George "Kid" Lavigne
(George Henry Lavigne)
(the "Saginaw Kid")
BORN December 6 1869; Bay City, Michigan DIED March 9 1928; Detroit, Michigan (Early sources reported April 6 1936; Detroit, Michigan) HEIGHT 5-3 1/2 WEIGHT 124-140 lbs MANAGER Sam Fitzpatrick Lavigne was sturdy and muscular in build; He was very quick and a hard hitter; His power far exceeded his size; He was rough and durable; His reach was 64 1/2 inches; Lavigne was inducted into the Ring Boxing Hall of Fame in 1959 and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1998
During his career, Lavigne defeated such men as Joe Walcott, Dick Burge, Eddie Connolly, Tom Tracey, "Wilmington" Jack Daly, Joe Soto, Johnny Griffin, Jerry Marshall, Andy Bowen and Jack Everhardt
Cyber Boxing Champion - George "Kid" Lavigne
Final record TB:55 W:35 KO:19 D:10 L:6 ND:4
George "Kid" Lavigne was born in Bay City Michigan on Dec. 6, 1869. He began his professional career on September 7, 1885. Nicknamed the Saginaw Kid because he began fighting at the ripe old age of 16 out of the Michigan town.
In 1894 he fough a historic battle with Andy Bowen, a New Orleans fighter who, along with Jack Burke, had fought the longest contest on record. Lavigne knocked out Bowen who died the next day due to the severe beating which Lavinge administered.
In June 1896, Lavigne met Dick Burge in London and won the World Lightweight Crown when he knocked out the Englishman in 17 rounds. George defended his title against Jack Everhardt(w.25), Kid Mcpartland(w.25), Eddie Connolly(w.ko11), Joe Walcott(w.12), Jack Daly(d20), Frank Erne(d20), and Tom Tracey(w.20). Lavigne finally lost his title when in a return match Frank Erne defeated him over 20 rounds on July 3, 1899.
Lavigne fought on sparingly until the age of forty. He died in Detroit, Michigan on March 9, 1928.
By Kevin Smith
1886 Sep 7 Morris McNally Saginaw, Mi KO 1 Sep 11 Billy White Saginaw, Mi KO 1 Sep 21 Billy Roberts Saginaw, Mi KO 3 Oct 19 Bob Ralph Saginaw, Mi KO 3 Oct 28 Jimmy Priest Saginaw, Mi KO 3 Nov 3 Pat Connors Saginaw, Mi KO 5 Nov 18 Red Elliott Saginaw, Mi W 4 Dec 28 Jack Cherry Saginaw, Mi W 8 1887 Jan 9 Pike Johnson Saginaw, Mi W 8 1888 Mar 3 Billy Bushey Saginaw, Mi EX 4 Jun 10 an unknown Manistee, Mi KO 3 Sep 21 Jack Menton Manistee, Mi W 12 1889 Mar 1 George Siddons Saginaw, Mi D 77 -This bout lasted more than 5 hours Mar 10 Butch Kenney Manistee, Mi W 4 Apr 26 George Siddons Grand Rapids, Mi D 55 -Featherweight Championship of Michigan May 12 Billy O'Brien Detroit, Mi W 4 1890 Nov 12 Sam Eaton Bay City, Mi TK 6 1891 Oct 15 Jimmy Lewis San Francisco, Ca W 4 Nov 20 Joe Soto San Francisco, Ca KO 30 1892 Danny Needham San Francisco, Ca EX 4 Mar 17 Charles Rochette San Francisco, Ca W 10 -Some sources report 3/17/93 May 25 Harry Jones Portland, Or KO 8 Aug 10 Jim Burge San Francisco, Ca D 50 Nov 21 Martin Shaughnessy Bay City, Mi KO 9 1893 Feb 11 Eddie Myer Dana, Il KO 22 Mar 17 Billy Gaffney Detroit, Mi W 10 1894 Feb 10 Young Griffo Chicago, Il D 8 Mar 7 "Solly" Smith Saginaw, Mi W 8 -Some sources report "D 8" Sep 17 Jerry Marshall Brooklyn, NY W 10 Oct 29 Johnny T. Griffin Coney Island, NY TK 15 -Police intervened; Some sources report "W 15" Dec 14 Andy Bowen New Orleans, La KO 18 -Bowen was knocked down and struck his head on the floor; He died the next day 1895 Feb 4 Eddie Myer Saginaw, Mi ND 8 -This bout was part of a Benefit for Andy Bowen's widow Apr 11 Jerry Marshall Chicago, Il D 8 May 30 Jack Everhardt Coney Island, NY W 20 Aug 26 Jimmy Handler Maspeth, NY KO 5 Oct 12 Young Griffo Maspeth, NY D 20 Dec 2 Joe Walcott Maspeth, NY W 15 1896 Jan 9 Billy Woods New York, NY EX 4 Jan 9 Tommy Ryan New York, NY EX 4 Mar 11 Jack McAuliffe New York, NY EX 6 -Some sources report "NC 6" Jun 1 Dick Burge London, Eng TK 17 -Lightweight Championship of the World Jul 20 Charles McKeever New York, NY EX 6 -Some sources report "L 6" Oct 27 Jack Everhardt New York, NY TK 24 -Lightweight Championship of the World Dec 23 Charles McKeever New York, NY SCH -Lightweight Championship of the World This bout was scheduled but prevented by police 1897 Jan 11 Owen Ziegler Philadelphia, Pa ND 6 Feb 8 William "Kid" McPartland New York, NY W 25 -Lightweight Championship of the World Mar 8 Charles McKeever Philadelphia, Pa ND 6 Apr 28 Eddie Connolly Brooklyn, NY TK 11 -Lightweight Championship of the World; Some sources report 4/30/97 May 17 Owen Ziegler Philadelphia, Pa ND 6 Jun 28 Young Griffo Philadelphia, Pa SCH -This bout was scheduled but not held; Lavigne did not show Oct 29 Joe Walcott San Francisco, Ca TK 12 -Lightweight Championship of the World 1898 Feb 3 Jack Hammond Detroit, Mi EX 4 Mar 17 "Wilmington" Jack Daly Cleveland, Oh D 20 -Lightweight Championship of the World Mar 31 Ed Rucker Louisville, Ky EX 3 Mar 31 Jim Watts Louisville, Ky EX 3 -Different sources report the same date for the previous 2 bouts Apr 11 "Wilmington" Jack Daly Philadelphia, Pa ND 6 Sep 12 Frank Erne Brooklyn, NY SCH -Lightweight Championship of the World This bout was scheduled but not held; Police intervened Sep 28 Frank Erne Brooklyn, NY D 20 -Lightweight Championship of the World Nov 25 Tom Tracey San Francisco, Ca W 20 -Lightweight Championship of the World 1899 Mar 10 "Mysterious" Billy Smith San Francisco, Ca LT 14 -Welterweight Championship of the World Apr 25 Andy Daly Berlin, NH D 10 Jul 3 Frank Erne Buffalo, NY L 20 -Lightweight Championship of the World Oct 6 George "Elbows" McFadden Brooklyn, NY LK 19 Nov 18 Whitey Lester New York, NY TK 7 1901 Dec 12 Tim Hegarty Oakland, Ca KO 4 1902 May 29 Jimmy Britt San Francisco, Ca LT 8 -Some sources report 5/25/02 1905 Jun 1 Jack Roberts Paris, Fr KO 5 Oscar "Battling" Nelson Detroit, Mi EX 3 1906 Joe Gans Detroit, Mi EX 3 1907 Jan 19 Young Erne Philadelphia, Pa LT 6 1908 Oscar "Battling" Nelson Detroit, Mi EX 3 1909 Dec 25 Dick Nelson Detroit, Mi L 6 1910 Ad Wolgast Detroit, Mi EX 2 *** The Following Bouts Are Reported But Not Confirmed *** 1898 Oct 19 Patsy Sweeney Boston, Ma D 6 Nov 16 Patsy Sweeney Boston, Ma L 4 *** Assistance Was Provided By Sergei Yurchenko ***
Record courtesy of Tracy Callis, Historian, International Boxing Research Organization
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