The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-05-13

the incompatible Critic. beat Johnn!
Griffin and knocked out Andy Bowen
famous for having Tough, the longest
tight On rccord-ll0 rounds with Jack
Rurke at New Orlcans) in fourteen
rounds. He heat Jack Evcrhardt ana
knocked out Jimmy Handler and fought
a twenty round draw with Critic at
Maspeth.
Here Was Battle.
Then came the great fight with wal
cott--a fight that always will be ono or
the most famous in the annals or inc
ropcd ring.
Walcott was considered peer OF al
wcltcrwcights. although at that time
able to fight several pounds under INC
14o pound limit Of his class. LaVlEnc
was recognized as lightweight champion
OF America. succeeding Jack McAu!iNc'
who had retired
Tom ORourke. walcotts manager
was ambitious to have his Demon" an
mex tho lightweight title. He made
match for Walcott with l.aviGnc, wal
colt to weigh in at l3S pounds and 10
lose the decision il he failed 10 stop La
vignc In fifteen rounds.
Walcott was a terrific hitter. Only
5 feet, inch tall (whtlc Larignc was =
fec, 3lGl. he had tho arms and chest or
heavyweight Blows bounced from his
rounded turrct Of head as if he were
ar1nor-clad o. Rourkc was willing 10
match him against Tom Sharkcy-that
what he thought Of Walcott
In the first round the BLACK Demon
tried to knock whitc-Skinncd LafiGnc
out with terrific furry of blows. But
! Lavigne hurled himself in against thcm'
Iavigne wasn't there 10 stay hltcen
rounds" he was there TO whip the negro
Nothing could stop him. Rush after
! rush. wild mixup after miNun. crashing
thuddine fists. rccline impact ot steam
ing bodies. the fight went on round after
round. I.aviGnc's white skin was soon
criss-crosscd with streaming rivul"ts OF
red. His face was a blotch. One car
was torn. His eyes were closed j"
some extent Walcott was damaged too.
but on the coal-hl background OF
his skin the punishment hardly showed
No sponge Tor Lavigne.
Tho SPECTATORS began 10 call for the
sponrc They wanted to see laviEnc
give in. Many left the arena Hut La
vigne fought on with growing fury. Ana
Walcott having delivered cvorE hghtine
ounce that was in him. lost heart ut last
arms and backed away. Going To his
corner with five rounds yet To fight he
cried to O'Roukc: Il KANT whip that
white boy, I kaiut whip him. ORouke
furious over the prospect of losing fight
and side bet. bent over WAlcott and
threatened hIm-told him what would
happen II he quit" With fear behind
and Iavisne raging in fron'--a crimson
fury who never stopped fighting Tor
second and who couldn't b. driven back
or held in WalCott's desperate grlp--thc
'tBlack Demon" stalled through. taking
bad beating before the fifteen rounds
were over. and losing a decision on the
merits Of tho fight.
That hattie made Lavigne famous the
world over. He boxed no decision bouts
with Jack McAufiffc and Tommy Ryan
in New York and then sailed for Eng
land to fight Dick RurEc for tho worlds
lightweight title. Burgc being champion
OF England.
F.1cuSins the result Of that fight tho
Fn.lish rhroniClrr OF events for the Ma
tional Sporting club wrote:
"IqviCno stripped for the ring Il per-
feet pocket Hercules. Though his height
was only : frct 81. inches his neck was
only half An inch smaller than Fob Fitz-
simmons"
Burgc in truth was much larger man.
The English writers made small mention
Of that fact But the fight was tn have
been Mt 1:5 pounds IN the afternoon OF
tho fight. Lavignc weighed no NOR"
than 100. Blr,;r. shortly before tho date.
refused l." max" III" weight md insisted
upon being nlulw"d TO weigh in Mt 1I1
pounds. And whom Weighing in time
came H., wouldn't weigh at all. He nm
doubt ndly scaled $50 pounds or moro. Hc-
cnrding I" sam Fitzpatrick. who man
aged the american. MIR R"ttirsnn nf III"
y. 6. =. Offered to call tn" fich: off if
l.uvignr wished. because BurE% wouldn't
mako weight or AT least to ;ldv"rtis" that
the Americans championship i,tlo WAS
n"i at stake. iiut l.avlEnc InuEhinEly
told Mr.. Rctiinson thai he didn't car"
what Burg" wrGhcd--aud the till" could
20 with tho fight if Eurec scaled Il ton.
Rurgr WAS 1t very clever boxer and a
tremendous faTnritr in =" hitting. Eng
land cons idcr.d him Invirrih!". especially !
when the two cumc together. and lhr
rugged Englishman lowered inches above