McGovern, "Terry" (John Terrance)

Boxing

b. March 9, 1880, Johnstown, PA
d. Feb. 26, 1918

Career Record

Other Resources

One of the first fighters to use persistent body blows to set up an opponent for a knockout, McGovern became a professional boxer in 1897. His only loss in four years of fighting came when he was disqualified for fouling Tim Callahan on July 23, 1898. The foul was deliberate and came after Callahan had insulted "Terrible Terry," who was so nicknamed because of his temper.

McGovern won the vacant world bantamweight championship by knocking out British titlist Pedler Palmer in the 1st round on September 12, 1899, at Tuckahoe, NY. Before the end of the year, McGovern could no longer make the weight limit and he relinquished the title.

On January 9, 1900, McGovern became world featherweight champion with an 8th-round knockout of George Dixon in New York City. Later that year, he knocked out lightweight champion Frank Erne in a non-title fight.

An extremely popular fighter, McGovern starred in several shows in 1900 and 1901, including The Bowery After Dark and Terry on the Spot. He briefly quit boxing for the stage in the summer of 1901, then fought only two short exhibitions before facing Young Corbett in a title fight on November 28.

Corbett taunted McGovern by calling him names and the infuriated champion became an easy target. He was knocked out in the second round. He suffered a nervous breakdown shortly afterward and was in and out of mental institutions for much of the rest of his life. He had just thirteen fights during the next five years. After being inactive for all of 1907, he fought two no-decisions in 1908 and then retired from the ring.

McGovern won 69 bouts, 34 by knockout; lost 4, 2 by knockout; and fought 4 draws and 10 no-decisions.

International Boxing Hall of Fame