The New York herald., 1922-07-28
CHIEF EVENTS IN
1856 POUND GLASS
Lavigne and Leonard RespOn-
sible for Retention of
Worlds Title.

! Beyond doubt the lightweight class in,
American pugilism in the matter Of
public interest and sensational. perform
ances Is second in importance only to
the heavyweight division. The holders of
the lightweight title kept the worlds
championship Of the class on American
soil for eighteen successive years George
Lavigne was the first American cham
| pion to capture the worlds title. he win
| ming the honors in bout with Dick
| Burge In London. June /, 1896, and they
| remained with American boxers till JULY
7, 1914. when Willie Ritchie lost the
crown to Freddie Welsh in London.
Welsh held the title till May 2s. 1917.
when Benny Leonard regained the honors
for America by stopping Welsh in this
city in the ninth round
Up to the present time the worlds title
has remained In the United States for
twenty-three years.
Foreign Born Champions.
The title OF the lightweight class In
America was tussled over by foreigners
till the early '90s. when McAuiffe, who
was born in Ireland. retired and gave
the opportunity to George Lavigne,
native American. to claim and success
Auiiy ueieHo the LOT many
years. Abe Hicken was the first re-
corded title holder. and when he retired
In 1872 three Englishmen. Arthur Cham
bers, Billy Edwards and Johnny Clark.
had a series OF battles for the honors
Chambers came out on top beating
Edwards and Clark, after which for lack
Of new opponents the title was permitted
to lapse. Statements to the effect that
Jack Dempsey was lightweight champion
at the outset OF his career. ~
In 1884 Jack McAuliffe began to show
class, and after winning several anna
teur competitions. he challenged a rival
named Jimmy Mitchen to box for the
title. Mitchen declined the issue and
McAuliffe thereupon claimed title and
defended the American championship
with great success.
McAuline's status.
McAuliffe has been enormously cred
tied with holding the worlds title He
never had but one bout for the worlds
championship. and really lost to Jem
Carney at Revere Beach, Mass. Nov 1s.
1887, although the referee generously
gave the American draw after Nc
Auliffe's friends had broken up the ring
In the seventy-fourth round. when the
American champion was hopelessly
beaten McAuliffe was fairly beaten In
ten round bout by Young Grffo at
Coney Island August %. 1892. but the
referee again saved him and decided
against Griffo. A
In the early '90s George Lavigne. a
product of the Michigan lumber woods.
and known as the Saginaw Kid. began
to loom large as a knocker out Nc
Aulixe was challenged by the Kid, but
first decided to try to test the youngster
in short bout. II was a six round
contest in this city, March IL. 1896. and
after sampling Lavigne's punching
power McAuliffe decided that the time
to retire had arrived. z.
Lavigne at once declared himself to
be the head OF the eiasS and met all
comers, winning consistently and decis-
lively. Tne most notable feat of the
Saginaw Kid was to bring the worlds
lightweight title to America Shortly
after laying claim to the American title
Lavigne accepted an offer to meet Dick
Burge. the British champion. in a bout
in London for the worlds title
The bout took place in the National
Sporting Club, London, June 1, 1896.
and Lavigne won by knockout in the
seventeenth round. Frme and money
turned Lavigne's head and he set so
fast pace that in less than three years
he was but memory of the man who
impelied McAuliffe to retire and who
wrested the worlds crown from Burge. 81
Title Changes Quickly.
r Lavigne lost title to Frank Erne in a
twenty round bout at Buffalo, July 3.
1899 the decision being on points.
Erne did not retain the title long, he
losing to Cans at Fort Erie. Canada. a
May IL. 1902. The title holder was
knocked in Grov
first punch that Cans let go. and this
was the first time in history that a
champion was. disposed Of SO quickly
BY getting Cans In the ring on an un-
fair weight condition, the champion he
Ing compelled to weigh with trunks and
shoes. making his actual weight 1914
pounds ringside. Battling Nelson man.
aged to stop Cans in the seventeenth ),
round July 4, 1908. The unnatural weight
reduction sapped the negro's vitality.
sent him into a decline and resulted In
his death in 1910.
Ad Wolgast won the title from Nelson
In the fortieth round at Port Richmond.
Cal, February 22 1910. and Willie
Ritchie won title from wolgast on a
foul at Daily City. 1912.
Richie lost the worlds title to Freddie
Welsh in London. July Z. 1914.
After spirited competition Benny
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
In this city May 2s, 1917. and thus
brought the worlds title back to Amer
lea.
weights I'm Title Fights.
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 titlea
of the class always has been defended
at 133 pounds rlngside. AS matter OF
fact. in eight times that the champion
ship changed hands IN America, and two
worlds title contests in England the
weight was 1873 pounds three times.
In McAulffe's last title bout with
Billy Myer. the champion weighed 1874
pounds. Lavigne won from Burge at
l3s pounds. Lavigne lost to Erne at.
1876 pounds, and Erne lest to Cans at
i36 pounds. Cans lost to Nelson at 1914
pounds although the articles called for
133 and wolgast lost to Richie at 133
That ended the 1873 bouts Richie lost
to Welsh at 1876, and Welsh lost to
Leonard at 125. Leonard certainly will .
not defend his title at less than 1856.
which now is officially the interna-
tional weight of the class. .
Period. Years.