The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-07-04
For the Lightweight Championship Of the
World.
A ROYAL BATTLE OF TWENTY ROUNDS
The Kid Put I'm n Game Fight aud
stood a Terrible Amount Of
Puuishmcnt.

/
watched the contest. which was brimful OF
exciting episodes and of hard and scientihc
fighting. Iavigne went down to defeat and
surrendered his title in most credtahie
manner. He was plucky and game to the core
and for the first half dozen rounds more than
held his own against his adversary. In the
seventh round Lavigne received a terrible
drubbing and was only saved from knock
out by the timely Interference of the gong
Erne was looked unon then as sure winner.
but in the subsequent rounds It was seen
that he had lost some of his steam just
what was the cause of this was not asoer-
tanned until the bout had reached the unit
Of twenty rounds and Erne had eesn dsCiarea
the winner. 1t was then found that he MAJ
badly injured his left hand in the seventh
round and If this had not occurred Layisnes
undoing might have come in half the 'ime II
took the Buffalo man TO win.
Both men stripped in splendid condition.
Iavgne was the favorite. much money being
bet on odds of 100 to 20 on him; When me
finely drawn. Both were cool and confident.
AS the fight progressed Lavgnes coolness
vanished while Erne never lost his self pos
battered the title off his opponent and whlie
not escaping a good deal Of punishmeni ne
Toward the end of the bout Lavigne's guard
was useless and nothing out sheer game 1es5
kept the Saginaw kid from going under. Blow
after blow tell unon MS neH1 anu uuuN WIZ
relentless force but he stood the gaff and
fought back plnckilv as best he could ,,s
Erne weighed IN at 1882 and Layigne at i3S.
Lavigne's seconds were his brother, Billy
Lavigne, Jim Robinson of New Orleans, Jack
Hanley OF philadelphia. Peter st. Mary of
Michigan. and George Considine. Ernes see
onds were Frank Zmpfer and Billy Huber
OF Buffalo. John Kelly of New York was rel
cree.
Before the fight Jim Corbett stepped into
the ring and addressed the crowd, saying:
am
and will be ready to again contest for the
heavyweight championship of the Jetfries-
Sharkey fight
After conference between the referee and
representatives OF the principals IT was an
nounced that the men had agreed to box I'M
der Queensherrv rules.
for over minute. Lavigne was first to lead,
trying lead for the face. which was blocked
Lavigne hooked his left to neck. Erne coun-
tering on body. Their blows were repeated
moment later. Lavigne sent two straight
lefts TO forehead, Erne sending left to the
ribs in return After clinch Erne sent iett
and right to face and ducked Lavgnes coun-
ter Ernc's nose began to bleed and he passed
a left to his head Lavgne tried two lcfts
for the head, which Erne lodged. and the
round ended In a half cinch
Round 2-Lavigne opened with n rush, but
was blocked. Erne sending left to body and
right to neck Lavlgnc countered. and then
sent hard left to wind Lavgne still forcinS,
sent his left harl TO face, but was met with
terrific left to stomach. Both fiddled and
Lavigne caught his man square in the chest
with left, Erne putting left to stomach, and
followed with left hook on the face Erne
clevery blocked left lead for his face AM
an exchange of lefts on body brought the men
to a clnch Lavgne reached Erne's face
right over the head aud failed They got into
close quarters as the bell rang.
Round 3-Erne came Zip fresh with Lavigne
leading They mixed 1t up three times and
t, en- Erne landed a terrific left on the face
Lavigne tried to draw Erne out. but failed
Kid came back quickly with corking RICH,
under the Jaw and sent a left to the face
without return. Once more tho Kid sent
his left to the face Erne countering on head.
short and he almost lost his balance. Erne
saw the opening, but the Kid was too quick.
as he dropped his guard ond blocked.
Round 4-Lavigne I'D with left 10 Jaw they
clinched Hard rights and lefts were OK
changed on the breast and neck and I.avgne
landed left over heart Erne fought nacS
spot In reply TO which he ripped n left to
the wind. lie afterwaTd strained the Saginaw
man with right unpereut on the face. La
vigne countered hard on the body. They were
sparring when the bell sounded.
Round 5-Erne lands left on the face. La
yigne swinging his right to the ribs Double
quarters Erne hooked right TO ribs and hooked
It into the stomach. but the Kid hooked LIS
right to head, landing back of tho ear. La,
vigne became hot headed. making two wild
swings, which Erne got in under. and tine |
Saginaw man got the worst of the inhghting,
which ended the round
Round 6--For the first minute each tried 10 |
draw the other on. Lavigne led left for chest, |
Erne eending double left to ribs and head,
following up with left smash In the wind.
clinch followed some warm exchanges and
LaviGne was forcing the pace as the round
closed
Round 7-Erne sent two lefts to the body
but soon afterward got left and right ON the
body Erne hooked his left TO the head and
swung his right over the kidneys. taking a |
hard punch over the heart A beautiful right
smash on the face from Erne drew the blood
heavy left fell on the Kids jaw. staggering
him. Erne then sent succession OF left ana
right swings on Layigne,s head, which maze
the Kid groggy The bell saved Layigne
Round s-George came up with aggressive |
ress but Erne played waiting game La
vigne vanly tried two lefts on the face, but
iim throughout the round
Round 9--Erne landed on the head and
carefully avoided several feints by Laylgne;
with his left, but ran into an
awful uppercut. Erne repeated this dose a
second later and had the best of the round,
Round 10--Lavsgne's face was badly bruised
and Erne showed no sign of punishment TWO
hard let's made Lavigne rub his nose, which
was bleeding, and the Michigan boy seemed
unable to block Ernes left leads, three OF
which landed In quick succession on the mouth
and nose Layigne tried left for the face, |
but received 4 foretful left uppercut In tbs
Or the ribs. Erne was now doing the forcing
and sent lefts to face Lavigne countering on
the body with both hands. Erne bore in atl
close quarters and after taking left on the
neck showed his right glove over Lavignc S
heart at the close OF the round.
Round 1l-Both spared at long range |
.rne sent right smash TO the kidneys. |
hooked his left twice 10 the short |
lbs and sprinted away from Ernes counters. |
rhey came together with a crash each land |
ng on the stomach and in mi1up honoIs |
we're about even. Erne bored in with HI |
light. hut had his head rocked with a straight |
eff second before the bell sounded.
Round l2-Erne on the aggressive, landing |
light left on the head and blocked a counter
-ayiene landed left on the body and right on
ieck Erne counteIing on ribs and head |
4ayigne hooked his left to the wind and |
lrne failed 10 hand anything back. Erne |
eemed bit tired and lacked the aggressive
less OF his opponent who although having |
he worst OF IT, was ever ready with both !
lands The kid Tented with his right and |
looked left TO neck twice. after which he |
,roke ground and saved himself Laylgne |
,layed continually for the body. but received |
left smash on the nose. which again drew |
,lood and the gong separated them with
1ayigne's stock having slight upper ten-
iency.
Round i3--Layigne came UP with a rush
,ut did nothing. They exchanged let's on |
he face and Erne sent double left blow
o the neck and ribs. following with n right
o the neck. to which the kid replied with LEFT |
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