The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-01-10
CYCLING
GAME AS A DYING GLADIATOR

Out.
NEW YORK, Jan. s.-Terry Nc
Govern tonight wrested the leather
weight championship of the world from
george Dixon, who had defended IT for
nearly 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 belplessly. bleeding and
weak, but as game as the dying gladI-
ator. The fight took place before a
crowd that packed the Broadway Ath-
Ietlc club and the victory decided the
ownership OF a $4,000 purse.
When Dixon and McGovern stepped
m the scales this afternoon to make
the necessary lib pounds. Dixon SEEM
I'D to he in the better condition. He
was full Of life and energy and looked
Nc II the making OF the weight had not
,roubIed him, while McGOVern seemed
IN he too finely drawn. When they
s,epped in the ring, however, McGov-
crn's face showed no traces of a rigid
training course. and as soon as they
stripped to the bun. each looked In per-
feet condition.
Dixon from the first tap of the gong
was on the aggressive. using a left
swing invarlable as his lead which
NcGovern cleverly stepped inside Of,
and Terry sent both hands in rapid or
der TO Dixon's lower works. McGovern's
attack on the body was 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
cracks on the head, but Terry was al
WAYS back at his man in jlfty, re-
Ientlessly smashing with either hand to
the ribs or stomach. The seventh round
was 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 staggered to his corner with the
blood spouting from his nasal organ.
Dixon came up as game as ever a
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 cllnch and McGOvern
earned the cheers of the spectators by
helping Dixon to his feet. A few mo-
ments later Dixon stepped on a wet
spot In McGovern's corner and slipped
to the door for second time. 1t was
now seen that Dixon had almost shot
his bolt, and McGovern, rushing, sent
left and right to the jaw, flooring the
champion. Dixon took the greater 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 body
blow. aud in all he touched the floor
eight times in the round. tho last five
times being the result Of terrific body
punches. A few seconds before the
round had been completed. Dixon stood
up from his eighth fall. but his mana
ger and hacker. Tom o'Rodfke. 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 out.
When o'Rourke threw up the sponge
Dixon was practically helpless. While
McGovern was hailed with vociterous
cheers as the winner and was cheered
and cheered again, as the new cham
plon, Dixon, the ex-champlon, was not
forgotten. Round after round Of
cheers were given for the lad who had
defended the title so cleverly for nearly
nine years, as he left the ring. bleed
ing and beaten, after having probably
fought his last ring contest
When the contestants returned to
their dressing rooms. Dixon was badly
marked up, but McGovern showed very
little signs OF having come through a
hard encounter. The only marks 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 keeuly and
had very little to say, except that Nc
Govern was the best man he had ever
met, and that Terry could have beaten.
in his present condition. any man that
Dixon had ever defeated.
The Fight By Rounds.
Round 1-Dlxon opened with left
swing for the head McGovern ducked
and sent his right over the kidneys.
Dixon tried another left and Terry
blocked and drove his right once more
to the kidneys. forcing Dixon to the
ropes They broke away to the center
of the ring where Dixon swung his left
to the breast. Terry crowded in,
pounding his right on the ribs Dixon
tried his left for the body. 3ut Terry
stepped inside Of It and sent his right
three times to the body. Dixon swung
his left to the jaw and In half cllnch
Terry worked left and right to the
body and left to the head. Dixon slip
ped back, sending straight left to
the face and they were in fast mix up
at the bell.
Round 2-Dixon opened with a left
swing for the head and Mac ducked
neatly and drove George back with a
left on the body. Dixon planted n left