Terry McGovern, the original prototype of Mike Tyson.

[janitor]

When Terry McGovern fought Pedlar Palmer for the bantemweight title Palmer was regarded by many as the best technical boxer in the world. While McGovern was instaled as a 5 4 favourite nobody dreamed that he would win but early blow out.

No world champion had ever been beaten in the first round at this point, and Palmer was something of a defensive specialist. It was like Mike Tysons first round demolition of Michael Spinks except that nobody had seen anything like it before.

Oh and he was 19 years old at this point.



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[janitor]

Having helped himself to the bantemweight and featherweight titles Terry put a beating on lightweight champion Frank Erne himself a defensive master. By rights he should have been crowned as light heavyweight champion and the first fighter to hold titles in three weight classes at the same time.

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[janitor]

By the time McGovern defended his title agains Young Corbett he was deemed to be unbeatable and was widley talked of as the greatest fighter that ever lived. The talk was not of whether Corbett could win but how many rounds he would last. [Only registered and activated users can see links]

And yes McGoverns fan base was every bit as loyal and single minded as Tyson's
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[Dempsey1238]

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Only known film, vs Terry McGoven of couse.

[janitor]

McGovern found himself up against an oponent who not only had his number stylisticaly but also mentaly as well. He lost his title and with his aura of invincibility shatered he would never regain his fearsome form.

It is imposible to under rate the importance of McGoverns contribution to modern boxing technique. There has been much speculation on this forum about which boxers pioneered the modern style of fighting, fast paced, offense orientated and often coming to a rapid conclusion. There seems to be little doubt in the minds of contemporary writers that it was McGovern as this obituary to his title reign demonstrates.


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[Bad_Intentions]

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a prime terry mcgovern

[janitor]

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a prime terry mcgovern

A terifying creature indeed.

I think people here have verry much overlooked McGoverns historical importance as a pioneer of technique.

[Bad_Intentions]

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.

:rofl

[janitor]

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.

:rofl

Young Corbett was McGoverns Evander Hollyfield. The man who had his number inside and outside the ring.

McGovern never recovered from the loss of his title suffering poor mental health later in life and ultimately being institutionalized.

[Bad_Intentions]

he died young in the institution (38 years old).

[janitor]

People on this forum are a little to quick to describe certain fighters as pioneers of boxing technique. If you see Gene Tunney or Jack Dempsey do something on film then it is dollars to dounuts that they copied it off sombody else who you do not have film of.

In McGoverns case people on the ground at the time were saying that he represented something new and had turned a corner. There is a verry solid case for calling him a pioneer of boxing methods.

[mike4819]

Great post! Thanks for putting it up. I remember working in Holy Cross Cemetary in Brooklyn during the summers of 68' and 69'.Great memories. Anyway I used to pass his grave all the time. James Joseph McGovern, the "Brooklyn terror". Also had a booklet about him that I picked up at the old Ring mag. office by Penn Station. One of these summers the song "the boxer" topped the charts. Made me think of Terry.
"Rest in Peace" warrior.

[Dempsey1238]

People on this forum are a little to quick to describe certain fighters as pioneers of boxing technique. If you see Gene Tunney or Jack Dempsey do something on film then it is dollars to dounuts that they copied it off sombody else who you do not have film of.

In McGoverns case people on the ground at the time were saying that he represented something new and had turned a corner. There is a verry solid case for calling him a pioneer of boxing methods.

Are you sure he didnt copy that style off of Pearce or Slack??? They were amazing brawlers in there day and age.

[janitor]

Are you sure he didnt copy that style off of Pearce or Slack??? They were amazing brawlers in there day and age.

McGovern was no brawler

He was the first fighter to apply scientific principles to acheiving a quick knockout. The exact prototype for, Jack Dillon, Jack Dempsey, Mike Tyson.

Even fighters like Joe Louis to a certain extent.

[OLD FOGEY]

Are you sure he didnt copy that style off of Pearce or Slack??? They were amazing brawlers in there day and age.

Yeah, but how would McGovern know how Pearce or Slack fought? There was no film and I doubt if old Terry was much into an in-depth study of ancient history. He just does not seem the intellectual type. At worst, he was reinventing the style for the "modern" era.

[Dempsey1238]

McGovern was a brawler, as was Dempsey, Marciano, and even Tyson. Yes they used some defense to get in, like bobing and weaving, or being arkward. But mostly they were brawlers, slugging it out once they got in.

[janitor]

McGovern was a brawler, as was Dempsey, Marciano, and even Tyson. Yes they used some defense to get in, like bobing and weaving, or being arkward. But mostly they were brawlers, slugging it out once they got in.

I would not call any of those guys brawlers.

Dempsey and McGovern were not brawlers they were scientific offensive specialists.

There is nobody alive today who could teach you what they knew.