Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-02-24
MGovERN DEFEArs SULLIVAN.
vicious Fight of Fifteen Rounds
Won by Brooklyn Wonder.

Louisville, KY, Feb. A.--Terry Me-
Govern defeated Dave Sullivan tonight
IA the arena of the Southern Athletic
yiup IN fifteen rounds OF ss desperate
Ightlng as was ever seen. From the
nrst tap OF the gong until the end Il
was slap, bang, hammer and tongs.
nearly every second both men work.
away with all the energy they pos.
sessed. McGovern knowing that the
fight meant his position in the front
ranks as fighter, was after his man
every second.
In q majority OF the rounds he was
on me aggressive, and Sullivan was
forced 70 do far more defensive work
,hah ms opponent lie put up q won
ueriul flght, however, and was game
to the core.
When the crash came, hawever, he
was sroggy and going fast. The chances
are mat he would not have lasted
many more rounds had he risen to his
leet before Fltssimmons called time.
IN the fourth round Sullivan was at his
best. He forced the fighting, especial
~ In the last half and he had McGov-
ern plainly going. The latter was very
unsteady as he went to his corner, and
nothing but his splendid recuperatlve
power enabled him to come out in shape
Tor the sixth round
lie came out strong, however, and
although there were times when SuuI-
van seemed about TO turn the tide his
way again, from that time on Me-
Govern kept steadily but very slowly
gaining the upper hand. He fought ever
forward, and Sullivan was gradually
but surely going backward Sullivan
was badly punished, his left ear being
split open, his lips cracked, his nose
well pounded up and his right eye part
~ closed The latter happened
early In the fight, and McGovern paid
particular attention to 1t throughout.
During the twelfth, thirteenth and
fourteenth rounds, Sullivan was slowly
going. McGoyern was at him like a
Wildcat every Instant He gave him no
rest and Sullivan was, whenever pos
sible, hanging on for his life.
Inc END came when the fifteenth
round was nearly over. McGovern had
forced Sullivan into neutral corner.
lie landed q storm Of right and left
swings, and, catching Sullivan with the
left square on the jaw, sent him down
on his back.
Sullivan was up like flash, but did
not rise from his knees. He was grog-
BY and nearly out. Fltzsimmons
counted nine, aud AZ he uttered the last
word sullivan started TO rice, but did
not get higher than low couch. The
instant he was of the floor McGoyern
came at him, and Sullivan. hardly
knowing what he was about. went
down again. The referee promptly de.
clared him out and McGoyern the vic.
tor. Sullivan attempted TO question
the decision but Fitzsimmons would
not listen 10 him. Afterwards Fitzsim-
mons said: sullivan was down more
than ten seconds before he tried TO
rise lie was on his knees fully Ave
seconds before l began to count. and
had he stood up when i said nine and
been saved by the gong, | would still
nave declared him out. He was down
and out for keeps"
Preceding the fight challenges to the
winner were received from Eddie Gard
ner, Austin Rice. Harry Harris. Young
Corbett, and Abe Attel sam Harris.
McGoyern's trainer said McGovern's
next fight would be with Young Cor
bett, II the latter stu held TO HIS ohal.
lenge.
There were loud cheers as Bob Fitz-
simmons stepped through the ropes To
referee the preliminary event and ur-
gent calls for speech After some
hesitation, Fitz advanced 10 the ropes
and said:
81 thank you very much for this out
burst of enthusiasm and assure YOU |
appreciate it very much, also appre-
olate the honor OF refereeing this fight
tonight and will do my best 10 be fair
IN the event.
II suppose you know / am matched
10 fight Mr.. Jeffries some time in May.
shall train as | have never trained
before. and win do my best to do him "
The last sentence was greeted with
howle OF applause.
McGoyern and sullivan were cheered
when introduced