Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-23
MCOVERN WHIPS SULLIVAN
Wins Fiercest Battle Of His Life in Fifteen
Rounds,
ILlVAN PUTS UP A DESPERATE FIGHT
FitEsimmOns, who IL Referee, De-
cIares IL Greatest Battle Between
Little Men He Ever saw-Mc-
Govern and COrbett Next.

LOUISVILLE, Feb. 22.-Terry McGovern
defeated Dave Sullivan tonight in the arena
~ the Southern Athletic club after fifteen
rounds Of as desperate fighting as was ever
seen In any ring. From the first tap Of the
gong to the end It was slam bang, ham
mer and tongs, nearly every second, both
men working away with all the energy they
possessed. There has seldom been seen
q battle where the issue was more In doubt.
In one round 1t would be Sullivan and in
the next It would be McGovern. Then Sui
Ivan would come strong again and even
things up once more.
McGovern, knowing that the fight meant
his position In the front rank as a fighter,
was after his man every second. In the
majority Of the rounds he was on the ag-
gressive and Sullivan was forced to do far
more defensive work than his opponent.
lie put up a wonderful fight, however, was
game to the core and lost the fight more
through a blunder Of his own than because
he was knocked out.
GrOgsy at the Last.
When the finish came, however, he was
Eroggy and going fast. The chances are
that he would not have lasted many mora
rounds even had he risen to his feet be-
fore Fitzsimmons called ten.
In the nth round Sullivan was at his
best. He forced the fighting, especially
In the last half, and had McGovern plainly
going. The latter walked in a very un-
steady fashion as he went to his corner
and nothing but his splendid recuperative
power enabled him to come out In shape for
the sixth round. He came out strong,
however, and although there we're times
when Sullivan seemed about to turn the
tide his way again, from that time on. Nc
Govern kept steadily, but slowly, gaining.
He fought hard, and Sullivan was grad
ually. but surely, going backward. Sulli-
van was badly punished, his left ear be-
ing split open, his lips cracked, his nose
bruised and his left eye damaged.
Never Let's Up.
During the twelfth, thirteenth and four
teenth rounds Sullivan was slowly going.
McGovern ives at him like a wildcat every
instant. He gave him no rest, and Sullivan
was, when possible, hanging on for life.
The end came when the fifteenth round
was nearly over. McGovern had forced
Sullivan into a neutral corner. He landed
storm Of right and left swings, and
catching Sullivan with the left square on
the jaw, sent him down on his back. Sui
Ivan was up like a fash, but did not rise
from his knees. He was confused, groggy
and nearly out. Fitysimmons counted nine
and as he uttered the last word Sullivan
started to rise, but did not get higher than
q low crouch. The instant his knee was
of the floor McGovern cam after him and
Sullivan, hardly knowing what he was about,
went down again.
The referee promptly declared him out
and McGovern the victor.
Sullivan attempted to question the de-
c%ision, but F~itzsimmons would not listen
to him.
Fitz a III a Statement.
After the fight was over Fitzsimmons
said: Is .r 81
Discussing the fight Fitzsimmons said:
Sullivan was down more than ten seconds
before he tried to rise. He was on his
knees fully five seconds, before I began
70 count and had he stood up when l said