The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-12-26
CALLS HIN A Conner
George SiIer Praises Terry
McGovern's Style.
USES THE STRAIGHT BLOW
Which SiIer Considers the
Only Way to Fight.
USES THE STRAIGHT BLOW

Chicago, Dec. 25.-George siler says in
the Tribune:
1t appears as though Featherweight
Terry McGovern will revolutionize the
boxing world, as did John L. Sullivan
twenty years ago. This may seem
strange but it is nevertheless the case.
In last Sundays letter 1 dyelt some on
the style of the present day boxer as
compared with that of the men before
the days Of Sullivan. Ny argument was in
favor of straight-arm hitting, and l il
Illustrated as explicitly as 1 could the
greater benefits derived from that style
of hitting than by swinging blows, so
much in vogue today. The majority OF
pugilists of today, like Sullivan, depend
Oh knocking out their opponents with
swinging blows, and as they have been
more or less successful, 1 presume they
will continue to swing until they learn
other methods.
Sullivan, with powerful arms, and be-
ing a terrific hitter, was in a class by
himself at that style of boxing, and the
fact he was successful does not make 1t
necessarily follow that every boxer, ir-
respective of weight, strength, and hit
ting powers, can or will also be success
full. Straight-arm hitting, in which the
forearm plays an important part, pugi-
lists will learn, sooner or later, is the
right and only good method. AS stated
above McGovern will revolutionize the
boxing world, simply because he has the
right method of hitting, as the following
will testify:
While in Cincinnati a short time ago I
met Frank Kelly, who managed kid
Mccoy before the kid" was considered
top-notcher. In speaking of fights and
fighters Kelly said:
The last time 1 met Mccoy he said
McGovern's style of hitting was the best
he had ever witnessed, and that he in
tended practicing it and lighting along
the same lines"
That, coming from so scientific a man
as Mccoy, is proof positive that Terry"
has the right idea Since then 1 have
met number of good fighters, to all of
whom have put this question: How
| does McGovern settle his men so
| quickly?"
It was only yesterday I met Jack Root,
| the cleverest middleweight in the West,
and he said: mo more clinching when
| I get into close quarters for me-"
What do you intend doing?'' asked.
| Fight myself free. of course, just as
! AIcGovern does
/ style would be adopted and revolutionize
boxing?"
I received several letters during the
last week anent my last letter, principally
| from old-time boxers and all requesting
me to explain why the boxer of today
| leads with either left or right and then
| clinches, while the old-timers always
| avoided clinching by hitting and then
| stepping out of distance.
! Ny answer to those questions IS that
the majority of present day boxers inva-
| riably spread their legs too far, making
| it almost impossible to get back after
a lead. and also that when leading they
at times permit the upper part Of their
body to extend too far forward, causing
( them to overbaiance and naturally force
themselves into clinch.
For the benefit of the Uninitiated I will
state that to avoid falling into a clinch
after leading. keep your head on a direct
line with your left foot after stepping in
to hit, and that will keep your body
properly balanced and permit your get
ting back out of distance of your oppo-
I Il
McGovern added another scalp to his
belt last Friday night in the same old
Zig time" His victim this time was
that clever ond successful Chicago boxer,
Harry Forbes, whom the Brooklyn Ter
ror" put away in the second round. 1t
was the same old story, fighting Terry
at Terry's own game-viz.: mixing mat
tiers. Forbes, like others that have tried
to Outslug McGovern, was out-slugged.
Pcdlar Palmer, supposedly the shiftiest
little fighter England ever produced. mix
ed it with Terry, and that settled him.
Fight N2l at long range" has been
the cry whenever a new victim faced
Terri but as yet none, within the last
six months. has been quick enough with
either hands or feet TO fight him at long
range. What is the secret of McGovern's
success? Is he quicker and cleverer than
anybody else? There must be something.
Now. what is it?
I doubt whether 7 can explain thorough
ly, as I have seen him perform only
three times. I've noticed. though, he can
hit from any position. BY doing so he
can keep right on top Of his opponent
and slash away. The general run of
boxers are forced to step in quite a dis
lance before hitting, and Terry keeps so
close to an opponent the latter, unable
to step in. is therefore unable 10 hit
He is up in the air, so to speak.
That is one secret Of McCovern's sue
cess. His others are: Hitting powers.
made more so by hitting 20 bring his
forearm into play; science. and his abil-
ity to take a stiff punch. He does not.
however. receive so many hard blows as
one would surmise for the simple reason
that by keeping within hitting distance
Of his opponent the latter. rs not being
accustomed to hitting with any force
without stepping in, naturally cannot hit
with any force at close range.
NcGovern's. record for clean knockouts
in short order is better than that Of any
boxer in the world. His next and ,orob-
ably the most important battle in MS
short career viii be with George Dixon.
and will take place at the Broadway club
January . next. in Dixon, Terry VIII
meet the best man Of his weight in this
or any other country. and the result ot
the contest Will De ioked forward TO with
( interest
Dixon's ring career IS TOO k1r known
by the followers OF puEi.ism u be com
meu;ej upon by me He Is uaEoubtaRy
the best Of his weight that ever stepped
/ into a ring. and if defeated I know he
viii be manly enough 10 acknowledge IT,
as did sullivan and Fitzsimmons when
they went down TO defeat.
There Is vast difference in the style
+ % fighting between George and Terry
The la;Jer's method Of fighting has re n
explained above. Dixon does 3 heap Of
swinging with both left and right but
like NIcGcve-n. he does little clirchinE
While a hard hitter for his weight,
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