The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-02-25

in khaki.
Il read in The Times Of yesterday
that Harry Pollok was trying to col
lect movies OF big ring battles" said
Bat. with a smile. q have some that
shall donate to the camp activities
committee with my compliments.
am willing to let the committee have
them direct from me without waiting
for Pollok TO get his collection to-
gether.
Il want to do all that 1 can to as
stst in making life easy for the SOL
diers, and, X my movies will be OF any
use, they're welcome to them. That
picture you had in Saturdays Times,
showing me just after knocking out
Fighting Dick Hyland, was a good
one, but in my collection Of movies is
that whole fight. How's that?
shows Title Changing.
Il wonder II the soldiers would like
to see movies showing the complete
battles fought against Hyland, twice
against Joe Cans, Jimmy Britt, Ad
Wolgast, and Owen Moran.
Il won the worlds title from Joe
Cans at CoIma in 1908 and lost It to
Ad wolgast in 1910. I know that the
pictures OF these bouts will tickle the
soldiers, for they show the champion
ship passing from one man TO an
other.
'Tf the camp activities committee
want to use these pictures they are
welcome, with my compliments"
1t is more than likely that Nelson's
offer will be accepted by the commit
tee in charge of soldiers entertain
ments. Every effort is being made to
provide entertainments for real men
at the various environments, and NOV
ing pictures OF famous ring battles
are right in line with what the SOL
diers want
Almost Held Three Titles.
Terrible Terry" McGovern came
within an ace Of holding three ring
championships. Seven pounds stood
between him and the lightweight
crown. He already had possessed the
bantam and featherweight titles. He
succeeded where Johnny Kilbane
failed, but because Frank Erns had
to weigh in at 1913 pounds instead of
at 135, then the recognized light
weight limit, McGovern never became
the lightweight champion. although
he knocked out Erne July 10. 1900.
When McGovern was a bantam, he
was truly a terror. He packed the
punch of a middleweight, and after
he defeated Harry Forbes in Brook
lyn in 1898 Jimmy Barry, the Ameri-
can champion, decided It was a good
time to retire He allowed the title
to go by default to McGovern, who
proceeded to defend IT.
McGovern won the worlds bantam
title when he defeated Pedlar Palmer.
the English champion, in half a round
at Tuckahoe September IL, 1899.
Goes After FeatherweIEhtS.
Cleaning up the bantams, McGovern
retired undefeated and went after
George Dixon, the featherweight
champion Of America. Tom O'Rourke,
DiEons manager, refused to allow
Little Chocolate" TO enter the ring
unless McGovern made 11s pounds. be-
lieving that Dixon would have greater
strength. Though Dixon had been de-
Tending the title at 122 to 126 pounds,
the bout was declared for the feather
weight title and staged January o,
1900, IN New York.
Instead Of being weak. McGovern
entered the ring strong as q bull His
furious rushing attack beat down the
clever defense OF Dixon, and in the
eighth round came the end, McGovern
winning by a clean knockout Thus
McGovern acquired the American
featherweight crown while still hold
ing the worlds bantam title.
As result OF a kidding match.
Frank Erne, worlds lightweight
champion. agreed to meet McGovern,
and also agreed to weigh in at 12S
ringside. In the third round Mccoy
ern knocked out his man. That was
July 16, 1900. Had Erne weighed in
At 1875 pounds. II is unlikely that he
could have won, according to those
who witnessed the battle. Those seven
pounds made all the difference.
Bob Fitzsimmons is the only boxer
ever to have held three titles. He was
middleweight, light-heayyweight, AMI
heavyweight champion at various
times.