McGovern in my opinion is one of the most under rated all time greats. He was 52-2-5 ( the 2 losses were DQ's ) before losing to Young Corbett. Much like Jack Dempsey and Mike Tyson, McGovern went at his man like an attack dog. McGovern defeated many of the top fighters in his era. Most notably Dixon, Gans, Erne, and Palmer. Here are a few of his news reads. Vs Dixon: [url]http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9B0DE7DB1239E733A25753C1A9679C946197D6CF[/url] Vs Sullivan: [url]http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=940DEFD81530E733A25750C2A9649C946397D6CF&oref=slogin[/url] Vs Young Corbett: [url]http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9C0DEEDD1631E733A2575BC1A9669D946797D6CF[/url] vs Erne [url]http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9D03E6DF173FE433A25754C1A9619C946197D6CF[/url] Obituary: [url]http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=990DE1DC113FE433A25750C2A9649C946996D6CF[/url]
McGovern is not just under rated as an all time great but also as a pioneer of boxing technique. He is one of the few fighters that genuinely did represent a new departure in the sport.
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. Whether it was Jack Dempsey or whoever. There seems to be little doubt in the minds of contemporary writers that it was McGovern as this obituary to his title reign demonstrates. This content is protected This content is protected This content is protected This content is protected This content is protected This content is protected This content is protected This content is protected This content is protected This content is protected
Ive allways understood the Gans fight and possibly the Erne fightwere suspect,but Mcgovern was an all action tiger,Corbett took away the aura.
