Terry McGovern (boxer)
| Terry McGovern | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Statistics | |
| Real name | Joseph Terrence McGovern |
| Nickname(s) | Terrible Terry |
| Rated at |
Bantamweight Featherweight Lightweight |
| Height | 5 ft 3 in (1.60 m) |
| Reach | 65 in (165 cm) |
| Nationality |
 American
|
| Born |
March 9, 1880 Johnstown, Pennsylvania |
| Died | February 22, 1918 (aged 37) |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 80 |
| Wins | 65 |
| Wins by KO | 44 |
| Losses | 6 |
| Draws | 8 |
| No contests | 1 |
Terrible Terry McGovern (March 9, 1880 – February 22, 1918) was an American professional boxer who held the World Bantamweight and Featherweight Championships. He was born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania as John Terrence McGovern. He was managed by Sam Harris through most of his career, and who remained a friend throughout his life. Many boxing historians considered McGovern's greatest attributes his punching ability and signature charges rather than his boxing style or defensive technique. That the majority of his wins were by knockout speaks to the power of his punch.
McGovern was born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania on March 9, 1880 to Irish parents. After the death of his father Joseph, he tried to help support his widowed mother by peddling vegetables after the family moved to South Brooklyn the year after he was born. Starting his professional career in 1897, several of his brothers would also attempt to make a living as boxers.
He began boxing at Brooklyn's Greenwood Athletic Club in preliminary bouts at the age of only sixteen.
In his impressive career, McGovern took both the World Bantamweight and Featherweight Titles. He defended the World Featherweight Title at least five times against Joe Bernstein, Tommy White, Aurelio Herrera and twice against Oscar Gardiner. He lost it to Young Corbett II who defeated him in World Featherweight Title fights on two separate occasions. His victory over Frank Erne, World Lightweight Champion, led some to claim he was also heir to the World Lightweight Title, though most source today believe the bout was not a sanctioned title fight.
In his first thirty-six better publicized bouts before taking the World Bantamweight Title, McGovern won an astounding 30, losing only to Johnny Snee and Tim Calahan. His winning streak did not end after taking the Bantamweight Title.
McGovern won the vacant World Bantamweight Championship on September 12, 1899 in a first round knock out of British boxer Pedlar Palmer before a crowd of 10,000, using a series of heavy body blows. McGovern was only nineteen years old and had been boxing professionally little more than two years. The bout took place at the Westchester Athletic Club in New York. The winner was to receive $7,500, and the loser $2,500, both sizable purses for the period, but far less than boxers would make for a World Title fights a decade later. The referee was George Siler. The fight was billed as the 116 pound championship. McGovern wore green trunks for the bout which he believed gave him luck. This was the first world championship bout under Queensberry Rules to end by a one-round knockout. McGovern never defended the title and relinquished it in 1900.
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