The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-04-23
fRr James j. Cnrbe.tt }


Editors note; This is the second
chapter of a series of six articles
which Mr.. Corbett is writing on the
pugflistic life of Terry McGovern. The
next installrnent will appear tomor-
row.
Terry McGovern's spectacular rush
through the bantamweight division
was halted only by the fact that no
one was left who could give him a
real battle. And so Terry was forced
to look into Hhe higher class and at
once began picking on" George
Dixon, then the title holder of the
featherweight division.
Dixon eagerly accepted the chal-
lenge OF M6Eovern. The two men
were matched TO fight January 8,
1900. Few battles in ring history ever
provoked more excitement or greater
discussion than that one, And it ranks
as one of the heaviest betting bouts
ever staged in America. Conservative
estimates have it that close to a half
million was wagered on the outcome
/ OF that blue ribbon fstic clash
/ For ten years Dixon had ruled su-
| preme among The fcatherweights.
During that period he had beaten
hundreds of foes. Boxing enthusiasts
had come to believe that the negro
would retire indicated. His defense
was so superb. his ring Judgment so
wonderful. and his ability 10 take
punishment so amazing that il was
considered an impossible feat for
man in his own class to take away
his crown.
But Terry Mc6overn accomplished
the trick in battle that was one oil
the most wonderful and most thrilling
ever fought on American soil,
Dixon was in good shape when he
fought Terrible Terry but not in
the splendid condition that he had
known in his earlier days. Added
years and easy living had taken away
some of the speed and endurance
/ powers that made him a marvellous
performer in his prime. Just the
same. Dixon went into the McGovcrn
hattle retaining all OF his far famed
! ClcyernesS and with the aid OF a keen,
agile ring brain--and years of expert
enCe, In making the match with Nc
Govern he knew that he was taking
on the most aggressive fighter the
smaller division ever had known But
Dixon figured that he vas the Irish
mans master.
With the bang Of the first Eon.
, Dixon beat McIovern 20 the rush and
started driving Terry around the ring.
| The aggressiyeness Of the negro sur
! prised the crowd But it WAS in keep
| ing with Drxons erogram of battle,
| He felt that his best chance for vic
| tory was TO attempt TO beat down Nc
| Govern with fury OF punches be-
| fore Terry could begin q cyclonic at
| tack. But in doing so Dixon made
q grave blunder His rushing tactics
| used up practically all OF his strength
| in the early roun ds-and didn't weary
Terry. Had the negro elected 10 stand
| afr and box. using his brain and his
| skin and his cleverness to keep out OF
| the way of NJ ctSovern's rushes. a diff
| ferent story might he written about
| that contest
| But George Dixon elected 10 slug
with Terry McGovern--and George
! went down to defeat!
! During the first round the negro
champion made McCToVern look like d
novice With bewildertng footwork,
clever blocking and ducking, Dixon
| forced McGovern to miss practically
every lead Terrible Terry didn't
J land a really solid punch throughout
| the first round. whereas Dixon played
| "A tattoo upon the face and body of
McGovern The story OF the second
| round was much the sam e--Drxon all
| The way The negro found no trouble
| IN hitting Terry, whereas the white
| gladiator was swinging wtldly-~and
vainly
/ The third round brought something
/ akin to CONSERVATION among the Nc
| Govern partisans Dixon started off
| rushing Terry and landed a sucees-
sion OF lerts and rights to the stomach
In a furious mixup in the center of