The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-07-04
FULL OF HARD HITTING
Twenty Fierce Rounds Between
Erne and Lavigpe.
A TERRIBLE DRUBBINC
Was Received by the Latter-He Was
Forced to Surrender the Light
weight Championship to
His Opponent.

Buffalo, N. Y, July 3.-Frank Erne
of this city met George Lavigne of Sag
inaw, Mich, in the arena of the Haw-
thorne Athletic club at Cheektowaga.
suburb of this city, tonight, and
after fighting 20 fierce and clever
rounds, wrested the lightweight cham
pionship of the world from the western
man.
Over 10000 persons watched the con-
test, which was brimful of exciting epi-
sodes and of hard and scientific hit
ting. Lavigne went down to defeat and
surrendered the title In a most credit
able 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
knockout by the timely interference of
the gong. Erne was looked upon 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 ascertained until
the bout had reached the limit of 20
rounds, and Erne had been declared the
winner 1t was then found that he had
injured his left hand in the seventh
round, and if this had not occurred,
Lavigne's undoing might have come in
half the time that it took the Buffalo
man to win. Erne weighed in at 1887
and IIaVigne 1876 pounds. Lavigne was
the favorite, much money being bet on
him at odds of 100 to 80. When the
men stripped, Lavigne looked to be the
more finely drawn. Both We're cool and
confident. AS the fight progressed La
vigne's GOODNESS vanished. while Erne
never lost his self-possessiOn for a mo-
ment. The Buffalo boy simply battered
the title out of his opponent, and while
not escaping a good deal Cf punishment.
he administered terrific drubbing TO
Lavigne. Toward the end of the bout
Lavigne's guard was useless, and moth
ing but sheer gamenPss kept the Sagi-
nav kid from going under. Blow after
blow fell upon his =ad and body with
relentless force. but ne stood the 'gaff''
and fought back piuckly as best he
could.
Lavignes seconds were his brother,
Billy Lavfgne, Jimly Robinson of New
Orleans, Jack Hanley of Philadelphia
and Billy ST. Mary of Saginaw, Mich.
Ernes seconds We're Frank Simper,
Billy Huber of Buffalo. The men
were announced to box 20 rounds to a
decision for the lightweight champion
ship of the world
Timekeeper for Lavigne was Jim
Young of Son Francisco. When Hon
est John Kelly entered the ring he
was greeted with cheers and the sports
around the ring side shouted: You're
all right: we know we will get an hon
est run for our money
Jim Corbett stepped into the ring and
addressed the crowd, saying: Gentle
men, I am getting into the best of
shape and will be ready to again con-
test for the heavyweight championship
with the winner of the Jeffries-Shar-
key fight"
Lavigne looked to be in excellent con-
dition. AS soon as the men had donned
the gloves Jim Kennedy, Erne's man.
ager, and Billy Lavigne, representing
his brother. entered the ring and had
a consultation with Referee Kelly as
to the rules governing the contest.
George Considine was added to La
vigne's handlers, and gave the Kid
some sound advice. Then the boxers,
with their handlers, Joined in the par
ley with the referee as to the rules
and they held the center of the ring
for fully five minutes. AS result of
the confsb 1t was announced that the
men had agreed to box under Marquis
of Queensberry rules.
Round 1-Lsvigne was first to lead,
trying a lead for the face, which was
blocked. LaNlSne HOtkeu MS le1I OH
the body, Erne COuntered on the body.
The blows We're repeated a moment
later. Lavigne sent two straight lefts
to the forehead, Erne returning on the
body. After clinch Erne sent his
left to the jaw. Erne's nose began
to bleed, and he parried a left toward
the head. Lavigne tried two left
swings for the head, which Erne dodg-
ed, and the round ended in a half
clinch.
Round 2-Erne sent his left to the
body and right to the neck. Lavigne
countered and then sent hard left
to the wind. Lavigne sent his left
hard to the face. but was met with Q
terrible left on the stomach. Lavigne
caught his man square in the chest
with a left, Erne putting his left to
the stomach and followed with a left
hook on the face, and an exchange
of lefts on the body brought the men
to a clinch. Lavigne reached Erne's
face twice and as parting shot sent
his right over the head, but failed.
Round 3-Erne came up fresh, with
Lavigne leading. They mixed up three
times and then Erne electrified the
crowd with a terrific left on the Kid S
face. Erne sent his left to the body
hard, but the Kid came back quickly
with a corking right under the jaw
and sent a left to the face without re-
turn. Once more the Kid sent his left
to the face, Erne countering on the
head.
Round 4-Lavigne led with his left
to the Jaw, Erne clinchlng. Hard
rights and lefts were exchanged on
the breast and neck and Lavigne bor-
ing in, sent an awful left over the
heart. Erne fought back gamely, but
got another crushing blow almost in
the same spot, in reply to which he
ripped a left to the wind. Erne
Strengthened the Saginaw man with a
right uppercut on the face, Lavigne
countering hard on the body.
Round 5-Erne was first to lead land
ing left on face, Lavigne 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 right to stomach. At the
close quarters Erne hooked his right to
head, landing back of the ear. La
vigne 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 6-LaYigne led for the chest