The Washington times., 1920-03-18

Prior u 1892, when George Dixon
won the worlds featherweight title
no real American champion existed,
though many claimed the crown. Ike
Weir, one OF the claimants, was from
Ireland. Dilly Murphy was from
Al stralia. Johnny Griffin, from
Braintree, Mass, was the only real
Amer an among the bunch. but he
lacked the necessary class. Finally,
out OF the scramble appeared Cal NC
Carly, of Troy. and George Dixon. or
Boston, known to the ring, world as
"The Little Chocolate Drop"
Dixon was generally recognized as
the American featheTweight champion
after he knocked out Mccarthy In
twenty-five rounds at Troy. n. y, on
March 81, 1891. They weigheu 40
pounds rinGside.
On July 20, 1901, Dixon entered the
ring with Abe. Willis, the British
featherweight champion. Willis took
the full count In the nfth round, and
40 Dixon was now the worlds feath-
erweiSht titleholder.
Dixon Advances Weight.
Dixon was growing all the time.
and when challenged by Solly smith
ne entered the ring at san Francisco
Weighing 40 pounds. Tom ORourke,
himself then. He imagined Dixon
would easily win at that weight, but
at the end OF twenty rounds the rel
eree's decision went to Smith. That
was on October. 4, 1897.
O'Rrouke went around then, tim
canning the new championship. lie
succeeded we'll enough in his claim
that 1Is pounds was the limit or the
class to keep Smith from meeting Ben
I'll lph RI mi
worlds title. Jordan met Dixon in
New York on July I, 1888, but the
Enrlishman won. Jordan immedi-
ateIy laid claim to the worlds title,
hut ring followers everywhere gave
4, him the horse Taught. knowing that
NSoIIy Smith was the real titlehoider.
All Jordan got out of his victory was
4 chance to say he had defeated the
great Dixon. whatever good that ala
him.
smith defended his title against
Dave Sullivan at Coney Island. Sep
TENDER rs, 1898. In the fifth round
Smith broke has arm and had to STOP
the title going to Sullivan.
Dixsn Re9.ins Title.
George Dixon Immediately chal-
lenged Sullivan for the featherweight
championship of the world. They met
in New York at the old Lenox A. c. on
November IL, 1898. Dixon gave Suiti-
van a bad beating, the latter's SECONDS
jumping into the ring In the tenth
round to save their man from further
Punishment. And again was George
Dixon champion Of the world.
But now was coming to the front
that demon among midgets. Terrible
Terry" Mctiovern. of Brooklyn. He
was knocking his opponents dead
with a punch, and IL became inevits-
bic that he should enter the ring with
Dixon and dispute the championship
with him.
ORourke recognized the danger in
NcGovern's challenge, and. though
Dixon had been battling at anywhere
from I22 to 1913 pounds. when the
match was arranged ORourke insist
ed on 11S pounds. He thought, As In
the case of Solly Smith, McGovern
would be weakened making the
weight and prove an easy victim.
But. just as in the Smith affair,
ORourke was fooled. McGovern
knocked out Dixon in the eighth
round. That was on June 23. 1900.
But soon as he won, McGovetn be-
gan pushing up the weight and so,
whom he entered the ring at Hartford.
Conn. for his memorable battle with
Young Corbctt on November 2S. 1901,
the weight was 126 pounds. In the
second round Corbett knocked out the
Terrible Terry" surprising tho fstic
world as II had not been surprised
in a generation.
Youss Corbett Laughed.
As in the case of Dixon, McGovern
claimed that because of the weight
126 pounds, the bout was not for the
title, but Corbett laughed, saying:
"well, everybody knows / knocked