Did Joe Gans take a dive against Terry McGovern?

Yes, he threw the fight.

 

I think so.

 

Perhaps, but the footage does show that McGovern had a cannon ball punch.

 

There is more than enough evidence to put it in the suspicious category.

It seems that an irregular betting pattern had emerged before the fight, and that suspicions were circulating.

 

Based on the footage up until the point the fight was stopped no, but the way they shook hands so quickly and gracefully seems very bazar, so I can understand people's suspicions.

 

I don't really see anything that suspicous in the footage TBH.

 

I have to admit the same. McGovern looks like he is tagging him... but contemporaries thought it fishy as hell and it led to boxing's temporary demise in Chicago if memory serves

 

Damn Gennady McGovern, chill!
https://streamable.com/g9r9h

 

Yeah, maybe the camera isn't capturing wobbly legs clearly? But right, you would expect him to be more unbalanced after practically being unable stand up.

Any examples we can think of similar behavior after a similar ending?
When this stuff occurs I think it's always good to look for precedent.

 

I slowed down and stabilized the first knockdown. The punch appears to clip Gans in the back of the head, and his neck twists under Terrys arm.
https://streamable.com/sw4u7

The moment of impact:
https://imgur.com/a/KSGYzuW

On the streamable, you can scroll through it with your mouse to see it frame by frame at your speed.

 

Doesn't look like a dive in THAT knockdown. Looked genuine.

 

It wasn't supposed to look suspicious.

Fixed fights look the same as level fights when done properly.

 

I ran across this statement from Joe Gans...

"I have no excuse to offer for my defeat last night by McGovern. The first blow in the first round is what did the business. It came unexpectedly, as McGovern fairly ran from his corner, sidestepped and struck me over the heart. All of this was done in the first two seconds of the first round. I never was so surprised in my life. This blow took all my strength and I could not have whipped a baby after I received it. The fight was absolutely on the square and it is the old story of the chance blow."