1899-03-14 Terry McGovern W-KO18 Patsy Haley [Lenox Athletic Club, New York, NY, USA]

1899-03-15 New-York Tribune (New York, NY) (page 6)

M'GOVERN KNOCKS OUT HALEY.

Terence McGovern, the clever little fighter of Brooklyn, knocked out Patrick Haley at the Lenox Athletic Club last night in the nineteenth round. It was a lively fight, with McGovern always the aggressor. They boxed at 115 pounds and were to go twenty-five rounds, provided the bout was not ended before the twenty-fifth round. Haley showed much science, and his science saved him from being badly scarred. He was knocked out by a right-hand blow on the jaw, and in falling struck his head on one of the padded posts. He was carried to his corner in a dazed condition, but recovered in a few minutes. He was slightly cut on the face from McGovern's swings with the left and right hands.

It is said that McGovern will now claim the 115-pound championship of the world, and be prepared to defend it against "Pedlar" Palmer, of England, or any fighter in his class.

The preliminary bout was of ten rounds at 108 pounds between Daniel Dougherty, of Philadelphia, and James Johnson, of this city. In the tenth round Dougherty knocked Johnson down. Referee White then stopped the bout and awarded the fight to Dougherty.


1899-03-15 The Evening Telegram (New York, NY) (page 7)

HALEY DEFEATED IN EIGHTEEN ROUNDS
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"Terry" McGovern, the little Brooklyn featherweight pugilist, scored another victory last night at the Lenox Athletic Club, knocking out "Patsy" Haley, of Buffalo, after forty-eight seconds of fighting in the eighteenth round. It was a hot battle, and Haley, though defeated, was by no means disgraced. He made a grand stand, and showed great cleverness with his hands and feet. His foot work was superb, but his blows lacked strength, and therein lies the cause of his defeat. McGovern's blows were remarkable for their force, and every one counted. At times Haley outpointed him, but he always had a hard blow ready. When he delivered the knockout blow, a right on the jaw, the Brooklyn boy was apparently as strong as when the fight began.

The conditions of the contest called for twenty-five rounds at 116 pounds. Both weighed in at that figure. Haley was the taller and had the longer reach. He also appeared to be the heavier. The opinion of the leading prize fight experts, as expressed immediately after the battle, is that McGovern is a world beater, and that he can beat "Pedlar" Palmer, the champion of England.

McGovern was the favorite in the betting, $100 to $60 being offered when the boys went into the ring.

The eighteenth and what proved to be the final round was very brief. Haley, who was suffering keenly from the blows he received in the preceding round, was unsteady, while McGovern was almost as fresh and as strong as at the start. "Mac" opened hostilities in brisk style. He immediately landed the left on the jaw, and sent Haley to the ropes. As the Buffalo boy rebounded, "Mac" smashed him hard on the jaw with the right, and Haley went down and out. Time of this round, 48 seconds.

In the preliminary bout, "Dan" Dougherty, of Philadelphia, knocked out "Jim" Johnson, of New York, in nine rounds. They met at 108 pounds.


1899-03-15 The New York Times (New York, NY) (page 8)

McGOVERN KNOCKS OUT HALEY.
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The Buffalo Man Loses the Fight in the Eighteenth Round.

"Terry" McGovern of Brooklyn and "Patsey" Haley of Buffalo put up the best fight for eighteen rounds last night that the patrons of the Lenox Athletic Club have ever seen. The boys were matched to go twenty-five rounds at 116 pounds, but a neat left hook on the jaw, followed by a straight right punch on the point of the chin, after forty-eight seconds of fighting in the eighteenth round, sent Haley unconscious on the ropes, and he was counted out and the decision given to McGovern.

The fight from the start was a lively scientific contest. The men appeared to be about evenly matched as to weight, height, and reach, and both showed up as very clever boxers. They sparred lightly for the first two rounds, but in the third they warmed up to their work and mixed matters up. McGovern struck Haley several blows low enough to have been counted as fouls, but it was apparent that they were accidental, and the boys were told by "Charley" White, the referee, to box on.

The fourth round came near being the last, for if the bell had not sounded Haley would probably have been counted out. Haley was the aggressor at the beginning of the round, and sent a hard left-hand swing into McGovern's stomach, but the latter reciprocated a second later with a similar blow. He followed this up with four left swings to the body and jaw. Haley went down three times in succession, and had risen and was endeavoring weakly to defend himself from the knockout that seemed almost inevitable when the gong sounded. Haley brightened up after the fifth round and landed harder and more repeatedly than earlier, and through the succeeding rounds and up to the time he was knocked out he showed improvement.


1899-03-15 The Sun (New York, NY) (page 5)

HALEY KNOCKED HELPLESS.
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M'GOVERN TOO STRONG FOR THE SKILFUL BUFFALO BOY.
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It Was a One-Sided Battle Until the End Came in the Eighteenth Round--A Big Crowd at the Lenox A. C.--Dougherty Whips Johnson in the Preliminary Bout.

Terry McGovern, the South Brooklyn featherweight, who has championship aspirations, knocked Patsy Haley of Buffalo out in the eighteenth round, at the Lenox A. C., last night, before a large crowd. The battle demonstrated the wonderful aggressiveness of McGovern, who has been putting all of his opponents to sleep of late. Haley was the cleverer boxer, but he didn't have the strength nor the physique of his antagonist, who showed himself to be a pugilist of the Sharkey type. McGovern now wants to meet Oscar Gardner, the "Omaha Kid," at 116 pounds.

There were nearly 5,000 persons in the building when the preliminary bout of ten rounds at 108 pounds was announced. The principals were Jim Johnson of this city and Dan Dougherty of Philadelphia. Charley White, as usual, was the referee. Dougherty surprised the sports with his cleverness, and was continually applauded. He soon had Johnson's face bruised and bleeding, and in the fourth round came near scoring a knock-down. In the fifth and sixth rounds Johnson, though receiving a severe punching, made a good rally. Johnson was not only groggy in the eighth round, but the blood was pouring out of his mouth. He took the gaff without showing the white feather, though, and came up for more with a grim smile on his battered features. Dougherty held his big advantage in the ninth round, and just before the last round ended he landed a pretty right-hander on the jaw, which sent Johnson on his face. He was practically out, but the referee, who assisted him to his corner, refused to allow the fight to proceed. Dougherty was declared the winner.

The betting was 2 to 1 in McGovern's favor just before he and Haley entered the ring. A small army of South Brooklyn enthusiasts, who had come to see their idol win, set up a wild shout of welcome when McGovern took his corner. Many bets were made at even money that Haley would not stay fifteen rounds. McGovern's seconds were Sam Harris, George Munroe and Terry Lee. Haley was handled by Florrie Barnett, John McTiernan, and Eugene Bezenah. The conditions were twenty-five rounds at 116 pounds, weighing in at 3 o'clock in the afternoon. Straight Marquis of Queensberry rules prevailed. When they stripped for action it was noticed that McGovern was more solidly put together than Haley. Terry's legs and arms were very powerful for a man of his weight and height. Haley looked to be trained a bit too fine, but at that he was in pretty fair trim, as he showed without delay.

In style the men differed greatly. Haley, light as a feather on his feet, constantly moving about the ring, feinting, sparring, jabbing at long range, gave a beautiful exhibition of science. McGovern, on the other hand, was the typical fighter. He did very little leg work, and permitted Haley to do the bulk of the leading in the first two rounds. His forte was in landing heavy counters and in getting to close quarters for the purpose of driving in powerful body blows. McGovern was cool, patient and deliberate. When Haley landed a series of quick, light lefts on his face in the third round, he only laughed, for he seemed to be confident that the chance to drop the Buffalo pugilist would sooner or later present itself. In this round McGovern landed a blow a trifle under the belt. "Look out," said the referee. "He didn't mean it," remarked Haley. "I wouldn't do anything like that," ejaculated Terry, and then the fight went on in earnest, although the boys were in excellent humor.

So far McGovern had shown superior hitting ability, but had failed to land many effective blows because of Haley's fine defensive tactics. But a minute before the fourth round was over McGovern began rushing. He got Haley into a corner and ripped in blows that were terrific. Right and left handers were driven with accuracy to Haley's head and body until he began to wabble. A great right on the jaw sent Patsy to the floor, where he remained for nine seconds. When he got up McGovern was at him again like a young panther. He threw in a hailstorm of smashes and Haley fell again, bleeding from the nose and mouth. When the ninth second was counted off by the referee Haley arose and began to retreat. McGovern rushed at him and scored another knockdown. Haley was groggy but game, and stayed the round amid intense excitement. McGovern cut loose in the fifth round, but to his surprise Haley had revived wonderfully and mixed it up in earnest. Haley landed his best blows in this round and finished strong, McGovern apparently working easily in order to recover his wind.

McGovern opened the sixth round with two lefts on Haley's nose, which drew a fresh supply of blood. Haley was solely on the defensive. Fault was found with McGovern for raising his knee several times, but he said it was not intentional. It was a case of brute strength against science, and when Haley was floored a moment before the bell rang it looked like all day with him. But he began the seventh round pluckily. Haley had changed his tactics now, and sparred at long range, whipping his left repeatedly into Terry's face. McGovern took all the blows without breaking an inch of ground and went to his corner laughing even though he had been outpointed. Haley landed more than a dozen punches in Terry's face during the eighth round, but they seemed to have no effect. McGovern, on the other hand, put in three similar blows and made Patsey's nose bleed again. Haley's blows were growing weaker, but he was still very fast on his feet and in that way escaped much serious punishment.

McGovern was forcing matters incessantly and kept so close to his man that Haley had trouble in keeping away. A heavy right-hander on the neck in the ninth round made Haley stagger, but he saved himself by clinching. McGovern deliberately held his jaw out and received four swings in rapid succession. Haley showed improvement in the tenth and landed more blows than McGovern, but they had no steam behind them and consequently did no damage. McGovern began slugging and rushing in the eleventh round and finally caught the jaw with a good left. Haley got away and put up a pretty defence to the end. In the twelfth round Haley, though on the defensive, landed oftener than his sturdy antagonist, who left many openings with apparent unconcern. Haley made a grand brace as the thirteenth round opened and held his own in a give-and-take rally. McGovern hit below the belt and Haley appealed to the referee, who ordered the struggle to go on. McGovern did some roughing on the ropes, but Haley's footwork was very effective.

McGovern began to hurry matters in the fourteenth round, but Haley hustled around until Terry cornered him. As Haley was steadily outpointing the Brooklynite, it seemed that the latter's only chance to win securely was by a knockout. McGovern redoubled his efforts in the fifteenth round and Haley was forced to his knees for nine seconds. But he stayed the round, and those who back him to accomplish this feat were happy. As the sixteenth round started Terry rushed his rival to the ropes, only to find that he had escaped. Haley's ribs near the heart were almost raw from McGovern's right-hand body blows. The Brooklyn boy was just a little bit tired when the gong rang. McGovern chased the Buffalo fighter around the sides of the ring when the seventeenth round opening. Then Haley stood up to it and was knocked down with a right to the chin. The gong sounded as the referee counted "three," and Haley ran to his chair.

McGovern bored in with great body blows in the eighteenth round. Haley tried to get out of harm's way with his leg work, but Terry was right on top of him and threw in his swings harder than ever before. Haley was finally pinned up against the ropes and McGovern sent in a crashing right squarely on the point of the jaw. It was the deciding blow, for Haley sank down, with his head resting against one of the ring post. There was no need to count him out, as he was helpless and had to be carried to his corner.

McGovern was declared the winner. The time of the last round was forty-eight seconds. The crowd went away satisfied, because they had seen a great glove fight.


1899-03-15 The World (New York, NY) (page 8)

TERRY M'GOVERN WON FROM PATSEY HALEY.
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Brooklyn Fighter Slugged the Little Buffalo Boy Very Hard and Very Often.
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OFTEN KNOCKED HIM DOWN.
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Haley Showed Great Cleverness and Hit His Man Often, But His Blows Were Too Forceless to Do Any Damage.
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HALEY WENT OUT IN THE EIGHTEENTH.
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Several Times Patsey Was Out, but the Gong Saved Him and He Recovered During the Rest.
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After chasing Patsey Haley around the ring for eighteen rounds, Terry McGovern knocked him down and out at the Lenox Athletic Club last night.

McGovern was the aggressor throughout. He rushed, swung and punched from the start, while Haley jabbed and danced around the ring. It was a fighter against a boxer. At times McGovern was careless, and even feigned grogginess to get an opening for his right, but Haley was too clever, and kept away from the dangerous swings. Haley landed on head, neck and face as he pleased, but in the eighteen rounds he failed to land a blow that did the Brooklyn boy harm.

Haley was knocked down half a dozen times, but recuperated fast, and was wonderfully clever. The terrific body punches weakened him, and the last smash on the jaw put him out for good.

Betting was brisk at the ringside at odds of 2 to 1 on McGovern. The men looked in perfect condition and weighed in at 116 pounds at 3 o'clock. They agreed to box straight Marquis of Queensberry rules and to break when the referee told them.

Round 1.--They danced about the ring for a full minute without a blow. They clinched four times during the round and both did vicious infighting.

Round 2.--Haley led, but was blocked. They mixed it up in Haley's corner. He jabbed Terry on the jaw. The Brooklyn boy came back with body punches.

Round 3.--McGovern struck Haley below the belt in a clinch and was cautioned by the referee. No blows landed.

Round 4.--McGovern drove Haley around the ring. He cornered him and punched him in the ribs. He ran him into his own corner and knocked him down with a right swing. Patsy stayed nine seconds. As he rose Terry floored him with the left on the neck. He stayed down nine seconds again. McGovern put him down again with his right, but Patsy saved himself by running.

Round 5.--Haley came up strong and stopped McGovern's rush with a right in the nose. Haley swung his right again and again around Terry's neck. Patsey seemed to get stronger each minute.

Round 6.--Terry backed around the ring. As they clinched McGovern's fist went low again. He was cautioned. In the next mix-up Haley went down from a right on the back of the neck.

Round 7--Haley planted good ones on McGovern's jaw and neck. The blows lacked steam. McGovern seemed groggy, but showed the next minute that he was not by mixing it up viciously.

Round 8--They fought hard and mixed it from the start. Haley jabbed and punched, while Terry swung. Haley's blows had no effect, but McGovern drew blood.

Round 9--McGovern walked into right and lefts. He swung several times, but missed. Haley hit him eight or ten times on the jaw, but did no damage.

Rounds 10, 11 and 12--Neither one did much work. Haley was getting stronger and Terry followed him around the ring waiting for a chance to land a knockout.

Round 13--Haley continued to back around the ring, with McGovern doggedly following him around, but could not land his right.

Round 14--Was slow; Haley ran and McGovern followed.

Round 15--Terry caught Haley on the jaw at last and floored him. He stayed down nine seconds, and before McGovern could follow it up the bell rang.

Round 17--Just at the end of the round McGovern floored Haley with his right. He fell hard and laid there, but the gong saved him.

Round 18--McGovern came with a rush. Haley ran backward to the ropes and as he dodged aside Terry shot his right over and Patsey fell like a log and was carried to his corner.


1899-04-01 The National Police Gazette (New York, NY) (page 10)

M'GOVERN KNOCKS OUT PATSY HALEY
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Clever Bantams Put up a Great Fight at the Lenox.
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VICTOR HAS A FINE FUTURE
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Adds to His Record of Knockouts by Putting His Opponent to Sleep.
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Terry McGovern continues upon his upward career, and his decisive defeat of Patsy Haley of Buffalo, which occurred at the Lenox Athletic Club Tuesday night, Mar. 14, places him in a legitimate position to challenge Pedlar Palmer to fight for the 115-pound championship of the world. In Haley McGovern found the most determined, aggressive and capable opponent he has been called upon to meet since he entered upon his pugilistic career. Haley proved his quality for cleverness and boxing ability and demonstrated conclusively his superior knowledge of the boxing game. At times he was all over the young Brooklynite. He stabbed him in the face with the quickest left-hand punch ever delivered. He landed swinging blows on the jaw with left and right like the pendulum of a clock; he shot right-hand bolts into Terry's solar plexus, and uppercut him so frequently that the spectators spontaneously applauded his efforts, but there was not force enough behind all those punches to break an egg, and the little Irishman took them complacently while he waited his opportunity to get home that sledge-hammer right which has added so much to his reputation as a knocker out. He persistently fought against Haley's superior cleverness, forcing the issue at all times, until he finally got in the blow he had been waiting for, and when it landed with crushing force upon the point of Haley's chin in the eighteenth round it ended matters then and there, and Referee White might have spared himself the trouble of counting him out, for the Buffalonian was insensible to everything which happened afterwards until he was carried to his corner.

The battle on the whole was one which no pugilistic savant could afford to miss. There was action in every minute that the two little fellows occupied the ring. Haley, realizing his inability to knock his opponent out, was utilizing his splendid knowledge of the boxer's art to outpoint McGovern and thereby gain the decision. McGovern, on the other hand, was determined to land a knockout, and he fought with that sturdiness and aggressiveness which characterizes the born fighter.

They fought at 116 pounds at three o'clock in the afternoon and both were strong and in fine fighting shape at that weight. Haley was first to enter the ring, and was attended by Florie Barnett, Jack McTierney, Eugene Bezenah and Kid Larkey. McGovern followed shortly, his seconds being T. Lee, Sammy Harris, George Munroe and Charles Mayhood. They were scheduled to go twenty-five rounds. The betting was two to one in favor of McGovern, and much money changed hands. They agreed to box straight Queensberry rules.

The first round was devoted mainly to fiddling and furnished a very pretty exhibition of sparring. Haley was very clever and jumped about in lively fashion. In the few times they got to close quarters McGovern peppered Haley in the ribs. Haley did not land a blow in the round.

Haley got a couple of left jabs to the face in the second round and McGovern sent one to the mouth that shook the Buffalonian.

McGovern struck low unintentionally in the third round, and apologized, the referee announcing that it was not done purposely.

McGovern was the aggressor from the tap of the bell in the fourth round, and Haley danced away as fast as his nimble feet would carry him. Finally the Brooklyn boy cornered his man in Haley's own corner, and with right and left on the face sent the Buffalo bantam to his face. He took six seconds, and when he arose McGovern chased his man all about the square, sending him to the floor. Twice more Haley took a rest, each time, and at the close Haley was bleeding and tired.

The fifth and sixth rounds were characterized by sprinting on the part of Haley, and offensive tactics by McGovern, and in the seventh, Terry having gauged the force of Haley's blows, walked into several with the object of countering. McGovern's famous right-hander for the body usually landed too low, resulting in cautions from the referee. Notwithstanding, enough of them landed fairly to redden Haley's side and make him look tired.

In the ninth round McGovern walked in close and took all the taps Haley could send, with the object of sending an effective counter. Haley's blows had no effect on the Brooklyn bantam, while the few hard ones McGovern landed seemed to weaken the Buffalonian. Haley got a hard grueling in the tenth, and he showed signs of distress when he appeared for the eleventh. His cleverness saved him from many a hard thump.

Haley was entirely on the defensive in the twelfth and seemed to have got the hang of McGovern's style of attack. McGovern struck low in the thirteenth and was again cautioned by the referee. McGovern again floored Haley in the fifteenth round with a right on the jaw, but the Buffalo boy, after taking seven seconds, got to his feet and by sprinting lasted till the gong sent him to his corner.

McGovern cornered Haley once more in the seventeenth round, and with a volley of rights and lefts brought him to the floor. Just as Haley arose the gong sounded, and Haley went to his corner. McGovern came up fiercely for the eighteenth round, and jumped after Haley like a flash. He finally got him in a corner and swung on the jaw with the left. Before Haley could recover himself McGovern shot a hard right to the jaw, and Haley went down and out after forty-eight seconds of the eighteenth round.

Jim Johnson of New York and Dan Dougherty of Philadelphia came on for the opening canter of ten rounds at 108 pounds. The Quaker was as clever a sparrer as one could desire to see, and his superior skill made Johnson look like a novice. The trouble with Dougherty was he had no steam behind his blows, and although he hammered Johnson one hundred times squarely on the point of the jaw, he never shook his opponent until the tenth round, when a right on the jaw toppled Johnson over. Referee Charlie White stopped the bout and gave the decision to Dougherty.

Johnson was bleeding at the mouth, and was distressed at the time he received the finishing blow. He was not knocked out, but was thoroughly beaten.