So you're sold on this being a PARTIAL dive then? Kidding. Yes, it would be easier to stay down, but it wouldn't have really convinced the audience. Better to make it look like you're "trying" by rising again. Was he hurt at any time? Possibly. McGovern had a legit KO punch from banty all the way up to lightweight. But no featherweight in history is knocking out Joe Gans. Especially not in less than 2 rounds. Bigger (sizewise) KO punchers like Joe Walcott, Sam Langford, Eddie Kennedy and Dal Hawkins can't put away Gans in 61 rounds combined, but little Terry McGovern does?? In TWO rounds? That's a bit of a stretch for me. And if my guess is correct, it is for you as well :hat
Also keep in mind that Gans was a seasoned pro at this time. I'm sure that he had more than enough experience to be able to clinch and employ other survival techniques from his bag of tricks if he had indeed been hurt.
Gans being hurt looks really legit. It's not only the number KD's but the sloppy way he falls and how any punch hurts his equilibrium. It looks like so many KO's I've seen where the guy has been rabbit punched or hurt with a perfect shot to the temple. How he got to that point is a different matter. I believe there was an agreement before the fight, which was known to the sporting set and which ignited the reaction of the Chicago officials. And to me, it looks like McGovern wasn't following the script.
Just because he got hurt by a punch during a thrown fight doesn't mean it wasn't a thrown fight though. Punches hurt. McGovern punches hard. If he hits you, it will hurt.
I have heard many great things about Gans, and have seen some footage. His fight against Kid Herman was when he was much past his prime I believe, yet it was one of the greatest knockouts I have ever seen.
Gans's level of opposition is just ridiculous: Elbows McFadden Frank Erne Jimmy Britt Joe Walcott Jack Blackburn Dave Holly Young Griffo Bobby Dobbs That is just the start.
Leonard's isn't to shabby Johnny Dundee Freddie Welsh Johnny Kilbane Leo Johnson Jack Britton Ted (Kid) Lewis Willie Ritchie Rocky Kansas Lew Tendler
Our rankings are a lot alike. The only difference is that I would sandwich Whitaker between Leonard and Gans.
I would put Duran higher, and certainly Whitaker. Rather that outright rank them in order, I believe we are talking about who belongs in the conversation. And it is a very select group.
Gans fought bigger men as well ... Leonard was exceptional but his physical toughness and ability to take it were not his strong points ... As far as the McGovern fight, let's get real. Of course it was a dve.
Duran is justifiable, but Whitaker doesn't have anything close to the same level of LW reign as the big three. Great fighter, but just not as great as those three, in all time or lightweight rankings. You shouldn't just be pretty sure.... The referee of the fight doesn't think it was on the level. I think even Gans himself admitted to throwing it.
It bears little resemblance to outright dives I have seen for the numerous factors I listed above. I am pretty sure it was not on the level but it looks more like a double cross than a dive. For Christ sakes, he hits the canvas half a dozen times and gets hit with monstrous shots. I think there was a lot easier way to take a dive than that.
Purely based on their reign at Lightweight, Gans and Leonard stand clearly above the rest. Only when taking into account exploits at higher weights/against larger opponents do guys like Armstrong, Duran, and Whitaker come into the mix. Although I do believe Duran's Lightweight opposition gets sold short by some.
This is where i'm at. Duran's reign is sadly short a couple of really stellar challengers in number, but the quality of the opposition is high.