1939-05-27 — Page 21

THE CHINA MAIL, MAY 27, 1989.

Punch-Drunk Kid Lavigne Wins In 23rd Round To Earn Title Of

By Leo Fuller

TOUGHEST GUY IN HISTORY

OF THE

RING

where

is a mystery, but he got the strength drilled into Everhardt's chin, he slump- ed to the canvas and lay there inert, not a muscle twitching!

Unique Challenge

was

Left Ear Half Off

to.

With his abnormally long arms and legs, Walcott presented a spidery ap- pearance, but Lavigne continued play the part of the cautious fly. Time and time again he threw himself into a web of vicious punches; he took smash after smash on his head and body, and by the middle of the contest he was drenched in blood.

In the seventh round, the negro swung a cutting punch that ripped the Kid's left ear half off. On top of that he had lost several teeth, and his right eye was tightly clos- ed! Yet, for not a second did he let up his burning attack.

•

THIS is the tale of a tough guy.1dering loft hooks to the stomach. Bo-j THis name was George Lavigne wen went down like a shot partridge, and he was still out when they carried and they called him the 'Saginaw him to the dressing room. He was Kid.

He was the second light-rushed to a hospital at once, but, al-

When Everhardt gained con- weight champion in modern fight though he rallied slightly, he died ear-

sciousness, the only mark he show- history, he looked like a sixteen-ly next morning.

This was a tragic tribute to the 'Sa- ed was a swelling on the point of year-old schoolboy, but actually ginaw Kid's dynamic punch, but in the jaw, whereas Lavigne” was_in such a state that he had to be led possessed an almost inhuman re-his next title defence Lavigne was on

across the ring by his manager to sistance to punishment. He took the receiving end of terrible punish- He boxed Jack Everhardt, a ment,

shake hands with his victim. part in some of the worst slaughter great fighter with an undefeated re- An hour later fighters and fans were house fights ever known, and was cord, and this was a contest that had crowded in the bar of a New York possessed of that kind of courage the crowd on its feet from the first sporting club, drinking champagne. found usually in high bred animals. bell. The challenger practically jab- Fitzpatrick, with a table spoon,

bed the champion's head off, and pouring the sparkling liquid between His first defence of his title was in brought roars from the fans as he Lavigne's bruised lips, as by now the New Orleans where he traded granite used a beautiful right cross, planting victorious champion couldn't see at all!

Walcott made a target of the ear, punches with a battler of the name of it unerringly in the Kid's face. Savage-

and Fitzpatrick was busy with adhesive Straight away there ly Lavigne attacked, but he ran into a Andy Bowen.

tape in the interval, sticking it flat occurred the type of drama that was brick-wall defence. Before half a doz- The greatest fight of this hard-case Walcott, swinging his right hand,

the Kid's against

head. However, to dog the Kid's footsteps throughout en rounds had gone by, Lavigne was Kid's career was when he boxed the knocked the plaster off every round. his blazing career. For the first few ripped to ribbons, his face a mask of famous negro warrior, Joe Walcott, rounds the men fought on equal terms, blood.

The tide of battle changed around who at that time was welterweight the tenth round. Absolutely undaunt- but after about the sixth session La- Feverishly the champion's manager. champion of the world. The negro had ed by his injuries, Lavigne simply vigne got going with his merciless Sam Fitzpatrick patched him up as been mowing down his foes with the broke the negro's heart. Despair was swings, and he proceeded to hand out well as possible after cach round, but deadliness of a machine-gun, and both graven on the darkie's face. He had a fearful beating to the challenger. by the fifteenth session the Kid looked he and Lavigne were considered Unhooking punch after punch, he belt like a job for the undertakers. His

un-given everything in his tremendous bentable in their class. the ring, and the ed Bowen around

effort to put the little man down, but nose was broken, both eyes were closed crowd were dumbfounded to find Bowen to slits, and blood was pouring from

One day the fighters' managers had here he was still ripping to the body still on his feet at the end of the tenth him mouth and right ear.

an argument in a bar. Walcott's pilot with powerful short arm blows, still round, battered and bleeding from a With animal rage, Lavigne pressed said Joe could train down to the then punching

limit-133 pounds-and dozen wounds, Finding his foe's head the fight, only to catch raking punches lightweight

The fifteenth and last round ended rounds, with the great Walcott, eyes staring, a tough nut to crack, Lavigne shifted from the cool, self possessed Ever-knock out Lavigne in fifteen

provided that Walcott was allowed to breath rasping, knees trembling, as he his attack to the body, and he blasted hardt.

weigh in four hours before the fight. swayed against the ropes; and it ended a hundred crushing blows to Bowen's

Furthermore, if the Kid were on his with the Saginaw Kid' almost cut to ribs, hurling him across the ring, and hammering him up against the ropes.

Lavigne was a punch bag by the feet at the end of the fifteen sessions, pieces, but still fighting like a bear cat. From the fifteenth round, the Kid, in twenty-second round, and it was ob-he was to be declared the winner.

This unique contest was the talk of there. He held his lightweight cham- The tale of this tough guy didn't end desperation, went absolutely fight mad. viously only heart' that kept him go- Sinking his head between his shoulders ing at all. His manager pleaded with the New York sporting world for pionship for six years, knocked out he mowed in, thrashing the air with him to turn it in, but he refused with weeks, and the negro was made a heavy twenty men, beat fourteen. He only his powerful arms, and landing with a brief shake of his battered head. Up favourite. No one could imagine La-lost four contests, and thunderbolt force on his foe's head and came the twenty-third round, and back vigne avoiding Walcott's lethal right knocked out. He received in his career. next three rounds it to the wars steamed the Kid. He was hand for fifteen rounds. To their utter enough punishment to kill a regiment, body. For the was murder, and Bowen bent before almost blind, and was drenched with amazement, the Kid didn't try. Instead but he was always punching at the last

his own gore. But he rushed over to of ducking the negro's heavy batteries, bell. Somehow they don't make the blast like a tree in a hurricane.

the challenger before the latter could the little lightweight champion blazed like the Saginaw Kid' these days. Tragic Tribute

leave his corner. He crowded to the to the attack from the first bell, carry- Out from his corner for the eigh-ropes, and sank a left hand to his ing the fight to his much larger foe, teenth round came the champion, and stomach. Then, pivotting round, he and giving the fans a battle that is Monday-L'il Perpetual Motion--Henry he hit the weakened Bowen four shud-smashed over a tremendous right hook, still talked of.

Mystery Right Hook

Racing Time Guide

(Continued from Page 20)

3.04.1-Silkylight (Pote-Hunt, 161); 2, Moonlight View (Wong, 161); 3, Red Feather (Wei, 161). 3 & 3. (A.M. 1).

3.26,0-Celtic Star (Marshall, 158) and

WORLD TITLE

11.03.0--Sydney Lad (Proulx, 155); FIGHT POSTPONED

2,

Victory Day (Tao, 162); 3, Rising Star (Marshall, 152).

1⁄2 & 2. (A.M. 3).

1.06,2-Bruno (Churchill 151); Baffin Bay (Wei, 145); 3, Ruby Star (S. W. Pan, 145). 2 and 1. (3rd E.).

One Mile

Marksman (T. L. Wong, '158) dead-heated för first; 3, Febru- ary Fourth (Liang, 155). Dead-1,46,2-Lancashire Chips (Wei, 147); heat & 4, (A.M. 4).

1 Miles

3.40.3-Silkylight (Pote-Hunt, 161); 2, Red Feather (Wei, 161). Many. 2 starters only. (A.M. 2). AUSTRALIAN PONIES

Six Furlongs 1.18.8 Vixen Tor (Proulx, 152); 2, Criffel (Needa, 155); 3, Strath- carrick (Gregory, 145). 3 & head. (A.M. 3).

· 1.19.1-Cockleroi (Nesda, 152); 2, De-

vonian

155);

3, (Hearne, Triumphant Day (Tao, 156). Neck & 2. (A.M. 1).

London, To-day-The Harvey- McAvoy fight for the world cruis- er-weight championship which was fixed for June 22, has now been postponed owing to the fact: his that McAvoy has a boil on right side.-Router.

2, Lucky Lad (Needa, 152); 3, 1.59.2 Double Finesse (Woo, 140). 3 and 5. (2nd E, 1).

1.46.3-Blandford (Poy, 147); 2, Snowy River (Hearne, 148); 3, Vixen Tor (Proulx, 149). Neck & 6. (A.M. 1).

1.47.2-King's Privilege (V. V. Needa,

1.20.2-Rising Star (Raymond, 147);

2, Murrumbidgee (Black, 143); 1.49.3 3, Amber II (Ip Kni Ying, 144). 1% and 6 (2nd E. 1).

1.22.0-Victory Day (Tao, 150); 2, Ri- valet (Pih, 152); 3, Rising Star (Marshall, 152). Short head & 2. (A.M. 1).

146); 2, Criffel (B. A. Proulx, 155); 3, A Great Time (T. Y., Woo, 150). and short head. (1st E.).

Discovery Bay (Yuen, 140); 2. A Great Time (Woo, 162): 3, Macquarie River (Wei, 140). 1 and short head. (2nd E 2).

:

(COPYRIGHT)

Armstrong.

DAVIS CUP

was never

England's Doubles Victory

'em

England are one-up in their Davis Cup tie with France as the result of the splendid victory of their doubles team, Charles Hare and Frank Wilde, over Petra and The score was 6-3.

2.02.0-Sydney Lad (Needa, 158); 2. Pelizza,

Baffin Bay (Wei, 144); 36—3, 3——6, 5—6 and 6–3, Bruno (Churchill, 155). and] 3. (4th E.).

The Frenchman led 3-1 in the 2.04.1-Triumphant Day (Tao, 165); 2, first set.

Chiltern (Encarnacao, 156); 3, Devonian (Black, 150). 2 and 2. (Brd E.).

11 Miles Lucky Lad (Needa, 154); 2, Lancashire Chips (Black, 154); 8. Able Amazon (S. W. Pan, 154)., Neck & 8. ̧ (AM. 2). 2.15.1-Courting Eye (Pib, 158); 2. Lucky Lad (Needa, 162); 3,1 Snowy River (Raymond, 157). 1% and 2%. (4th® E.); 2.16.8-Lucky Lad (V. V. Needa, 152); 2, Snowy River (P. Y. T. Wei, 149); 8, Lancashire Chipa (D. Black, 152). neck and 1%. ́(A.M. 6).

2, Laffat 1.49.2-Rivulet (Pih, 152);

That (Happy Landings) (Da-2.14.3 vis, 152); 8, Devonian (Hearne, 155). 1 & 1%. (A.M. 2). Chiltern (C. Encarnacao, 155); 2, Devonian (D. Black, 155); 8, National Victory (S. W. Tang, 152). 1 and 2 (lat E.). 1.50.1-Candlelight (Pote-Hunt, 152); 2, Triumphant Day (Tao, 165); 3, King's Herald (Needa, 152). Many & 8. (A,M, 2).

(Chanson, Victory -National 152); 2, Murrumbidgee (Black, 161): 8, Bruno (Churchill, 147).

1⁄2 and head. (2nd E 2).,

1 Milo 171 Yards Lancashire Chips (Black, 152); 2, Able Amazon (Marshall, 155); 3, Snow River (Hearzio, 149), 2 and neck, (A.M; 4). 1.68.4-Criffel (Needs, 160); 2, Tor- mado Star (Wel, 150); 3, Bland- ford (Poy, 185). S and 2.

1.22.1-Perfect Day (Tang, 138); 2,

Twilight Star (S. W. Pan, 146); 1.50.1 8, Murray River (Wei, 141). 1 and short fread. (3rd E).

Half Mile 170 Yards

1.01.3--Bredon (B. A. Pronix, 156); 2,

A Great Time (V.. Neoday! 162); -9, Strathcarrick (C L. Gregory, 182), 3 and 2 (A.M.

5).

1.01.4-Derby Day (P

Tor (ProuÍ

Vixen Criffel

(thi

2.20.0

The Englishmen were erratic in the third and fourth sets but re- gained their understanding in the fifth, and Wilde serving, love-game for set and match. Reuter,

won &

CHAPMAN AND BRUEN BEATEN

Hoylake, To-day.

In the sixth round of the Amateur

Happy Landings (Davis, 152); Golf Championship, A. Kyle, Walker 2, Devonian (Hearne, 155); 3 Cup player, beat the favourite, National Victory (Chanson, Bruen, one up. 162), 2 & 4. (A.M. 4).

11⁄2 Miles":

Duncan beat Chapman five and

2.40.0-Triumphant Day (Tao, 156); 2, three. Holt beat Thom three and Chiltern (Encarnaçao, 155); 8, two. Bruen was one up at the Cockleroi (Needs, 168). 8 &* ninth.-Reuter.

hand. (A.M. 8).