Terry McGovern (boxer)

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Terrible Terry McGovern (March 9, 1880–February 22, 1918), born John Terrence McGovern in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, was a hard punching aggressive boxer who held the world bantamweight and featherweight titles.

[edit] Professional Career

McGovern won the bantamweight crown in 1899 when he Koed Thomas Pedlar Palmer in 1 round. He never defended the title and relinquished it in 1900.

He then moved up in weight and captured the featherweight crown from George Dixon on January 9, 1900 by scoring a TKO in the 8th round. As a featherweight, McGovern was involved in some controversial bouts. For example he is credited with KOing Aurelio Herrera, in defense of his crown, in 5 rounds. Herrera afterwards claimed he had been doped during the fight. McGovern is also credited with scoring a 2 round knockout over ring immortal Joe Gans. Gans claimed, and the films of the bout support the contention, that he threw the fight.

Be that as it may, there is no doubt that McGovern was a great fighter. Ring historian Nat Fleischer ranked him as the greatest featherweight of all time. His style was to ever move forward, raining powerful punches on his opponents. McGovern hit as hard as middleweights, especially with his right hand. He even had a colorable claim to the lightweight championship of the world as he knocked out the reigning Champion, Frank Erne, in three rounds in 1900.

McGovern lost his crown when he was stopped by Young Corbett II in 2 rounds on November 28, 1902. Corbett was so confident of victory, that on his way to the arena he stopped to bang on McGovern's dressing room door and shout "Come out and take your licking". Throughout the fight, Corbett taunted his opponent, causing McGovern to become so enraged that he lost his head. McGovern suffered, what was then called, a 'nervous breakdown' after the fight.

McGovern finished his career with a record of 65 wins (42 KOs) 5 losses and 5 draws. As was common in that era, he also engaged in many No Decision bouts. McGovern was named to the Ring Magazine's list of 100 greatest punchers of all time.

[edit] Life After Boxing

Sadly, he spent much of his later life in mental institutions. Corbett also won the rematch, again by knockout. McGovern died of pneumonia and kidney ailment in the charity ward of King's County Hospital, Brooklyn, New, York, USA, on February 22, 1918.