The age-herald., 1899-07-04
FRANK ERNIE LIGHT
 WEIGHT CHAMPION Wrested the Title from Kid
 lavigne. 20 HARD FOUGHT ROUNDS The Buffalo Man Battered His Oppo- nent Unmercifully at Will, But La vigne Fought Game Though
 Both Eyes Were Closed
20 HARD FOUGHT ROUNDS

this city, met George Lavigne, of Saginaw, Mich, in the arena of the Hawthorne Athletic club 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 brimful of exciting episodes and of hard and scientific fighting.
 Lavigne went down to defeat and sur rendered his title in a most credible man. ner. 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 a knockout by the timely interference of the gong. Erne was looked upon then as 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 had been declared the winner It was then found that he had badly hurt his left hand in the seventh round, and if this had not occurred Lavigne's defeat might have come in half the time it took the Buffalo man to win.
 Layigne Was the Favorite
 Both men stripped in splendid condition. Layigne was the favorite much money be- ing bet on him at odds of 100 to 90. When the men stripped Lavigne looked to be the more finely drawn. Both were cool and confident. As the fight progressed La vigne'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 ter rife drubbing to Laygne. Toward the end of the bout Lavignes 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 re- lentless force, but he stood the gaff and fought back pluckily as best he could.
 Erne weighed in at 133A and Lavigne at 135. Lavignes seconds were his brother, Billy Lavigne Jimmy Robinson, of New Orleans; Jack Hanley, of Philadelphia; Billy St. Mary, of Saginaw, Mich, and Geo. Considine. Ernes seconds were Frank Seimper, Zimpfer and Billy Huber, of Buff falo.
 John Kelly, of New York, was referee. Before the fight >Jim Corbett stepped into the ring and addressed the crowd, saying: 'Gentlemen:-I am getting into the best of shape and will be ready to again contest for the heavyweight championship with the winner of the Jeffries-Sharkey fight"
 After conference between the referee and representatives of the principals it was announced that the men had agreed to box under Queensberry rules.
 Beginning of the Fight
 Round One-Both fiddled for an opening for over minute. Lavigne was first to lead, trying a lead for the face which was blocked. Lavigne hooked his left to neck; Erne countered on body. Their blows were lot I cny,t txHyn straight lefts to forehead Erne sending left to the ribs in return After a clinch Erne sent left and right to face and duck ed Lavigne's counter. Erne's nose began to bleed and he passed left to his head. Iavigne tried two left swings for the head, which Erne lodged and the round ended in a half clinch.
 Round second-Lavigne opened with a rush, but was blocked. Erne sending left to body and right to neck Lavigne countered and then sent hard left to wind. Lavigne still forcing, sent his left hard to face, but was met with a terrific left in stomach. Both fiddled, and Lavigne caught his man square in the chest with left, Erne put ting left to stomach and followed with left hook on face. Erne cleyerly blocked a left lead for his face and an exchange of lefts on body brought the men to a clinch. Lavigne reached Erne's face twice and as a parting shot tried to send his right over head, but failed. They got Into clOSe quar- ters as the bell rang.
 Round Three-Erne came up fresh with Lavigne leading. They mixed it up three times and Erne electrified the crowd with a terrific left on the kidneys. LaYigne tried several feints to draw Erne, but they were ineffective. Erne sent his left to the body very hard, but the kid came back quickly with a corking right under the jaw and sent a left to the face without a return. Then the kid sent his left to face. Erne counterng on head. Lavigne then tried a left hook, which fell short and he almost lost his balance Erne saw the opening, but the kid was too quick as he dropped his guard and blocked.
 Leftover the Heart
 Round Four-Lavigne lead, Erne clinch- ing Hard rights and lefts were exchanged on the breast and neck, and Lavigne bear ing in sent an awfu left over the heart. Erne fought back gamely, but got another crushing blow in the same spot, in reply to which he ripped a left to the wind. He afterward strengthened the Saginaw man with a right upper cut on the face, La vigne countering hard on the body They were sparring when the bell sounded
 Round Five-Erne lands left on face, Lavigne swings his right to the ribs. Dou- ble exchanges on the body followed. At close quarters Erne hooked right to ribs
 
 hooked his right to head landing back of ear Lavigne became hot headed making two wild swings which Erne got under and the Saginaw man got the worst of the in fighting which ended the round
 Round Six-For the first minute each tried to draw the other on. Lavigne led left for chest, Erne sending double left to ribs and head, following up with a left smash in the wind A clinch followed some warm exchanges and Lavigne was forcing the pace as the round closed.
 Round Seyen--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 head. A beautiful right smash on the face from Erne drew the blood from Lavignes nose and a moment later he swung left on Lavignes s jaw staggering him. Erne then sent a suc- cession of left and right swings on La- vignes face and head which made the kid groggy. The bell saved Lavigne.
 Erne Played Waiting Game
 Round Eight-Geo came up willingly. but Erne played waiting game. Erne block ed a left lead for the head and hooked his
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