The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-01-10

New York, Jan. 9.-Terry. McGOvern
tonight wrested the featherweight
championship Of the world from George
Dixon, who had defended it for nearly
nine years. To ssve Dixon from a
Knockout, Tom O'Rourke, his manager
threw up the sponge in the eighth
round, when the negro was staggering
helplessly, bleeding and weak, but as
game as the dying gladiator.
The fight took place before a crowd
that packed the Broadway Athletic
club, and the victory decided the
ownership of a $4,000 purse.
When Dixon and MeGovern stepped
on the scales this evening to make the
necessary lis 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
in the ring, however, McGOYern's face
Showed no trace of a rigid training
course, and as soon as they stripped to
the buff each looked in perfect condi-
ton.
Dixon from the first tap of the gong
was on the aggressive, using a left
swing invariably as his lead, which
McGovern invariable stepped inside of,
and Terry sent both hands in rapid
order to DixOn's lower works.
Dixon Was Surprised.
McGovern's last 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 McGOver1 tonight. Dixon Jared
McGovern half a dozen times during
the battle with hard cracks on the head
or Jaw but Terry was always back at
his man in a jiffy. relentlessiy smashing
with either hand to the ribs or stom-
ach.
The seventh round was disastrous for
DiXcn. Terry almost broke DiXOn's
nose in this round, after he had sent q
right hand smash which landed over
Dixea's heart and staggered Dixon
who went to his corner with the blood
spcuting from his nasal organ. Dixon
came up as game as ever a man did in
the eighth, 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
q wet sDCt in McGovern's corner, slip
ped TO the floor for a second time.
Championship Going.
It was seen that Dixon had almost
slnct his bolt, and McGovern, rushing,
put left and right to the jaw, flooring
the champion Dixon took the greater
part of the count this time, nd as he
arose slow, Terry, who stood scarcely
four feet away, was ready to rush at
him. Dixon went down again from a
body blow. 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'RouTke, seeing that
it was impossible for the negro to hold
on to his title, threw up the sponge
within one second of the call Of time
which would have ended the round. In
this O'RoUrke showed good judgment
Both he and Dixon have often said that
the latter would never be knocked cut
Dixon Was Helpless
When O'Rourke threw up the sponge
Dixon was practically helpless. While
McGoyern was hailed with vociferous
cheers as the winner and was cheered
again and again as the champion, Dix
on. the eX-Chanpion, was not forgotten.
Round after round Of cheers were given
f. the lad who mad defended the title
so cleverly for nearly nine years, as he
LEFT the ring bleeding and beaten, after
probably having fought his last ring
contest.
When the contestants returned to
their dressing rooms, Dixon was badly
marked up but McGovern1 showed very
little sign of having come through a
hard encounter The only mark that
McGovern had were scratches on the
right side of his neck, where Dixon s
Left swings had gone around, scratching
the skin.
Dixon felt his defeat very keenly and
had very little to say except that Nc
Govern was the best man he had ever
met and Terry could have beaten, in
his present condition, any man that
Dixon had ever defeated.
McGovern Was the Favorite.
The betting before the fight was all
many wagers made at 100 to 20. and so
much McGovern money came in sight
at the fingside that these odds were ex-
tended to 100 to So. A local bookmaker
stimulated the Dixon people by placing
s.. 900 against $1,000 he taking the
Dixon end and four others dubbed to-
gether, putting up the s., 600 on Mccoy
ern.
Sam Harris, McGovern's manager.
had roll of bills as big as his hat
betting along the line, and he laid
three wageTs of 81, 600 to $3.50 on his
man.