The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-04-01
Landed His Blows with Machinelike
Precision and Had the Better of
Fight from Start to Finish.
M'GOvERN'S FRIENDS BITTER
DENOUNCED THE REFEREE FOR DE-
CLARING CORBETT WINNER,
Claiming Timekeeper Harding Count.
ed Ten While McGovern Was
Almost on His Feet.

SAN FRANCISCO, March 31-William
Rothwell. better known as Young Cor
bett," of Denver, showed decisively to-
night that his victory over Terry McGov-
ern. of Brooklyn, at Hartford a year ago
last Thanksgiving, was no fluke by de-
feating McGovern in the eleventh round
after a fight in which there was not
second of idleness for either man. In
nearly every round Corbett. fighting like
a machine, never overlooking an oppor-
tunity to send home his blows, had a shade
the better of the argument, and when
finally, In the eleventh round, he got the
Brooklyn boy fairly going he never let up
on him until Terry sank to the floor, a
badly defeated man. Corbett put McGov-
ern down in the first round for a count of
seven and repeated it in the second.
There was some question as to whether
McGovern was down in the eleventh round
at the count of ten, and for a few minutes
it looked as If there would be free-for-
all fight. McGovern tried to get up-tried
hard-and was on his feet an instant after
the time keeper counted him out. George
Harding, the club time keeper. who counted
McGovern out, stated after the fight that
the blows that knocked McGovern out were
left and right swings on the jaw and
right upper-cut on the chin. Harding said
McGovern in a dazed condition; that
when he had counted nine he motioned him
to get up. but McGovern was too confused
to notice and was unable to rise. At the
count Of ten McGovern started to rise, but
1t was too late, and the referee awarded
the fight to young Corbett." Harding
said McGovern was completely out and that
1t was well for him he was unable to get
up. Corbett was strong and ready, and
had McGovern riser to his feet he would
have been probably seriously hurt AS it
was it was nearly a minute after McGovern
had been carried to his corner before he
was able to sit up or understand what had
happened.
The men in McGovern's corner claimed
that the decision was an outrage. They
said McGovern had been instructed to fight
cautiously. and when he was knocked down
he was to take the full count and that Nc
Govern obeyed his instructions. They claim
at the count of ten he was on his feet, and
although dazed, knew what he was doing.
They also claimed he had plenty OF fight
in him and would have lasted the rest Of the
round.
Harding's position in counting McGovern
out was sustained by "Calky' Roberts, an
other timekeeper. Paddy Sullivan, the
third timekeeper, was very much in favor
of McGovern and contended that the count
as accepted by the referee was wrong.
Referee Graney's decision seemed to meet
with the approval of most of the spectators,
as McGovern was apparently thoroughly
beaten.
1T was my way of winning the fight"
said Young Corbett,'' after the fight. Il
fought cautiously in every round and felt
McGovern weakening towards the end of
the contest. l caught him with left on
the jaw and sent him back against the
ropes. He dropped his hands to his side.
which was a sure signal to me that / had
won the contest. L went for him. put rights
and lefts to head and jaw and was forced
to fight myself free in the clinch The
final blow was a right uppercut to the jaw
that put McGovern TO the floor for the full
count. Even had he been able to regain
his feet before the count OF ten, / would
have had him out, as he was absolutely
unable TO defend himself. At no time in
the contest was | confused or discouraged
And 10 say that won the fight unfairly is
a great injustice TO me. Mc(fovern is Ger
tainly the next best man in the world but
| still retain the championship and will
fight any man who approaches my class
But will not give pound OF my weight to
anyone. / was in superb condition and TO
my trainers 1 give credit for winning the
contest"
"It was the greatest robbery in the his
tory of the prize ring" said McGovern
II had Corbett beaten from start to finish
/ landed on him when and where pleased
and surely would have had him out within
few rounds. 1 was not knocked out. but
admit that the right uppercut to the chin
dazed me, and / took the count In order TO
save myself. ! could have gone on with
the battle. and would. / think, have re-
gained the championship. 1 guess IL Is all
up with fighter when he goes in, wins a
contest and Is then robbed of the dacfsiou