The Sun and the New York herald., 1920-07-18

comers, winning consistently and decis-
lively. Tho most notable feat OF the
Saginaw Kid was to bring the worlds
lightweight title TO America, Shortly
after laying claim 10 the American title
Lavigne accepted an offer 10 meet Dick
Burge. the British champion, In bout
In London for the worlds title.
The bout took place in tho National
Sporting Club, London. June |, 1895, and
LaNgne won by knockout In the seven
teenth round. Fame and money turned
Iiavlgne's head and he set so fast pace
that In less than three years he was but
memory Of the man who impelled Nc
Auliffe TO retire and who wrested the
worlds crown from Burge,
Lavigne lost title to Frank Erne In a
twenty round bout at Buffalo, July 3,
1890, the decision being on points.
Erne did not retain the title long, he
losing 10 Cans at Fort Erie, Canada,
May ~. 1902 The title holder was
knocked out in the first round with tho
first punch that Cans let go, and this
wOs the first time in history that a
champion was disposed Of so quickly.
vt Britt's Claims.
Jimmy Britt OF California set up n
speclous plea that Cans declinedtto make
tho weight demanded by Britt for a
match, and that therefore the negro for
feited title. This absurd claim never
was admitted by any one and Cans
showed how 'baseless II was by giving
Britt a terrific humping. October 81,
1904, Britt hitting foul when he was
nearly out in the twentieth round.
BY way Of good measure, Cans
knocked out Britt in the sixth round
September ., 1907.
Britt won from both Lavigne and
Erne after they had lost their titles, and
therefore the claim OF Britt 10 cham
pionshlp honors was utterly unfounded.
BY getting Cans in the ring on an un-
fair weight condition, the champion be-
ing compelled to weigh with trunks and
shoes, making his actual weight 131 "
pounds ringside, Battling Nelson man.
aged TO stop Cans in the seventeenth
round July 4, 1908. Tho unnatural weight
reduction sapped the negros vitality,
sent him into decline and resulted In
his death in 1910.
Ad Wolgast won title from Nelson in
the fortieth round at Port Richmond.
Cal, February %, 1910, and Willie Ritchie
won title from Wolgast on foul al
DAILY City, 1912.
Richie lost the worlds title to Freddie
Welsh in London. July Z, 1914, and while
Ritchle was still the American title
holder he declined to defend the cham
pionship, which lapsed and was open to
general competition.
After spirited competition, Benny
Leonard showed superiority over the
other claimants for the American title,
and clinched his claim by stopping
Richie Mitchell In seven rounds. Leo.
nard then stopped Welsh in nine rounds
brought the worlds title back to Amer
lea.
One OF the remarkable features Of the
lightweight competitions is the misap
prehension as to the weights at which
the title changed hands. The erroneous
impression has prevailed that the titl'
of the class always has been defended
at 1873 pounds ringside. AS a. matter o.
fact, In eight times that the champion
ship changed hands in America, anC
two worlds title contests in England the
weight was 1873 pounds three times.
In McAuliffe's last title bout witt
Billy Myer, the champion weighed 1871
pounds Lavigne won from Burge al
1888 pounds. Lavigne lost to Erne a
1876 pounds, and Erne lost to Cans a
1856 pounds. Cans lost to Nelson a
1919 pounds, although the articles
called for 1873 at rlngside. Nelson lost
to wolgast at l33 and Wolgast lost tC
Richie at 1873. That ended the 13;
bouts. Ritche lost to Welsh at 1876
and Welsh lost to Leonard at 1876. Leon
ard certainly will not defend his titl'
at less than 1856, which now is officially
the international weight of the class.