The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1909-09-21
.LAVIGNE'S GRIT
SCARED WALCOTT

f. Edgren writes: This isn't exactly
the story Of knockout. But as the
nero Of II afterward did wallop the
same victim to standstiIl in twelve
rounds it makes little difference SO far
as the matter of justice is concerned.
Il was the first Lavigne- Walcott fight
that set the Whole world q, buzzirg. and
it 10 the first Lavigne- Walcott fight
that will detail to you here. with your
kind permission.
II came off at Maspeth, Long Island
on cold second of December. 1896.
Tom O'Rourke was exploiting the
Black Demon then, and Sam Fitzpat-
rick had Lavigne. The Saginaw Kid
at that time was prominent candidate
for the lightweight championship. Joe
Walcott was q terror among the well
terweights, but was able to train down
70 1873 pounds and hold his fighting
form. Walcott had such a formidable
list of victories to his credit that Tom
O'Rourke didn't hesitate to consent to
proposition made by Fitzpatrick to
the effect that Walcott must knock
Lavigne out in fifteen rounds or forfeit
the big end of the purse and the ref
eree's decision as well.
The Empire A. c. was packed when
the fighters entered the ring. Even
the aisles were filled with people who
had been buncoed into paying for re-
served seats when there were no more
reserved seats left. 1t was an enthus-
iastic crowd, and both fighters had a
strong following There were chal-
lenges galore. Tommy Ryan was in
Lavigne's corner, and O'Rourke, who
didn't relish Tommy's interest in the
rival camp challenged him to fight
Waicott later ON. Ryan accepted. That's
all he ever did in the matter
While waiting for the bell Walcott
sat in his corner attired in q. huge ul-
ster that came UP around his ears and
left just the top of his shiny dome pro-
truding, together with a CLEAN from
the whites Of his eyes and his grinning
teeth. Walcott felt joyous, for he re-
garded the white boy, in the opposite
corner much as he might a we'll picked
chicken ready for the roasting.
At $3.50 the two walked to midring
and shook hands. Both were in splen-
did shape, trained to fine edge and
ready for any kind of battle. Lavigne
was slightly taller than Walcott and
had longer reach. but the Demon
made up for this with his huge punches
OF muscle and his solid ivory dome,
absolutely inpervious to punches.
AS soon as the bell rang they went
into furious mix-up, both landing
blows, but Walcott doing all Of the APP
parent damage. BY the end of the
second round he had Lavigne In dis
Eress with his savage rips to the stom-
ach. Walcott was laughing at the
white boy and grinning and. joking
with his friends around the ring. just
as Johnson was In the ten-round fight
with Al Kaufman. All through the
third and fourth Walcott had the best
OF the fighting. His attack was so fur
ious that men around the ringside set
UP q cry Of foul" But there was no
fouling. Both men fought clearly in
spite OF their eagerness to win.
In the fifth round Lavigne took
terrible beating. Blood spurted from
his mouth and nose and ears as the
demoniac negro hammered him all
around the ring. There were terrible
blows struck-baows that seemed to
crush like the battering drive of
sledge hammer. Lavigne was in dis
tress and Walcott kept on top OF him
without giving him seconds rest. It
looked like sure and quick victory for
the negro.
But in the sixth round, to the amaze
ment Of the spectators, the doughty
Saginaw Kid came up strong and eager
as at the beginning. Walcott, on the
other hand showed signs Of WEAKNESS
He had nearly fought himself out by
furiously battering the iron hearted
little lumberman. WaIcott missed
tremendous right hand swing and
was thrown to his knees by the viol-
ence OF his own efforts. When he rose
his confidence seemed shaken.
Lsavigne took the aggressive for a
moment. In the seventh Lavlgne took
hts turn at forcing. First he avoided
the negroes early rushes, then tore into
him and battered him back TO the ropes.
Walcott handed continually. The crowd
howled hopefully when the white boy
staggered Walcott with a fierce right
cross counter.
Through the eighth they slugged on
even terms. In the ninth Walcott made