The San Francisco call., 1899-07-04
ERNE LOWERS
THE COLORS OF
KID LAVIGNE
Buffalo Boy Earns
Decision.
TWENTY TERRIFIC ROUNDS
CHAMPION SHOWS REMARK
ABLE GAMENESS.
Might Have Been Knocked Out Had
His Antagonist Not Injured
Hand Early in the
Fight
Special Dispatch to The Call.

BUFFALO, n. Y, July 9.-Frank Erne
OF this city met George Lavigne OF Sagl-
nav. Mich, in the arena of the Haw-
thorre Athletic Club at Cheektowaga,
suburb of this city, tonight. and after
lighting twenty fierce and clever ROUNDS
wrested the lightweight championship OF
the world from the Western man. over
1000 persons Witnessed the contest, whlcn
was brimful OF exciting episodes ana OF
hard and scientific hitting LaVisne Went
down TO defeat and surrendered the utle
in a most Creditable manner. he was
plucky and game to the core, ana Ior tH9
his own against his adversary In the
seventh round Lavigne received terrible
drubbing and was saved from KNOCKOUT
only by the timely interference Of the
t.rne weighed in at 1882 and Lavigne at
12- pounds LaYigne was the taVo1te,
much money being bet on him at odds OF
i6S 10 ~. When the men stripped Lavigne
looked to be the more finely drawn, Both
were cool and confident. AS the Tight pro
gressed Lavgne' 5 coolness vanished, %nlle
Erne never lost his self-posseslon Tor
moment. The Buffalo boy simply battered
the title out of his opponent, and, while
not escaping a good deal OF punishment,
ne administered a terrific drubbing to La
vigne Toward the end Of the bout La
vigne'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 gaff and fought
back pluckily as hest he could
Lavigne's seconds were his brother.
Billy LaVignei Jimmy" Robinson OF
New Orleans, Jack Hanley Of Phila-
Mich. Erne's seconds were Frank Simper
and Billy Huber of Buffalo. The meIl
We're announced to box twenty ROUNDS 10
q decision for the. lightweight champion
ship of the world. The umekeeDer for
Lavigne was Jim Young of San Fran
cisco.
When Honest John" Kelly entered the
ring he was greeted with tumultuous
cheers, and the sports around the rlngside
You're all right. We know we will get
an honest run for our money.
Jim" Corbett stepped into the ring and
addressed the crowd, saying:
Gentlemen, l am getting into the best
Of shape and will be ready again 10 con-
test for the heavyweight championship
with the winner of the Jeffres-Sharkey
fight"
Lavtgne looked to be in excellent ,ondi-
gloves Jim" Kennedy, Erne's manager,
and Billy Lavigne, representing his
brother, entered the ring and mad a con
sultation with Referee Kelly as to the
rules governing the contest. George Con
sidine was added TO Lavtgne's handlers
and gave the kid" some sound advice.
Then the boxers, with their handlers.
joined in the parley with the reteree as
to the rules, and they held the center Of
suit Of the confab it was announced that
the men had agreed to box under Mar
QulS or QueenSberry rules.
Round 1-Lavigne was first TO lead. trying
lead for the face which was blocked. La
vigne hooked his left to the neck. Erne coun-
tering on the body These blows were repeated
a moment later. Layigne sent two straight
lefts 10 the forehead, Erne sending left TO
the ribs in return After clinch, Erne sent
left and right to the face and ducked La
vigne's counter. Erne's nose began to bleed
and he parried a left to the head Lavigne
tried two left swings for the head. which Erne
lodged, and the round ended in a half-cIlnch.
Round 2-Erne sent left TO the body and
sent hard left 10 the wind. Lavigne sent his
left hard to the face, but was met with a ter
rife left in the stomach. Lavigne caught his
man squarely the chest with left, Erne
putting hts left TO the stomach and following
let's on body brought the men to a clinch.
I.avigue reached Erne's face twice and
parting shot sent right at she head. but
Round 4Erne came up fresh, with Lavgne
leading. They mixed up three times and then
Erne electrified the crowd with terrific left
on the Kids face. Erne sent his left to the
body hard but the Kid quickly with
corking right under the jaw and sent a left to
the face without return. Once more the Kid
sent his left to the face, Erne countering on
Round 4-Lavigne led with his left to the
Jaw. Erne clinching: Hard rights and lefts
IaviEne boring in sent an awful left over
the heart. Erne fought back gamely, but got
another crushing blow almost in the same
wind. Erne Strengthened the Saginaw man
with right gppercut on the face bavigne
Round @Erne was first to lead, landing
1aft on the face Iavigne swinging his right to
the ribs Erne threw over his right to the body
and double exchanges on the body followed.
Erne led right for the face, but LAvigne got
inside his lead, sending his right to the stom
ach At close quarters ETne hooked his right
70 the head landing back Of the ear. Lavgne
which E,rne got under. and the Saginaw man
got the worst Of the inhghting which ended
Round 6-Lavigre led for the chest, Erne
sending a double left to the ribs and head. fol-
Lavtgne sent his left to the head. a. right to
the ribs and another hard left with terrific
force. while Erne sent MS right TO the body
clInch Lavigne jumped in with his left and
right to the head and Frank countered with
left and right the body At the close Of the
round Lavigne forcing the pace.
Round 7-Erne sent two lefts to the body
without return. Breaking from clinch; La;
in with left and right on the Oody- 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
drew blood from I-avigne's nose and moment
later Erne swung a heavy left on Layignes
jaw. staggering him. Erne then sent success
sion Of left and right swings on Lavigne's head
and face. which made the Kid groggy. In less
than a half minute Erne landed a score OF
blows, while the Kid came back wildly, land
ing occasionally on the head. and 1t looked as
II the KID would go ont: His seconds called TO
him; Block, George The bell saved La
Round 8-George came up willingly. but Erne
was waiting for him. and il evident that
I~dNlgne mad lost much OF his speed. Erne
watched his opportunity. and. instead Of forcing
the fighting. waited for Lavigne to come 10
him. Erne blocked A left lead for the head and
hooked his left TO the wind. Lavigne then tried
several lefts for the face, but failed TO land,
while Erne punished him on the body and out
fought him throughout the round.
Round S-Lavigne's right foot seemed TO
bother him when he came from his corner and
his seconds ripped his shoe open. AS soon
they shaped Erne led for the head landing.
and blocked a right counter. Layigne feinted
several times, but Erne carefully avoided these
traps. Both dogged with swings and blocked
continually all leads intended for the body.
Erne led his left. landing the neck. The Kid
countered with his left. but into awful
left uppercut. Erne repeated this dose second
later. and had all the best of the mill when
the bell sent them to their corners.
Round 10-Lavigne's face was badly bruised
when he came up for this round and Erne
showed signs of punishment. Two hard
lefts from the Buffalo boy made Lavigne rub
his nose which was bleeding badly and the
Saginaw seemed unable TO block Erne's
left leads. three of which landed in quick
succession his mouth and Lavigne
tried a left for the face but received forceful
left uppercut in the wind. which Erne follow
ed up with a right the ribs Erne was
now doing the forcing and sent left and right
70 the face LaviRne countering the body
Frne bored in at close quartefs.. and, after TAX
Lee -4-IA