The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-01-10
DIXON LOSES CHAMPIONSHIP
DEFEATED BIZ TERRY M,GOYERN
IN EIGHT ROUNDS.

DEFFATED By TERRY M,GOTERN
IN EIGHT ROUNDS.
o'Rourke Saves His Man from u Knock.
ont by "Throwing Up the sponge, a
Second Before tho Gong Sounded
Dixon Severely Punished But He Put
Up IL Hard and Game Fight.
New York, Jan. 9.-After holding the
featherweight championship Of the
world, which he won from CAP Nc
Carthy, for nearly nine years, George
Dixon had to relinquish 1t to the little
brooklyn terror, Terry McGovern, to-
night at the Broadway A. c. McGov-
ern, in defeating Dixon tonight, pos-
sesses double championship honors. Ha
is now both the bantam and the leather
weight champion Of the world. Dixon
went down to defeat after the hardest
battle of his life, but, while beaten, he \
had the sympathy of everybody ana ia
as much thought of tonight as he ever
was. Dixon's career in the ring during
the last twelve years had been most
successful. Only once during that time
was he knocked out, and then II was
through rather mean trick on the
part of another colored boxer known a. 4
the Kentucky Rosebud" McGoverns
strides to the front during the last two
years were rapid, and his cleverness in
creased with each succeeding mill.
Since the match of which sto-night's
contest was the outcome was made Nc
Govern had been a marked favorite. ana
when the lads entered the ring 100 to 10,
and at times as good as 100 to co. were
the odds laid that Terry would knock
out George. Dixon was thoroughly pre-
pared for the bout, having gone through
course Of treatment at the West Ba-
den Springs, which was followed up by
three weeks of vigorous training in the
vicinity of Lakewood, N. J. McCOvern.
too, underwent a rigid course Of prep
aration, but when both lads stepped on
the scales this afternoon to make the
necessary 11S pounds Dixon seemed to
be in the better condition. He was full
OF life and energy, and looked as If the
making of the weight had not troubled
him, while McGovern seemed to be too
finely drawn. When they stepped into
the ring however, MoGovern's face
showed no traces of rigid training
course, and as soon as they stripped to
the buff each appeared to be in excel
lent condition.
The fight was for the featherwefght
championship Of the world and purse
Of $4,000, and was scheduled to 60
twenty-five rounds. It ended III the Z
eighth round, -Dixon's manager throws
ing up the sponge to avoid a Knockout.
Dixon from the first tap Of the gong h
was on the aggressive, using a left
swing invariably as his lead, which Nc
Govern cleverly stepped inside off and
Terry sent both hands in rapid order
to Dixon's lower works. McGovern's
attack on the body was a surprise to-
Dixon, as no boxer who ever faced the
negro was able to land on the wind,
ribs and kidneys as did McGovern to-
night
Dixon Jared McGovern half dozen
times during the battle with hard 4
cracks on the head or jaw, but Terry
was always back at his man in a jtffy,
reentlessly smashing with either hand
to the ribs or stomach. The seventh
round was disastrous one for Dixon.
Terry almost broke Djxon's nose in this
round, after he had sent right hand
smash which landed over Georges
heart, and Dixon staggered to his cor
ner with the blood spouting from his
nasal organ. Dixon came up as game
as ever man did in the eighth round,
which proved to be the last.
Early in this round Dixon slipped to
the floor near the ropes from a clinch
and McGovern earned the cheers Of the
spectators by helping him to his feet.
A few moments later Dixon stepped on
a wet spot in McGoverns corner and
slipped to the floor for a second time.
1t was now seen that Dixon had almost
shot his bolt. and McGovern rushing,
sent left and right to the jaw, floor
ing the champion. Dixon took the
greatest part of the count this time,
and as he arose slowly Terry, who
stood scarcely four feet away, was
ready to rush at him. Dixon went
down again from a body blow and in
all he touched the floor eight times in
the round, the last five times being the
result of terrific body punches.
A few seconds before the round would
have been completed Dixon stood UP
from his eighth fall but his manager
and hacker, Tom O'Rourl1e, seeing that
t was impossible for the negro to hold
IN to his title threw up the sponge
within one second of the call OF time,
which would have ended the round. BY
up the sponge O'Rourle for
eited the championship, which un
loubtedly McGovern would have forced
rom Dixon, had the latter been allow
ID to come up for the ninth round.
While McGovern was hailed with vo-
,iferous cheers as the winner, and the
lew champion, round after round of
,heers We're also given for Dixon, who
lad defended the title SO cleverly for
learly nine years, as he left the ring,
bleeding and beaten, after having prob
bly, fought his last ring contest.
When the contestants returned to their
ressing rooms Dixon was badly mark
d. but the only marks that McGov-
IN had were scratches on the right side
f his neck where Dixon's left swing
lad gone round, scratching the skin.