FRANK ERNE

LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPION
1899-1902

Buffalo's first world champion was a native of Zurich, Switzerland, who began fighting for money in 1894 at . the age of 19.
Erne was 24 years old, with a record of 14-2-10 under his belt when he won the lightweight (135 lb.) championship by outpointing George "Kid" Lavigne of Saginaw, Michigan, in a 20-round fight at the Hawthorne Club Arena in Cheektowaga (site of today's Forks Hotel at Broadway and Union Rd.) on July 3, 1899.
The bout was extremely one sided. According to The Buffalo Evening News account, Erne whipped Lavigne "to a state of pitiable helplessness."

In the Seventh round "Erne used both hands so hard in his effort to reduce Lavigne to pulp that he injured both members." The Buffalo Evening News reported.

Erne defended his title three times. He retained the crown by battling Jack O'Brian to a 25-round draw at Coney Island on December 4,1899, and by stopping Joe Gans in the 12th round in New York City on March 23,1900.

After making an unsuccessful try for Rube Ferns welterweight (147 lbs.) crown (Ferns knocked Erne out in the ninth round in Ft. Erie, Ontario September 23, 1901), Erne went back to Canada to defend his lightweight title against Gans on May 12,1902 at the Ft. Erie Arena.

A much-improved Gans won the title in just 100 seconds, knocking Erne out with one punch, described by The News as "a right hook, to the jaw, delivered with lightening speed and exact precision after exactly a minute and a half of fiddling. Ten seconds later Erne, was counted out, the championship had slipped from his grasp and the battle was ended."

Erne's reign lasted 1,320 days, the longest of any Buffalo champion. He fought three more times before retiring in 1903. He came back in 1908 to win a decision in Paris. His career record was 22-6-12 in 40 bouts. He won 10 by knockout

Frank Erne died in New York City on September 17, 1954 at age 79.