The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-07-04
Fights "Kid" Lavigne
to a Standstill at
Buffalo.
FIRST IN LIGHTWEIGHT CLASS
Western Man Takes Punish
ment Gamely for TWEEN
ty Rounds.

of this city met George Lavigne Of
Saginaw, Mich, in the open arena of
the Hawthorne Athletic club at Cheek
towaga, suburb of this city, tonight,
and after fighting twenty fierce and
clever rounds, wrested the lightweight
championship of the world from the
western man. Over 1000 persons
watched the contest, which was bri'n-
ful of exciting episodes, and full Of
hard and scientific hitting. 1t was
agreed that the men should box under
Marquis Of QueenSberry rules with the
exception that after being ordered to
break. no blows should be struck from
q olinch.
Lavigne went down to defeat and
surrendered the title in a most credit
able manner. He was plucky and game
to the core, and for the first half doz-
en- rounds more than held his own
against his adversary. In the seventh
round Layigne received terrible
drubbing, and was only saved from a
knockout by the timely interference of
the gong. Erne was looked upon then
as sure winner, but in the subse-
Quent rounds it was seen that he had
s lost some of his steam.
Just what was the cause of this was
not ascertained until the bout had
reached the limit of twenty rounds and
Erne had been declared the winner. 1t
was then found that Frank had badly
injured his left hand in that seventh
round, and if this had not occurred
Lavigne's undoing might have taken
in half the time it took the Buffalo
man to win.
Both men stripped in splendid condi-
ton. Lavigne was the favortte, lots OF
money being bet upon him at odds Of
100 to 80. When the men stripped to the
buff, Lavigne looked to be the more
finely drawn. Both were cool and con-
fident. AS the fight progressed, La
vignes GOODNESS vanished, while Elne
never lost his self possession for mo-
ment.
The Buffalo boy simply battered the
title out of his opponent, and while Tot
escaping a good deal of punishment,
he administered a terrific drubbing to
Lavigne. Towards the end of the bout
Lavigne's guard was useless and Moth
ing but sheer pluck and gameness kept
the Saginaw Kid from going under.
Blow after blow fell upon his head and
body with relentless force, but he stood
the gaff and fought back pluckily as
1 best he could. Taken altogether, the
bout was a splendid exhibition of
science, pluck and staying qualities On
the part of both participants.
Round AFTER they had fddled for
an opening, Lavigne tried lead for
the face, which was blocked After
clinch, Erne sent left and right to face
and neck, Lavigne countering on booy.
Erne's nose began to bleed. The round
ended in half clinch.
Round 2. Lavigne opened with a
rush, but was blocked, and Erne send
ing left to body and right to neck.
Lavigne caught his man square in
chest with left, Erne hooking left to
stomach and following with left hook of
face. Lavigne reached Ernes face
twice.
Round 8. Erne came up fresh with
Lavigne leading. Erne sent left to body
very hard, but the Kid came back
quickly with a corking right under the
Jaw and sent left to face.
Round 4.-Hard rights and lefts were
exchanged on breast and neck and La
vigne sent a hard left over heart.
Round 5. Erne landed left on face.
Lavigne swung right to ribs. Erne
threw over right to body and double
exchanges on body followed. Lavigne
sent right to stomach.
Round 6. Lavigne led right for chest,
Erne sending double left to ribs and
head. following with a left smash in
wind. Lavigne sent left to head, right
to ribs and another hard left with ter
and left to neck.
Round Z. Lavigne whipped right to
ribs and bored in with left and right on
body. Erne hooked left to head and
swung right over kidneys. A right
smash on face from Erne drew blood
from Lavignes nose and later heavy
left on Lavigne's jaw staggered him.
E.ne then sent succession of left and
right swings on Lavigne's head and
f W pnQ 10 hn Tn
less than half a minute Erne landed a
score of blows. 1t looked as if the Kid
would go out. The bell saved him
Round 8. 1t was evident that Lavigne
had lost much of his speed. Lavigne
tried several lefts for face but failed
20 land.
Round 9. Lavigne's right foot seemed
TO bother him and his seconds ripped
his shoe open. Erne landed left on
head. Erne had all the better of the
round
Round 10. Two hard lefts from Erne
made Lavigne rub his nose, which was
bleeding badly. Erne landed left three
times in quick succession on mouth and
I nose. Lavigne received a forceful left
upper cut In wind which Erne followed
with right and ribs.
Round IL. Erne sent right smash to
Kids wind Lavigne hooked left twice
to short ribs and sprinted away from
Erne's counters. Erne bored in with
right to wind, but had his hand rocked
with q straight left.
Round IL. The Kid hooked left to
neck twice. Lavigne played continually
for body but received a left smash on
nose which again drew blood Lavigne S
stock had a slight upward tendency.
Round b. Erne sent left to chest and
the Kid ripped right to wind. Lavigne
was forcing the pace at the bell.
Round 14-Lavigne was the agrees
sor, but it was tit for tat with left and
right for the first blow. Lavigne
struck Erne on the body in a half
clinch. The referee cautioned Lavigne.
Round 15-Erne was cool, while
Lavigne was In evident trouble. George
bored In, but was driven back with
straight lefts on face. Erne landed
hard on abdomen
Round 16-Lavigne tried a right
swing Erne lodged and drove right
hard to body bringing it up to head
A straight left smash on the nose from
Erne forced the Kid to clinch
Round 17-They rushed to a clinef
twice over. Erne led right for body
and hooked left to neck, Lavigne coun
feYinR ON ribs A left lead to Lavigne'i