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
New Book - Hitters, Dancers and Ring Magicians - by Kelly Nicholson - see amazon.com

New Book - Muscle and Mayhem - by Lauren Chouinard - see amazon.com

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


 Most of the following updated record compilation comes from the book Muscle and Mayhem 
  by Lauren Chouinard  

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 Elliot                 Saginaw, Mi                       W  4
Dec 28 Jack Cherry                Saginaw, Mi                       W  8

1887
Feb 12 Red Elliot                 Saginaw, Mi                      ND  3

1888
Feb 10 Dan Connors                Saginaw, Mi                      KO  5
Mar  2 Pike Johnson               Saginaw, Mi                       D  8
Jun 10 an unknown                 Manistee, Mi                     KO  3
Sep 21 Jack Menton                Manistee, Mi                      W 12

1889
Feb 28 George Siddons             Saginaw, Mi                       D 77
         -This bout lasted 5 hours 8 minutes;
           Some sources report 3/01/89
Mar 10 Butch Kinney               Manistee, Mi                      W  4
Apr 16 Billy Bushy                Saginaw, Mi                      EX  4
Apr 25 George Siddons             Grand Rapids, Mi                  D 55
         -Some sources report Featherweight Championship of Michigan
           on 4/26/89
May 12 Billy O'Brien              Detroit, Mi                       W  4
Dec 23 Billy Bushy                Saginaw, Mi                      EX  4

1890
Nar 13 Morris McNally             Saginaw, Mi                       W  3
Apr 14 Billy Boucher              Saginaw, Mi                       D  3
May 19 Jack O'Brien               Saginaw, Mi                      EX  3
Nov 12 Sam Eaton                  West Bay City, Mi                TK  6

1891
Oct 15 Jimmy Lewis                San Francisco, Ca                 W  4
Nov 20 Joe Soto                   San Francisco, Ca                TK 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
Jan 31 John Hayes                 Saginaw, Mi                      EX  3
Feb 12 Eddie Myer                 Dana, Il                         KO 22
         -Some sources report 2/11/93
Mar 29 Billy Gaffney              Detroit, Mi                      ND 10
         -Some sources report "W 10" on 3/17/93
Apr    Charley Mitchell           Ludington, Mi                    ND  4
Apr 23 Bobby Dobbs                Minneapolis, Mn                  EX   
Aug 21 "Mysterious" Billy Smith   Saginaw, Mi                      EX  3

1894
Feb 10 Young Griffo               Chicago, Il                       D  8
Mar  7 "Solly" Smith              Saginaw, Mi                       D  8
         -Some sources report "W 8"
May 25 Dick O'Brien               Boston, Ma                       ND  6
Jun  4 Billy Hennessey            Boston, Ma                       ND  4
Sep 17 Jerry Marshall             New York, NY                      W 10
         -Some sources report "Brooklyn, NY"
Oct 29 Johnny T. Griffin          Brooklyn, NY                     TK 15
         -Police intervened; Some sources report "W 15";
          Some sources report "Coney Island, NY"
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                      EX  3
         -This bout was part of a Benefit for Andy Bowen's widow;
          Some sources report "ND 8"
Apr 11 Jerry Marshall             Chicago, Il                       D  8
May 30 Jack Everhardt             New York, NY                      W 20
         -Some sources report "Coney Island, NY"
Aug 26 Jimmy Handler              New York, NY                     KO  5
Oct 12 Young Griffo               New York, NY                      D 20
Dec  2 Joe Walcott                New York, NY                      W 15
          -The previous 3 bouts were held at "Maspeth, Long Island"

1896
Jan  9 Billy Woods                New York, NY                     EX  4
Jan  9 Tommy Ryan                 New York, NY                     EX  4
         -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Mar 11 Jack McAuliffe             New York, NY                     EX  6
         -Some sources report "NC 6"
Jun  1 Dick Burge                 London, England                  TK 17
         -Lightweight Championship of the World
Jul 20 Charles McKeever           New York, NY                     ND  6
          -Police were present to prevent hard hitting
Oct 27 Jack Everhardt             New York, NY                     KO 24
         -Lightweight Championship of the World
Dec 23 Charles McKeever           New York, NY                    SCH   
          -Lightweight Championship of the World;
           This bout was scheduled but not held; Police prevented the bout;
           The men were not happy about the amount of the purse either

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 30 Eddie Connolly             New York, NY                     TK 11
         -Lightweight Championship of the World;
          Some sources report 4/28/97 in "Brooklyn, NY"
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                 New York, NY                      D 20
         -Lightweight Championship of the World;
          Some sources report "Brooklyn, NY";
          Some sources report "Coney Island, NY"
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;
          Welterweight Championship of America
Jul  3 Frank Erne                 Buffalo, NY                       L 20
         -Lightweight Championship of the World;
          Some sources report "New York, NY"
Oct  6 George "Elbows" McFadden   New York, NY                     LK 19
         -Some sources report "Brooklyn, NY"

1901
Aug 23 Ed Sholtreau (Sheltraw)    Saginaw, Mi                      EX  3
Dec 12 Tim Hegarty                Oakland, Ca                      KO  4

1902
May 29 Jimmy Britt                San Francisco, Ca                LT  8
         -Lavigne broke a hand in round two;
          Some sources report 5/25/02

1905
Jun  1 Jack Roberts               Paris, France                    TK  5
       Oscar "Battling" Nelson    Detroit, Mi                      EX  3

1907
Jan 19 Young Erne                 Philadelphia, Pa                 LT  6

1908       
       Oscar "Battling" Nelson    Detroit, Mi                      EX  3

1909
Dec 17 Oscar "Battling" Nelson    Detroit, Mi                      EX   
Dec 25 Dick Nelson                Detroit, Mi                       L  6

1910
       Ad Wolgast                 Detroit, Mi                      EX  2
Dec 19 Oscar "Battling" Nelson    Detroit, Mi                      EX  4

1911
Feb  3 Mickie Sheridan            Windsor, Ontatio, Canada         EX  3
Feb  3 Ad Wolgast                 Windsor, Ontario, Canada         EX  2
         -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date


*** The Following Bouts Are Reported But Not Confirmed ***

1886
Nov  3 Pat Connors                Saginaw, Mi                      KO  5

1887
Jan  9 Pike Johnson               Saginaw, Mi                       W  8

1888
Mar  3 Billy Bushy                Saginaw, Mi                      EX  4

Undated (Possibly 1888 or 1889)
       Paddy Kelly                                                  ?   

Undated (Likely 1890 or 1891)
       Chub Whitney                                                 W  6

Undated (Possibly 1896)
       Jim Popp                                                     ?   

1898
Feb 21 Billy Layton               Hot Springs, Ar                 SCH   
         -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
Oct 19 Patsy Sweeney              Boston, Ma                        D  6
Nov 16 Patsy Sweeney              Boston, Ma                        L  4

1899
Apr 25 Andy Daly                  Berlin, NH                        D 10
Nov 18 Whitey Lester              New York, NY                     TK  7

Undated (1895-1904)
       Freddie Green              Canton, Oh                        D 20

Undated (Likely 1903-1905)
       George Reynolds            Paris, France                    EX   

1906       
       Joe Gans                   Detroit, Mi                      EX  3

1912
May  1 Harry Gilmore              Windsor, Ontario, Canada        SCH   
         -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
Dec 17 George Kattel              Cherry Valley, Il               SCH   
         -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known

*** Updated Record Provided By Lauren D. Chouinard ***

*** Assistance Was Provided By Sergei Yurchenko ***

Review courtesy of Tracy Callis, Historian, International Boxing Research Organization