The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-04
KID LAvIGNE DEFEATED
LOST THE LIGHTWEIGHT CHAN.
PIONsHIP TO FRANK ERNIE.
Lively Prize Fight Witnessed by Over
Injured Early I'm the Bout.

BUFFALO. N. Y. July s.-Frank Erne.
of this city. met George Lavigne, of Sag
inaw. Mich. in the arena of the Hawthorne
Athletic Club at Cheektowaga, a suburb OF
this city. tonight. and after fighting twen-
ty fierce and clever rounds. wrested the
lightweight championship of the world from
the Western man.. Over 1000 people watched
the contest. which was brimful OF exciting
episodes and of hard and scientific hitting.
Lavigne went down to defeat and surren-
dered his title In a most creditable 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
Knockout by the timely interference of
the gong. Erne was looked on then as
sure winner. but in the subsequent rounds
ii was seen 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. 1t was then found
that he had badly injured his left hand In
the seventh round. and If this had not &C.
Cured Lavigne's undoing might have come
in half the time it took the Buffalo man to
win.
Both men stripped in splendid condition.
1.avigne YVES the favorite. much money be-
ing bet on him at odds of 100 to 80. When
the men stripped Lavigne looked to be
more finely drawn. Both were cool and
confident AS the fight progressed Lavigne's
GOODNESS 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
a terrific drubbing to Lavigne. Toward the
end Of the bout Lavigne's guard was USE
less, 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 pluckily as best he could.
mmS Robinson h Of New
Jack Hanley, of Philadelphia, and Billy St.
Mary, of Saginaw, Mich. Erne's seconds
were Frank Zimphfer and Billy Huber, OF
Buffalo, The men were announced to box
twenty rounds under Marquis of Queens
bury rules to decision for the lightweight
for Lavigne was Jim Young, of San Fran
cisco.
CORBETT SPEAKS TO GENTS"
When Honest John Kelly entered the
ring he was greeted with tumultuous
cheers. and the sports around the ringside
shouted: 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: Gents, I am getting
into the best of shape and will be ready
to again contest for the heavyweight cham
pionship with the winner of the Jeffries-
Sharkey fight"
In the first round both fiddled for an
opening for over minute. Lavigne was
! first to lead. trying for the face, which
was blocked Lavigne hooked his left to
After a clinch Erne sent left and right to
the face ard ducked Lavigne's counter.
a left to his head. Lavigne tried two left
swings for the head, which Erne lodged,
and the round ended in half clinch. In
rush, but was blocked. Erne sending his left
to the body and right to the neck. Lavigne
countered and then sent a hard left to the
hard to the face, but was met with a terrific
left in the stomach. Lively exchanges fol-
lowed: In the third Erne electrified the
Lavigne tried several feints to draw Erne,
but they were ineffective. Hard rights and
lefts were exchanged on the breast and
ing In. sent an awful left over the heart.
Erne fought back gamely, but got another
crushing blow I'm the same spot, in reply
to which he ripped left to the wind. La
vigne swung two wild lefts, failing to land,
and Erne, coming back quickly, straight
ened the Saginaw man with right upper
on the body.
The fifth round was a warm one. At close
quarters Erne hooked his right to the ribs
and hooked 1T into the stomach but the
Kid hooked his right to head. landing back
of the ear. Lavigne became hot headed,
making two wild swings, which Erne got
of the infighting which ended the round.
In the sixth honors were nearly even, al
though Lavigne was forcing the pace at
the close. In the seventh a beautiful right
smash on the face from Erne drew the
blood from Lavigne's nose. and a moment
later he swung a heavy left on Lavigne's
cession of left and right swings on La
vigne's head and face. which made the
Kid groggy. In less than half minute
Erne landed score of blows, while the
Kid came back wildly landing occasionally
on the head and 1T looked as II the Kid
would go out. His seconds called to him,
Block, George" The bell saved Lavigne.
LAvIGNE'S FOOT BOTHERED HIE.
In the eighth round George came up will
ingly, but Erne was waiting for him. and it
was evident Lavigne had lost much of his
speed. Erne watched his opportunity and.
instead of forcing the fighting ewaited for
Lavigne to come to him. Erne blocked a
left lead for the head and hooked his left
to the wind. Lavigne then tried several
leItS 1Or the race, Out Idlcu 10 Wiiiic
Erne punished him on the body and out
fought him throughout the round La
vigne's right foot seemed to bother him
when he came from his corner at the OPEN
ing of the ninth and his seconds ripped
his shoe open. Erne had all the best of
the round. Iavigne's face was badly
bruised when he came up for the tenth
round and Erne showed no signs of punish
ment. Two hard lefts from the Buffalo
boy made Lavigne rub his nose. which was
bleeding badly, and the Saginaw man
seemed unable to block Erne's left leads,
three of which landed in quick succession
on his mouth and nose. Erne bored In at
close quarters and after taking a left on
the neck showed his right glove over La
vgne's heart at the close of the round.
Once in the eleventh round they came to-
gether with a crash. each landing on the
stomach, and in mxup honors were about
even. Erne bored in with his right to the
wind but had his head rocked with a
straight left a second before the bell. In
the next round Erne seemed bit tired and
lacked the aggressiveness of his opponent.
who. although having the worst OF IT. was
ever ready with both hands. In the thir-
teenth and fourteenth rounds Lavigne
forced the pace. Erne sent his left hard to
the wind and in half clinch Lavigne
struck him on the body. The referee eau
toned Lavigne and one of the Kids Sec