The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1908-01-07
GEORGE DIXON,
GREAT PUG|L|ST,
DIED PEhN|LEss

| New York. Jan. 7.--George Dixon. the
former feathorweight champion OF the
world died in Bellevue hospital yester-
| day afternoon from an attack of heart
disease, superinduced by acute alcohol
ism. Dixon was taken to the hospital
last Saturday night IN bad shape lie
appeared to be suffering from infamma-
tory rheumatism and told the phys clan
that his condition was due 10 a long bat
tie with "John Barleycorn." lie became
dangerously Ill Sunday night and passed
away at O'CLOCK this afternoon. Dixon
was conscious to the last. He was prac-
ticany penniless and had been deserted
by former friends some time ago.
Dixon was well known to local fight
fans, having fought here twice in his
long ring career. He won from Joe
Murphy In four-round bout on Jan. Z,
1890. He also fought and won here 40
round bout with Johnny Murphy Oct. 23,
1890. His last battle was fought at the
Standard Athletic club on Dec. 10 OF last
year. Monk the Newsboy getting a deci-
sion over him after 15-round bout
Probably no fighter Nof any weight has
Dixon during the height OF his career. The
sporting ANNALS credit him with l45 bat
ties OF Importance enough TO record. He
was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on July
20. 1870. He lived In Boston as boy and
appeared first in the ring in that city In
1886. lie fought several bouts with minor
pl,.llists in the succeeding four years, de-
veloping the speed and ring generalship
that were his principal characteristics
LAT en1d
prominence by dghting 70 rounds to
draw with Cal" Mccarthy, much
older and more experienced pugilist, on
Feb. T. 1890. In the same year he de-
fcaded 'Nunc' Wallace. the bantamweight
champion Of England, at the Pelican club.
London, and his reputation as a fighter
was assured.
in 1892 he fought what was in many re-
spects his hardest battle, on account of
the conditions surrounding It, This was
when he defeated Jack" Skelly in the
ninth round at New Orleans. before ap
audience OF whites, who were bitterly
| prejudiced against him on account of his
color. Dixon's first defeat after he be-
/ came famous was by Billy Palmer, at
Madison Square Garden in August. 1893.
Dixon fought Young Griffo" three times
| TO a draw, and in December. 1895. had his
| first meeting with Frank Erne, draw re-
Sulting. Erne defeated him in 1896. at the
| Broadway Athletic club, and In March.
1897. he defeated Erne in 25 rounds. In
January. 1896, he fought a draw with
"Pcdlar'' Palmer at Madison Square
Garden. His grip on the title began tc
| weaken in the late nineties, and when he
met Terry McGovern in January. 1900
he was defeated In the eighth round be
fore one of the largest audiences that ever
saw a fight at the old Broadway Athletic
club McGovern defeated him again II
June at Chicago. Dixon's only notabli
fight after that was his defeat of ped
lar Palmer i'm November. 1908.
For the last two or three years Dixoi
had been maintaining himself by giuni
boxing lessons. AT one time he owned con
siderable property in the suburbs OF Bos
ton, bought with the proceeds of his rini
successes. lie married a white girl o.
that city and they lived happily together
for several years. All OF his fights wer,
under the management OF tom
o Rourke ~
Last night Mike" Newman, of tn,
Long Acre Athletic club, took Dixon,
body from the morgue to the headquarter.
of the club. No. 15S West Twenty-ninti
street. He said he would hold ii until
Wednesday, and II II is not claimed by
relatices by that time he will see that II
gets decent burial.