How would this look like? Does Lavigne stand a chance? I´m not educated on the careers of either one, so I´d like to hear a bit about them.
I'd wager Lavigne stood a lot more than a chance, in fact with both men at their best I'd favor him based on what I know of the two.
Could you tell me why? Based on style? Blackburn is as much as I know a true p4p great who was successful against bigger guys. And I think I heard a story where he made Jack Johnson look bad in sparring. But like I said, I´m not educated on either of them and would like to have some more input.
bodhi, Kid Lavigne was a bulldog type lightweight champion, best known for beating the immortal Joe Wolcott twice...For the best info about 'The Saginaw Kid',check out on youtube- Kid Lavigne, then scroll to BLOOD and GUTS, written by Mike Casey...A great piece about the great Kid Lavigne...b.b.
Bodhi, I'm glad you brought up Lavigne because I have wondered for some time why the old timers of Bennys day rated him as good or better then Benny and just below Gans, but today he's not mentioned in any top ten lists. I've tried to find if Nat Fleisher rated him in his top ten lightweights but have been unable to find his ratings online. Anyone with any info here?
Lavigne seemed the typical case of a fighter who burned as bright as could be in his prime, but fizzled out quicker than most due to his kamikaze style of fighting. The man out-fought (not out-boxed) and out-slugged The Barbados Demon Joe Walcott twice, stopping him in 12 in the rematch. That's a hell of a feat for a natural Lightweight. He sounds like a monster. My guess is that no fighter around that weight is taking it to a guy like Lagivne, at least not from in or around his era.
Hey just found this article. Don´t know if you guys know it. It seems Lavigne was even forgotten in the 20s! :shock: The article also states Lavigne became champ in 1893 while most other sources I read about him the recent days state he became champ in 1896 against Dick Burge. :think They also say he had hundreds of fights while his official record hasn´t even 100 in it. Thoughts?
