Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-01-10
McGOVERN WINS.
Dixon Throws Up the Sponge
in the Eighth Round.
OutcIassed and 0utfought by Terry
After First -Four Rounds.
Nose Smashed In Seventh and Ne Is Badly
Battered in the Eighth


featherweight championship of tn,
world. which he won from cal" Nc.
Carthy, for nearly nine years, Georg.
Dixon had to relinquish it to the littl;
tonight, at the Broadway A. c.
McGovern. in defeating Dixon, pos.
sesses double championship honors
He is now both the bantam and the
featherweight champion Of the world
Dixon went down to defeat after tn
hardest battle of his life, but while
beaten. he had the sympathy Of every
body, and is as much thought of, to-
night, is he ever was. Dixon's career
in the ring during the last II years has
been most successful. Only once dur
ing that time was he knocked out and
then ii was through q rather mean
trick on the part of a colored boxer
known as the kentucky Rosebud"
McGovern's strides TO the front dur
ing the last two years have been rapid
and his cleverness increased with each
succeeding mill.
Since the match. Of which tonights
contest was the outcome. was made
McGovern had been a marked favorite
and when the lads entered the ring
100 to 20 and at times as good as 100 to
50 We're the odds laid that Terry would
knock out George. Dixon was thor
oUghly prepared for the bout. having
gone through a course of treatment al
the West Baden Springs, which was
followed up by three weeks of vigor-
Gus training in the vicinity Of Lake
wood. y. J.
McGovern. too. underwent rigid
course Of preparation. but when both
lads stepped on the scales, this after
noon, 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 max
ing of the weight had not troubled him.
while McGovern seemed to be too fine
~ drawn. When they stepped into the
ring. however, McGovern's face showed
no traces of a rigid training course.
and as soon as they stripped TO the
buff. each appeared to be in excellent
condition.
The fight was for the featherweight
championship of the world and a purse
Of $4,000. and was scheduled to go %
rounds. 1t ended in the eighth round,
Dixon's manager throwing up the
sponge to avoid q knockout.
Dixon from the first tap of the gong.
was on the aggressive, using a left
swing invariably as his lead. which
McGovern cleverly stepped inside of
and Terry sent both hands in rapid or
der to Dixons lower works
McGoverns 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, 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 jif
fy, relentlessly sma shing with either
hand TO the ribs or stomach. The
seventh round was a disastrous one for
Dixon. Terry almost broke Dixon
nose in this round. after which he sent
a 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 a clinch and Mccoy
ern earned the cheers of the spectators
by helping him to his feet. A few mo-
ments later Dixon stepped on a wet
spot in McGovern's corner and slipped
to the floor for a second time.
1t was now seen that Dixon had al
most shot his bolt and McGovern! rush
ing. 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 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 second before the round would
would have been completed, Dixon
stood up from his eighth fall. but his
manager and hacker. Tom O'Rouke.
seeing it was impossible for the negro
to hold on to his title. threw up thu
sponge within one second of the call
If time. BY throwing up the sponge,
D'Rouke forfeited the championship,
which undoubtedly McGovern would
nave forced from Dixon. had the latter
Deen allowed to come up for the ninth
'ound
While McGovern was hailed with vo-
,iferous cheers as the winner. and the
new champion, round after round of
,heers were also given for Dixon. who
lad defended the title so cleverly for
nearly nine years. as he left the ring,
bleeding and beaten, after having prob
IDLY fought his last ring contest.
When the contestants returned to
heir dressing rooms. Dixon was badly
marked up. but the only marks that
McGovern had were scratches on the
light side Of his neck, where Dixons
eft swings had gone around, scratch
ng the skin.
Dixon felt his defeat very keenly and
lad very little to say, except that Nc
Govern was the best man he had ever
net. and that Terry could have beaten,
n his present condition, any man that
Dixon had ever defeated.
McGovern wore his championship
aurels mCdestly, and said that he
bought the contest would surely end
before 10 rounds had been fought. At
10 stage of the game had he any
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