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:See also Terry McGovern (actor)
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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.

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.  Sadly, he spent much
of his later life in mental institutions.  Corbett
also won the rematch, again by knockout.

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.