Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-01-11
A NEW PUGILISTIC CHAMPION

A NEW W6lLlNllG U1AMflUN
Terry McGovern Whips George
Dixon In Eight Rounds.
THE NEWCOMER A flSTIG WONDER
Dixon Down Eight Times In the
Eighth Round.
Then Tom O'Rourke, His Manager. Threw
Up the sponge, in Order To Save Dixon
From a Knockout-Ths Fight Was Fast
and was witnessed By Great Crowd.
New York, Jan. TO- Terry McGovern
last night wrested the featherweight
championship OF the world from George
Dixon, who bad defended 1t foi nine
years. To save Dixon from knockout
Tom O'Rourke, his manager, threw. up
the sponge in the eighth round, when
the negro was staggering helplessiy,
bleeding and weak, but as game as a
gladiator.
The fight took place before a crowd
that packed the Broadway Athletic
Club, and the victory decided the
ownership OF purse of $4,000. When
Dixon and McGovern stepped on the
scales this afternoon to make the neces-
sary lis pounds, Dixon seemed to be in
the better condition. He was full Of
life and energy, and looked as il the
weight had not troubled him, while
McGovern seemed to be too finely
drawn. When they stepped into the
ring, however, McGovern's face showed
no traces Of raid training course,
and as soon as they stripped to the
buff each looked in perfect condition.
Dixon from the first tap of the gong
was on the aggressive, using left swing
invariably as his lead, which McGoveln
cleverly stepped inside of and sent both
hands in rapid order to DiSon's lower
works. MoGovern's attack on the body
was q surprise to Dixon, as no boxer
who ever faced the colored lad was able
to land on the wind, ribs and kidneys
| as did McGovern.
Dixon Jared McGoyern half dozen
times with hard cracks on the head OR
| jaw, but Terry was always back Mt his
man in a iiffy, relentlessly smashing
| with either hand to the ribs or stomach.
! The seventh round wan disastrous
one for Dixon. Terry almost broke
Dixon's nose in this round after he had
sent right-hand smash which landed
over Georges heart, and Dixon stag
gered to his corner. 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 clinch,
and McGovern earned the cheers of the
| spectators by helping Dixon to his feet.
| A few moments later Dixon stepped or
a wet spot in McGovern's corner and
slipped to the floor for second time,
| 1t was now seen that Dixon had almost
| fought himself out, and McGovern,
rushing, sent left and right to the jaw,
flooring the champion. Dixon took thu
| greater part Of the count this time, ane
as he arose slowly Terry, who stooc
scarcely four feet away, was ready Il
rush at him. Dixon went down agar
| from body blow, and in nil he touohet
the floor eight times in the round. tn,
last five times BEING the result Of ter
riho body punches A few second!
before the round would have been com
4 pleted Dixon stood up from his eight
fall. but his manager and baoker, Ton
O'Rourke, seeing that it was impossi
BILE for the colored man to hold on I,
his title. threw up the sEonge within
one second of the call of time, which
would have ended the round. In thi
O'Rourke showed good judgment. Boil
he and Dixon have often said that tn
Inter would never be knocked on
again.
When O'Rourke threw up the spona
Dixon was practically helpless. Will
McGovern was hailed with vociferou
cheers rs the winner and was cheere,
and cheersd again us the new cham
Eion, Dixon, the eX-champion, was no
forgotten. Round utter round OF cheer
were given for the lad who had defende
the title SO clevsrly for nine years a
he left the ring, bleeding and beaten
after having probably fought his los
ring contest.
When the contestants returned t
their dressing rooms Dixon was badl
marked up, but McGoyern shove
very little sign of having come throug
a bard encounter. The only mark
that McGovern had we're scratches O
the right side Of his neck, wher
Dixon's left swings had gone arounc
scratching the skin.
Dixon felt his defeat keenly an
, had very little to say except thu
McGovern was the hest man he ha
; ever met and that Terry could hay
; beaten, in his present condition, an
man that Dixon had ever defeated.
Both lads stripped quickly. DiSo
wore white trunks with belt mac
out Of small silk American fins
MoGovern wore white trunks held u
with an Emerald green silk belt. Mast,
l Of Ceremonies Humphreys introduce
! the lads and announced that they wei
to box % rounds, strictly under Ma
Z quis Of Queensbury rules The be
! sounded for the first round at o..
!, o'clock. The fight by rounds follows
) Round .l-Dixon opened with le
: swing for the head. McGovern duckt
and sent his right over the kidney
n Dixon tried another left. Terry blocie
i it and drove his right once more |
= the kioneys, forcing Dixon to the rope
a They broke away to the middle OF Il
!. ring, where Dixon swung his left to Il
breast. Terry crowded in, poundir
/. his right on the ribs. Dixon tried b
left for the body, but Terry stepp,
inside Of il and sent his right thr
i times to the body. Dixon swung
left to the jaw and in half clint
\ Terry worked left and right upon Il
!. body and sent his left to the hes
I Dixon Slipped back, sending straigl
!. left to the face and they were in ia
! mix-up at the bell. &
!. Round 2Dixon opened with le
! swing for the head and Terry duck
! it neatly and drove George back wi
d left on the body. Dixon planted