The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-07-10
Great Interest Exhibited in the
Coming Battle
Between Frank Erne and Fight
ing Terry McGOEern.
BILLED FOR JULY is.
Brooklyn Lad Has All the Best
of the Conditions
In Weight and Terms of Bout
Both Are Confident.


novel pugilistic attractions ever arranged
by an athletic club is the ten-round con-
test between Frank Erne, lightweight
champion, and Terry McGovern, feath-
erweight champion, scheduled to take
place under the auspices of the Twentieth
Century Athletic club, at Madison Square
Garden, on July t. No former feather
weight or lightweight champions have
ever been matched and there is much
speculation as TO the outcome of the
meeting between AIcGovern and Erne-
OF the two men Erne has the greater
task before him. The light champion has
agreed to knock AIcGOvern out inside of
ten rounds. At 133 pounds, his normal
fighting weight, Erne would likely be an
NcGovern at rs pounds many good
judges have expressed the opinion that
the Buffalo pugilist has undertaken too
great a task.
Erne does not think so. He is confident
that he can be strong and fight just as
well at 12S pounds he can at 13S pounds
There is doubt of McGOVernS abliity
to make the desired weight without i'm
Brooklyn boy seems to have all the bet
ter of the match. That McGovern Is an
willing to take any chances in training
for the fight, however, is evidenced by the
fact that he has engaged George McFaa al
prominence and boxer whom Erne mas
fought shy of, as his. sparring partner.
McFadden will begin his sparrfng bouts
with McGovern tomorrow at the feather
weight champions training quarters IN
y
shifty two-handed fighter and one of the
best blockers in the prize ring today
With such a clever man to work with
him McGovern ought to improve over MS
usual condition.
McGovern is doing all his work with the
understanding that the fight with Erne
will be one of the hardest he has ever
had, and so will leave nothing to luck.
Erne is doing faithful work at falr raven
on the Shrewsbury and with the help OF
his sparring partners Is gradually reouc-
ing his weight to rs pounds II the Hgne-
weight champion is successful against NC
Govern. he intends to visit England ana
meet the best men the National Sporting
club can find
There is quite a difference in the ring
methods of Erne and McGOvern- Erne,
who is remarkably clever, depends more
on scientific tactics to score victory than
hard blows He can hit effectively, how
ever. but it is really his generalship and
cIeverness that win battles for him. Nc
Govern while fairly clever. represents the
slugger type of fighter. He relies very
largely on swift ruShes and hard blows
to win. rather than scientific methods
That McGovern and Erne will make
great battle no one who has followed the
careers of the two men in the prize ring
doubts. and the winner Will certainly
know that he has been fighting when 1t IS
the twentieth Century Athletic club is
making every possible preparation for the
accommodations of an enormous crowd
arrangements of Madison Square Garden
have been changed and the total seating
capacity is now LOCO.
BOTH FIGHTERS CONFIDENT.
81 don't see any reason. why l should
not stop Erne, let alone MS stopping me.
I'm strong and fit fiddle Erne Will
find he has undertaken much more than
he can handle when he tries to put me
out in ten rounds. ''-Terry McGovern.
I'm going to get down to 12S pounds
If I have to saw one of my legs off I'm
no bigger than I was three years ago and
see no reason why I should not make
the weight. At any rate, intend to work
as never worked before, and my friends
can rest assured that III face the Brook
Ign boy in hrst-class shape Frank
Erne-
NOT MUCH BETTING
1t is an extremely hard task to get any
of the well known followers of the ring
to express on opinion on the result of the
fight Erne naturally has a large fol- /
lowing but it seems that his hackers are
afraid to stake their money on possible
knockout
McGovern's followers are not betting
much at present because the odds are not
what they desire. The men who follow
Terrible Terry imagine that Erne's
friends should give at least to 1 that
Erne will win
NcGovern has absolutely nothing to lose
in his fight with Erne- Should he be de-
feated he still remains the bantam and
feather weight champion. Many seem to
think that Erne made a great mistake In
signing to meet McGovern-