The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-16
TIMELY BOXING TALK.
The Britt.Gans Match-Terry McGovern's
Restoration TO Form.


With the arrangement OF the match be-
tween Joe Cans and Jimmy Britt for the
lightweight championship and the rehabil-
itation of Terry McGovern the devotees
OF pugilism have had a great deal TO talk
about lately. McGovern's great six round
bout with Eddie Hanlon is still being dis
cussed and will be commented upon for
weeks to come. There Is no more popular
little man In the business than Terry. be-
cause Of his record and his willingness to
fight when called upon to do 80. While
Ma(iovern's restoration to form is not as
decisive as his most ardent supporters
would desire. 1t is sufficient to lead his
admirers to believe that with patient train
ing and close attention to the rules Of regu-
lar living McGovern may again become
the premier fighter OF his weight As to
regaining the title OF featherweight cham
pion, which was his by right OF virtue in
defeating George Dixon In 1900, that Is out
OF the question, unless McGovern' has de-
ceived every one as regards his exact scrap
ping weight.
To hold the honoys Of featherweight
champion McGovern must be able to do
battle at 122 pounds or under. That he
cannot get TO this notch again has bee
proved repeatedly. Not one OF his en-
counters during the past three years has
been at the featherweight scale. or near 1t.
Terry has grown a lot in the seven years
he has been fighting. Where 1t was easy
sailing for him to reduce to ll8 pounds
four years ago, it is the hardest kind Of a
task for him to make l27 pounds now.
In a robust body training develops the
IN ,iph nd
to a PERSONS weight as well as strength.
Terry carries but little superfuous flesh.
What little he has he can work off inside of a
week. Young Corbett is just the reverse
of this. No matter how hard or how zeal
ously he labors he appears to be fieshy.
The more he trains the more weight is he
likely to put on. Somehow his muscles re-
fuse to become prominent. Yet beneath
his flesh they are as hard as nails in con-
traction, and as pliable as rubber in repose.
Often this fact has deceived Corbett's In
innate friends and the public into the belief
that he has neglected his condition. But
that he il just as fast, and just as strong
and vigorous as the finely chiselled muscular
fighter, and that his powers OF endurance
are even greater.
In his division, which is just betwixt and
between the featherweight and lightweight
class, pugilist must be exceptionally fast
and clever to keep on top There are any
amount of good men in the ring between
1872 and 1888 pounds, who are as skilled and
equally good pugsts ,h as some 81 the
McGovern, 'Aurelia Herrera. Battling Mel
son. Benny Yanger, Jimmy Britt and other
we'll known bruisers just come in between
these weights. They have demonstrated
what they can do. Yet they can not be
classed as champions They, weigh too
thn oh division
are too light for the lightweight class.
Britt and Nelson probably approach nearer
the lightweight ranks than the others
Corbett could easily build up to the 1873
pound mark, but at 1870 pounds he would
be much stronger, Undoubtedly he would
raise hue and cry about giving away
three pounds to such man as Cans, and
no one would blame him. The only proper
adjustment of this question would be the
establishment Of an extra class, say 1925
England. But it would not be popular
over here, for the simple reason that every
fighter who is unable to make a certain
weight would insist on a new division to
suit his physical requirements.
McGovern's bout with Hanlon was OF
was said to be at his best. Yet the reports
Of the mill indicate that Terry outpointed
hi IL two to one until the Californian laid
him down and almost out with a left hook
in the fourth. Whatever advantage Meow
ern may have had up to that time in the way
of scoring, Hanlon dispelled with that one
punch. Terry was groggy. He was 30
dazed that for a while he did not know
where he was at But the natural in.
stinct OF the fighter who has acquired
generalship with experience seized him:
Like drowning man, he grasped the first
thing in sight. He caught Hanlon around
the legs, the sane as he did when Oscar
Gardner floored him in their fight at the
Broadway Athlat Club, this city. Terry
in this way found his equilibrium; Hanlon
was standing over him excited and anxious.
He left his body unguarded and McGovern
saw his chance. Intuitively he brought
home solid left in the wind and sent Han
lon sprawling to the ropes, This punch
was Hanlons undoing. for it robbed him
and helpless He was in had way and the
police came to his rescue. Perhaps there
would have been scored another defeat
against McGovern had not Hanlon been too
overconfident. But the mill has been fought
it took Corbett and Nelson to whip the Cali
fornian So whatever credit comes from
that encounter devolves to the Brooklyn
boy.
Cagy and shrewd as AL Herford may
appear as a manager, his friends think
that he has made bad bargain by agreeing
to let his man Joe Cans, face br 1T, az 1888
held out for 1873 pounds, weigh in at 8 or
g o'clock. This would have allowed Cans
to add at least five pounds to his physique
by the time the combat was fought. But
Herfords course was inevitable. He had
to do 80 OF lose caste Ia the eyes OF the
6stic world. A champion who could not
come to a weight according to established
rules would not be champion in the true
sense OF the word.
Cans with an lex" prefixed to his present
laurels would no longer be a drawing card.
His RELOCATION to the has-been class would
be all the more rapid because Of his color.
To whip Britt, though, would mean added
prestige, new fortunes and perhaps en-
forced retirement for q year. Like Jefries,
he would be considered invincible and there
would be no one to meet him. Making all
however, Herford may have
something up his sleeve. He has been 80
anxious to get Britt to meet his man that
he may have been willing to sacrifice any
thing. That the bout will attract a bumper
house Il not to be denied. But the sports
will be chary in placing their money-not
because the match appears like an even
thing, but because Cans has not always
been scrupulous in his dealings in the ring.
Tomorrow night, before the, National
Sporting Club, London, frankie Neil.
Americas bantam champion, will fight
Jem Bowker, the English representative
In his class, for the worlds title. This will
be Neil's debut In England and the outcome