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.comLavigne 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