The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-07-11

Though Red Herring, working in Lavigne's corner, tossed the towel into the ring in the third round, end ing the bout as a technical knock out, there was no doubting the fact that the Kid was out. He was down, flat on his back, and Referee Dave Evans had tolled five over him when Red Rebel" Herring tossed the towel in. It was several seconds over the fatal ten before Lavigne finally staggered back to consciousness and was helped to his chair.
 Claude Landed Hard Ones
 After a preliminary round of spar ring and footwork, Claude Wilson started the beginning of the end with a stiff jab to the solar plexus. La vigne never winced, but other blows to his midsection slowed him up per- ceptibly, Along toward the middle of the round, Wilson sent across quick right to the jaw, and Lavigne went down, but only for a second or two. He was up at once, and bored in again. As the round was closing, Wilson sbot his right across again and Lavigne went down. The gong sounded as Referee Evans tolled the count.
 The third had scarcely begun when the youthful Claude started a perfect bombardment of rights to the jaw. mixed in with an occasional left or right uppercut to the midriff. and Lavigne went down, smotherd under the storm of blows. He bobbed up, to fall again. Three times he was felled. and three times he arose, each time with the light of battle gleaming in in his eyes, but with each successive jolt bit more of the enveloping glaze settling over his eyes
 Faced Defeat Gnmely
 Finally Lavigne was practically helpless, but he still faced Wilson determinedly, paving at the air with his gloved hands. Claude mercifully measured his foe with long right that settled the affair, and the veteran Cockney sank Imply to the floor. Red Herring's action in throwing in the towel saved the game old battler the Humiliation of the full count. La vigne weighed in at 120 and Wilson at 112h pounds.
 A fair gathering of rail birds wit messed the bout, and it was generally agreed that Wilson landed some hefty wallops, and scored a genuine knock out. The average Birmingham fan. however, probably hasn't to this day made up his mind about Wilson. Claude has looked like 8 million dol- lars against every ringman he has met since taking up boxing seriously. He has stopped three consecutive foes, and did each job in decisive fashion. Last night he was pitted against clever battler, man of some S5 years. it is true. but still with the huskiness of the trained athlete. It was the same old story. Wilson scored an easy vicory ana was not touched.
 There cA be but few deductions, and this one seems uppermost in the minds of the raifbirds: Claude Wilson is good.
 smiles Throws Lacey
 Homer Smiles of the Birmingham Athletic club today deserves all laurels he won at last nights 'athle- tic show. Smiles threw Tom Lacey of the Y. M. C. A. in the third round of their scheduled eight-round box ing match. The bout was as thrill ing a mat battle as Birmingham has witnessed in couple of years. bar ring none of the big fellows, even.
 The first round was Laceyss, due to the clever work of the ~" grapp- ler In the second session. however. Smiles. in executing flying arm lock throw, twisted his opponents ar0l, and Lacey seemed to weaken considerably under the strain. A mo- ment later, in breaking a scissors hold, which Lacey had secured, Smiles obtained toe hold that made his foe gasp and vince. relinquish- ing his hold with startling rapid ity. These two telling holds seemed to decide the issue. for 1t was very shortly after the third session began that Smiles won the bout.
 The third round had hardly begun when Smiles. leaping at his foe with panther-like speed. seized a regular Strangler Lewis headlock, and bore his opponent to the mat. With eacn frenzied lunge of Lacey, Smiles tightenld his hold, and the writhing of the under man told of the agony he was suffering. Smiles was not to be denied, and as Lacey attempted to bridge out of the hold. the B. A. C. man bore down heavily. and Lacey