New-York tribune., 1918-02-23
Terry's Career

Terrible Terry" McGovcrn was born
IN Johnstown, Pa. on March 0, 1880
" nile sim an infant his parents moved
TO brooklyn. It was as a Brooklynitc
ne later travelled up the stony path to
championship fame.
McGovcrn got the fght bug from a
rougn and tumble engagement in a
brooklyn lot He practised bit with
lhc gloves and entered an amateur tour
nament. Inc first night he knocked out
tour opponcats; the second he scored
three knock9uts and on the third and
last evening came back with four more
X. O's.
This performance SGT the big town
Wild; Shortly afterward "Tcrriblc Ter
~ began his professional career. His
vas the style calculated to win the
hearts on boxing admirers. The tough
uttle lrlshman was ono poem of action.
lie never backed up. never stopped bor-
lng in. His arms worked continually
Ike fails. He packed the knockout
Wallop and was always ready TO take
Zen smashcs for the chance Of getting
one good ONE home on the other fellow.
Cleaned up Quickly
McGovern cleaned up quickly against
a lot Of fourth. third and second raters.
noWAng them over orc By one till he
bumped into George Monroe. Mon
roc, a seasoned ringster and ono of the
topnotchers Of the time, had his hands
fuli in holding little Terry TO a draw
IN twenty-five rounds. Later Terry de
teatcd thus same Monroe in twenty -four
rounds IN most sensational tirht.
After Che first meeting between Nc
Govern and Monroe, Sam Harris, who
managed the latter, took McGovern
under his wing and speedily nointed
nm to the championship. One by one
the Brooklyn Terror toppled over the
candy kids Of the ring Harry Forbes
Tim Callahan. Austin Rice, Casper
Leon and Joe Bernstein. The victory
over Leon gave Terry the bantam title
Little Chocolate' George Dixon.
featherweight champion at the time.
was trying to cntice the English title
holder, Pcdlar Palmer into a match.
Harris induced Palmer to come to
America to meet McGovern. Terry
knocked out the Briton at Tuckahoe in
the first round before one of the most
exclusive audiences that ever witnessed
a bout. -Four months later Terry
Knocked out the great Dixon. believed
lnvinclble up to that time. The vic
tory earned him $4,000 and the world
featherweight title
McGovern, a national hero now,
trimmed all Of Americas best feathers
with ridiculous ease. Frank Erne
liehtweight champion, foolishly agreed
TO make l28 pounds for the phenom
They fought in Madison Square Gar.
den AND Terry knocked out the light
weight champion in the third round
Next he knocked out Joe Cans in tn,
second round of fight in Chicago
Made Long Tour
McGovern. now considered invincible
made long tour OF the country, add
ing TO his fame and fortune. He re-
turned EAST to meet practical un-
known. The unknown, of course, was
Young Corbett. They were betting {
to / that Corbctt would not stay wher
the light started at Hartford, Thanks.
giving Day. 1901. Corbett knocked out
ierrlbie Terry" in the second round
That Waterloo broke McGovern's
heart, He was never the same Terry
a1terward. He met Corbett again only
to be knocked out second time, in the
eleventh round. 4Afterward he met Mel
son, BRITT, Murphy and Corbett, but
only as a shadow of the former "Ter.
rible Terry" the invincible.