The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-07-04
ERNE'S BLOWS EFFECTIVE.
GIVEN THE DECISION AFTER
TWENTY FIERCE ROUNDS.

LhNiEhc NFtNcn "a leFrtDte DfuDDtuE
aud Loses the Lightweight Chnm-
piOnship, But showed Pluck
Throughout the Bout-Erne BADLY
Injured His Left Hand in the
seVenth Round-"HOnest John
Kelly the Referee.
Buffalo, July 3-Frauk Erne, of this
city. met George LavIgue of Saginaw,
Mich, in the arena Of the Hawthorne
Athletic Club at Cheektowaga a 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 1900 persons watched the contest,
which was became fun OF exciting epi-
sodes and of hard aud scientific hitting.
Lavigne went down to defeat and sur
rendered his title in a most creditable
manner. lie was pucky aud game to the
core, and for the first half dozen rounds
more than held his own against his ad-
versary.
In the seventh round Lavignc received
a terrible drubbing ana was only saved
from a knockout by the timely interfer-
ence OF the gong. Erno was looked upon
then as sure winner, but in the subse-
quent rounds 1t was seen that he had
lost some Of his steam. Just what was
the cause of this was not ascertained un-
til The bout had reached the limit of twen-
ty rounds and Erue had been declared
the winner. II was then found that he
had badly injured his left hand In the
seventh round, and If this had not oc-
CURED Lavigne's undoing might have
come in half the time that it took the
Buffalo man to win.
Both men stripped In splendid condition.
Laylgne was the favorite, much money
being bet upon him at odds of 100 to co.
When the men stripped Lavlgue looked
to be the more finely drawn Both were
cool ana confident. As the fight progress
ed, Lavigne's coolness vanished, while
Erne never lost his self-possession for a
moment. The Buffalo boy simply battered
the title out of his opponent, and, while
not escaping "a good deal of punishment,
he administered terrible drubbing to La
vlgne. Toward the end Of the bout La
vignes guard was useless, and nothing
but sheer gameness kept the Saginaw
Kid" from going under. Blow after blow
fell upon his head ana body with relentless
force but he stood the game of and fought
back pluckiiy as best he could.
Honest John Kelly OF New York Of
ficiated as referee. Ernc weighed i'm at 1894
and I.avigne al 1873.
Lavigne's seconds were his brother Billy
Layigne. Jimmy Robinson OF New Orleans,
Jack iianley of Philadelphia and Billy
St Mary Of Saginaw, Mich
Erne's seconds were Frank Zmpfer, Geo.
Salce and Billy Huber, ali of Buffalo
The men were announced TO box twenty
rounds TO a decision OF the lghtweight
championship of the world.
When Honest John Kelly OF New York.
was introduced as referee, he was greeted
with tumultuous cheers, and the sports
around the ringslde shouted: You are well
come. We know we viii get ant honest run
for our money"
Jim Corbett who sat at the ring side,
was called upon 70 say something Corbett
stepped into the ring and addressed the
crowd, saying. Gentlemen ] am getting
into the best OF shape ana wll be ready 10
again contest for the heavyweight cham
pionshp with the winner of the Jemries-
Sharkey fight"
In the twentyieth and final round the
men shook hands in a gngerly fashion,
and Lavigne tried a left for the head.
Erne broke ground but came back i'm
medately with right and left on the face.
Bavigne's countenance al this moment
was anything but prepossessing, both
eyes being closed. Right and left blows
10 the body brought Lavigne's guard
down, and then Erne smashed his right
20 the neck and hooked his right to the
face without return. Game to the core.
Lavlgne withstood this punishment and
went 10 his opponent as If he were only
beginning the bout. Erne was relentless,
however and forced the pace, lighting his
man as If his life depended on the re-
suit Lavigno never weakened, but took
his punishment like a stole, but IL was all
day with him. and though beaten almost to
standsull, he returned to his corner.
having lost the championship but none
OF his many friends and admirers.