Evening journal., 1906-12-31
FIGHTERS LACK
PROPER DEFENSE
That is Why Many MiaSwing
erS' Careers Are So
Short

Terry McGovern in an insane ward
is a lesson to fighters who have stud
led only tho offensive side Of their CALI
ing. The former champion Of the
world is still youngster Five years
ago he ranked as the greatest little
man the game had ever known. To-
day he is down and out
It IS not the pace that kills which
pulled Terry McGovern down. His bad
habits did not begin until his decline
had started. Perhaps they helped 10
hasten the end They did not begin it.
McGovern is a victim Of entertaining
and lack Of a proper defense. He came
into the ring a full hedged champion.
I He underwent no apprenticeship. He
had "a punch that none could with
stand. Others might be better boxers
but the terrible punch OF Terry for a
time discounted all skill. and il was
not until he met Young Corbett, a
youth who did not fear him, who could
box and had a wallop that Terry was
dropped from his pedestal
Meantime, during four busy years
Terry had been fighting without a de-
Tense. He had never learned how to
cover up his body and protect the vital
parts. He won so easily that he did
not think he needed to master the de-
tensive skill that enabled a man to sur
ViNe long career and come out UNI
harmed.
Take a blow to give one" was
Ierry's motto. He acted on It liter
ably With lowered head, careless OF
what punches might be rammed into
his heart and stomach he rushed in TO
annihilate his men. He usually sue
ceeded, but IN every one OF these fights
he was hit often and hard.
This continued punishment had a
cumulative effect Terry became a
nervous wreck. Moreover. he was al
ways in training, and gave outraged
nature no chance 20 reiuvenate itself
iiis finish is only what must have been
expected under the circumstances.
An examination Of the records will
snow that IL is only the men who un-
uerstood the art Of avoiding punish
ment who have kept to the fore for a
long time. Joe Cans was "a champion
before Terry and he IS still one. He
knows how TO box. Tommy Ryan and
Jack O'Brlen illustrate the same idea
After they quit the boxing game they
viii still be splendid specimens of
manhood in fine physical and nenta
trim.
The slap-bang boxer who reckon,
nothing of taking a punch is a hero
with the public while IL lasts. but he
pays the price. There are many other.
who prove this I'm addition TO the case
of Door Terry.
a few years ago the public delighted
TO cheer Kid Carter one Of the bravest
men who over pulled on a glove. IL,
had a terrific punch, and those who
saw him give away weight to Gus Rub
lin will never forget his matchless
courage in those unequal bouts.
He took terrible beatings from Peter
Maher whom he knocked out: Marvin
Hart and Jack O'Bricn, yet he never
finched. Finally all Of "a sudden he
collapsed and went back so pitiablA
that men who at one time would have
run from him for their lives were able
TO knock him out Had Carter first
learned how TO ward Off punishment he
might have boon star to-day.
! Tom Sharkey was as brave as any OF
them. He could slug. but not box
The awful lacing Jim Jenries visited
on the sailor put him out Of the fight
ing game He came back once. and
took rank with the smaller men. bui
he was no longer the SharlSey Of old
Kid Broad was a similar one, and SC
was little Eddie Hanlon, a lion heart.
ed youngster, who was fighting cham.
pions while in his teens Eddie was q
bulldog, a forcer of the battling, but
he lacked the art Of keeping away from
the blows He has never gone nearls
as far as he should
Buddy Ryan had a wallop. but NJ
guard, and his light soon went out
Yet Jimmy Gardner, a welter who car
box ought TO be good for ten years.
George Gardeners clumsy style ant
ruggedness went for a while, then tn,
effect OF the poundings began to tell
until eventually he lost his courag,
and became perhaps the worst Tenor
IN the rims
In football the coaches always teaci
a team how TO defend its goal befor,
imparting the art OF making touch.
downs. 1t should be so in boxing.
The man with the punch who forget,
the laws Of self-defense can have bu
lshort-lived success in the ring and tina
lonly at a terrible risk.