The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-07-04
THE CHAMPION
LIGHT WEIGHT
Is FRANK ERNE
Who wrested the Title from
George Lavigne in Twenty
Fiercely Fought Rounds.
SEVEN THOUSAND SEE FIGHT
Which was Brimful OF Exciting
Episodes and Hard, scien.
tifc Hitting.

LllS nlLIluBs
BUFFALO. N. Y. July s.-Frank
Erne, Of this city, met George Lavlgne,
of Saginaw, Mich, in the arena of the
Hawthorne A. c.. at cheektowaga, a
suburb of this city, tonight, and after
fighting twenty fierce and clever rounds
wrested the light weight championship
OF the world from the western man.
over 1000 persons watched the contest,
which was brimful of exciting episodes
and Of hard and scientific hitting.
Lavlgne went down to defeat and sur
rendered his title In a most credltable
manner. He was plucky and game to
the core, and for the Arst half dozen
rounds more than held his own against
his adversary. In the seventh round
Lavlgne received a terrible drubbing
and was only saved from knockout by
the timely interference of the gong.
Erne was looked upon then as q sure
winner. but in the subsequent rounds 1t
was seen that he had 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 Ind been declared the winner. 1t
was then found that he had badly In
jured his left hand in the seventh round
and IL this had not occurred, Laylgne's
undolns might have come in half the
time that It took tho Buffalo man to
win.
Both men stripped in splendid condI-
tlon. Lavlgne was the favorite, much
money being bet upon him at odds Of 100
to 90. When the men stripped, LaVigne
looked to be more finely drawn. Both
were cool and confident. AS the fight
progressed Lavlgne's coolness vanished,
while Erne never lost his self possession
for moment. Tho Buffalo boy simply
battered the tito out of his opponent,
and while not escaping good deal of
punishment, he administered terrific
drubbing to Lavlgne. Toward the end
OF the bout LavIgne's guard was useless
and nothing but sheer gameness kept
the Saginaw kid from going under.
Blow after blow fell upon his head and
body with relentless force, but he stood
the gan and fought back -piuchlly
best he could.
Tho Fight.
Round 1-Both Gddled for an opening
for over a minute. Lavlgne was first
to Ieud, trying a lead for the face, which
was blocked. I4avigne hooked his left
10 neck, Erne countering on body. These
blows were repeated moment later
Lavlgne sent two straight lefts TO fore
head, Erne sending left to the ribs in
return. After q clinch Erne sent left
and right 10 face and neck. LnviBne
Countering on body. Erne's nose began
10 bleed and he parted left to his
head. Lavtgne tried two left swings for
the head, which Erne lodged and the
round ended In half cllnch.
Round 2-Lavigne opened with rush
but was blocked, Brne sending left to
body and right to neck. LRvigne coun-
tered and then sent hard left to wind.
LavIgne still forcing, sent his left hard
to face, but was met with terrific left
in stomach. Both tlddled and Lavlgne
caught his man square In the chest with
| q left, Erne hooking left to stomach and
| followed up with a left hook on face.
Erne cleverly blocked q left lead for his
face md an exchange Of lefts on body
brought the men to cllnch. Lavigne
raped on face twice and as n parting
shot tried to send his right over but he
| got to close quarters as the bell sepa-
rated them.
Hound s-Erne came up fresh with
I,avigne leading half arm mlx-ups
which had no effect and brought the
men together three times in succession,
| and then Erne electrified the crowd
with n beautiful left on the Kids face.
LavIgne tried several feints to draw
Erne, but Brne sent his left to body
very hard, but the Kid came hack quick
~ with a corklng right under the jaw
and sent q left to the face without re-
turn. Once more the Kid sent his left
| to face, Erne cOunterlng on the ribs,
Then LRvigno tried a left poke which
| fell short and he almost lost his bal
ance Erne saw the opening, but the
Kid was too quick, as he dropped his
guard and blocked.
Round 4-Lavigne led with left to Jaw
Erne cllnchIng. Lnvigne over-reached
himself In another attempt but recover
ed In time with saving block. Hard
rights and lefts were exchanged on the
breast and neck and LaVigne boring In
|
| fought back Rnmely, but got another
crushing blow almost in the same spot
in reply to which ne ripped left to
wind. Lavigne swung two Wild lcfts,
failing 10 land. and Erne coming back
| quickly Strengthened the Saginaw man
/ with q right uppercut on the face. La
vigne counterlng hard on the body,
They were sparring when the bell
sounded.
Round 5-Erne was first TO land left
on face, Lnvigne swung his right to the
ribs, and was blocked with both hands
to the body. Erne threw over his rllVht
/ to the body and double exchanges on the
body followed. Ernc led right for the
faoe, but Lnvigne got inside his lead,
and sent right to stomach. Atclose quar-
tiers Erne hooked rigit to ribs and hook
ed II Into stomach again, but the Kid
| hooked his right TO the head. landing
back of the car. LAvlgne became hot-
headed, making two Wild swings, which
Erne got under and the Saginaw man
got the worst OF the inhghting which
ended the round.
IiaVlgnO Forcing the Pace.
Round every little was done in the
FIRST minute Of this round, both trying
to draw the other out. Lnvlgne led left
| for chest. Erne sending double left to
| ribs and head, following up with n left
smash In the wind, LnVlRne sent his
| left to hend. right to the ribs and an
other hard left with terrific force. while
Erno Gent his right to the body and left
| to neck clOsing in with half clinch.
I.avigne jumped in with left and right
to the head and Frank countcred with
| left and right on body. At the close Of