fighting was clever and interesting
shrouphout. but lacked the excitement
which usually accompanies contest De
: tween two such exponents OF pugllism. La
yigne did decidedly the main work, being
aggressive in every round, forcing Tracy
about the ring and compelling him to use
ali his ceverness and shiftiness OF foot to
hyoid the little champions rushes. Tracy
Ala not seem to be at all chagrined over the
adverse decision and took it all good-natur'
edly
The crowd was as large as any that has
assembled in Woodward's pavilion since the
Wolcott- Green fight, probably 6O00 persons
being present.
When the preliminary was called the pa
Vilion was packed with 5000 people. The
nreliminary between S. Smith and Joe Bell
f;chtweishts, was stopped by the police II
the third round. The contest became
slucoinc match. and to avoid possible in
iurv to one of the contestants the ponce
ordered the referee to stop it. 1t was de
clared draw.
At 9:lO Lavigne entered the ring, accom-
panied by Bill Lavigne. Young Mitchell
and Tim McGrath. Tracy followed quickly
with his seconds, Al Smith, Dewitt Van
court and Walker.
The men stripped in good condition, La
vigne weighing about 1876 pounds and Tracy
l42. Lavgne looked a little stouter than
usual but was apparently in the pink OF
condition.
Jim Mcdonald, the National league UNI
pire, was introduced as referee. Time was
called at 9:2i. The men agreed to break
clean and not strike in clnches.
First round-The men fiddled for some
time. with Lavigne forcing Tracy about the
ring. Lavigne led first and reached the
neck with his left. He tried several hard
left chops for face, all of which were
blocked. Tracy countering with couple OF
good body punches and a left jab which left
its mark on Lavigne's eye.
Second round-Lavigne kept after his
man, but the shifty Australian kept out OF
reach. Lavigne led for the body. Tracy
drew back and came in hard on stomach
with his left, which was the best blow
landed so far.
Third round-Tracy sent in a couple OF
labs on face which only served to make La
vipne laugh and come back with rush. No
effective work was done in this round.
Fourth round-Tracy's wonderful quick
ness of feet kept him beyond the range Of
most of Lavigne's left chops and swings,
while Lavigne's face showed red marks from
Toms left iabs, which his superior reach
enabled him to land.
Fifth round-Tracy jabbed his left hard
on face, but George countered with his right
on head. Lavigne swung hard left on
body, which made Tracy vince. Tracy
seemed a little tired from his continued
avoidance of Lavigne's rushes.
Sixth and seventh rounds were repeti-
tions of those preceding, Lavigne rushing
and leading frequently with his left for the
body and head. Tracy avoided or sue
ceeded in breaking the force of almost all
these blows.
Eighth and ninth rounds-Were slightly
in Lavigne's favor. his persistent chopping
and swinging leaving the skin on Tracy s
body and neck ruddy hue. Tracy content
ed himself with counterng with his left on
Gtorge's face and neck.
Tenth round-Tracy stood his ground bet
ter and paid the Kid back in kind. 1t was
the best fighting up to this stage, being an
even thing.
Eleventh round-Lavignes round. He
sent in a terrible left on the stomach. which
caused Tracy's ever-present smile to dis
appear. Lavigne had the advantage at this
point of the fight.
Twelfth and thirteenth hlrounds-Were La
Vigne's, though no really effective work was
done 1t looked at this stage as if it would
go the limit and Lavigne would get the de-
cision on account of his aggressive and more
effective work.
Fourteenth and Fifteenth rounds-Were
Lavignes, although Tracy made several de-
termined stands, stalling off Georges
rushes but always getting a little the worst
of the mixes. Tracy tried several times to
reach Lavigne's jaw with his right, but
failed to connect.
Lavigne held his lead, with little more
added during the sixteenth. seventeenth
and eighteenth, using his right on Tracy's
body with perceptible distress to the latter.
Tracy seemed the weaker of the two andEe-
sorted to purely defensive tactics.
In the nineteenth Tracy started in to
force matters and kept Lavigne guessing for
some time. He jabbed George mouth hard
several times, to which Lavigne responded
with left swings for body.
The men fought carefully in the twentieth
and last round, neither taking chances
Referee Mcdonald promptly gave the deci
sion to Lavigne, which was satisfactory to
the crowd.