The McGovern-Gans fight.

My only issue with it is if it was fixed why did Gans keep getting up?

 

There is a significant amount of evidence, in terms of irregular betting paterns.

 

I've not heard any evidence. Did either fighter claim it themselves?

 

Great victory unless a fix can be proven imo.

Gans could be considered slightly pre prime. not Green by any stretch but beofre he'd hit his best form certainly.

 

Start in the middle of page 19 and read. It's short:

http://books.google.com/books?id=i-...nepage&q=chicago boxing gans mcgovern&f=false

 

It doesn't look right to me.

A lot of the "fixes" and dives I've seen did showcase the victim getting up from the knockdowns because acting knocked out is a hard sell to the crowd, especially in the old days with extremely cynical betting men and news reporters, and staying down for the full count is an even bigger blow to one's pride.

Still, Gans never did any fighting in there, and he was relatively modern as far as his pacing goes, not a fighter to hold on and wrestle his way to a win while showing little activity as far as punching goes.

 

Many Thanks Surf :good

 

You know, if you consider the win legit, McGovern had to rank near Ray Leonard for you. Demolished Peddlar Palmer, moved up and beat the crap out of George Dixon, beat lightweight champ Frank Erne and Gans. That's a peak that only Henry Armstrong can match.

Although wasn't the Palmer fight controversial? Or am I misremembering that.

 

Even if McGovern's win was legit, his peak was just too short before running into Young Corbett's fists. Some might disagree but I have a feeling that he was a bit "exposed" there if I may be allowed to use the term. He didn't take a great punch and his offense was his defense for the most part.

It wasn't really a stamina problem or a front-runner mentality with him as he had been through long, grueling bouts before. Lost the title at 21 years of age and he was never able to regain his previous form.

 

Didn't he go crazy. And yeah I was a but hyperbolic. But that's one hell.of a peak.

 

I agree. It can be overblown though, as great as it appears, as great as it was, unquestionably.

Did he go crazy or was he always crazy? The part of which made him a great fighter may have also contributed to his downfall. His brute aggression served him well but it also let him down in the end, as he went after the taunting Young Corbett.