Lauren Chouinard Sheds Light on Infamous Lightweight Boxer in New Book
Eugene, Ore. (PRWEB) August 16, 2013 -- The story of “Saginaw Kid” George Henry Lavigne is as much about the sport of boxing as it is about the colorful lightweight world champion. This new book details his birth in 1869 to his defeat of “Iron Man” Dick Burge of England for the world lightweight title in 1896 and everything in between. Just as Lavigne was making his professional debut in 1886, along came the Queensberry Rules, which brought new rules (boxers wore gloves and fought timed rounds), changing boxing from its rough-and-tumble roots to a legitimate – and legal – sport.
“Muscle and Mayhem: The Saginaw Kid and the Fistic World of the 1890s” provides an honest account of the sometimes-troubled Kid, including his dozen arrests, bouts with alcohol, trips to the insane asylum and his sudden death at age 58 of a heart attack. Kid had an impressive record as a professional fighter: 34 wins (21 by knockout), 10 no decisions, six losses (four by KO) one no contest, 11 draws and 21 exhibitions. Lavigne was inducted into the Ring Hall of Fame in 1959, the Michigan Boxing Hall of Fame in 1965, the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1998 and the Saginaw County Sports Hall of Fame in 2002. Known for his toughness and indomitable will as a fighter, Kid fought some extraordinary matches against the best pugilists of the time. Dozens of photos as well as quotes from early correspondence and a glossary for words and phrases from the 1890s showcase Chouinard’s painstaking research into the life of this extraordinary boxing legend.
Life circumstances influenced author Lauren Chouinard’s love of sport. He grew up on Chicago’s south side, just a few blocks from the first home of Muhammad Ali, then known as Cassius Clay, and his mother is Kid Lavigne’s second cousin a few times removed. Chouinard, who worked in municipal government for 27 years, retiring as human resources director, belongs to the International Boxing Research Organization. The Illinois State University graduate opened Pacific Nautilus, a health and fitness club, in 1978 in Eugene and wrote “Get Off Your But,” a guide to getting in shape while overcoming excuses.
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For additional information, please visit http://www.KidLavigne.com.
Muscle and Mayhem: The Saginaw Kid and the Fistic World of the 1890s
Lauren Chouinard
Dog Ear Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-4575-1840-9 436 pages $29.95 US
Available at Ingram, Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble and fine bookstores everywhere.
About Dog Ear Publishing, LLC
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