BoxRec

Frank Erne, still regarded by many as boxing's best lightweight champion ever, won the lightweight title on July 3,1899 beating George Lavigne in 20 hard fought rounds. His reign lasted until May 12,1902 when he lost it to Joe Gans in a return match, Gans knocking Erne out 100 seconds into the opening round. My question is:
Erne defended his title three times after winning the crown from Lavigne, where on July 16,1900 he then went up against Terry McGovern and was KO'd in 3. Why was this fight not a title bout? His bouts against Jack O'Brien & the first Joe Gans fight were title bouts yet his bouts with Chick Jack Daly and Terry McGovern were not! Can anybody answer my question....WHY?

Hello my name is Hunter Claypatch, I am writing a book in the Lightweight champions pre-1930, and I think I have some useful information for you. Although I do not know why the Jack Daly bout was not a title bout, the Erne-McGovern bout is due to the fact that Erne lost weight and went down to 128lbs.. Both fighters agreed that the bout was for neither Erne's Lightweight or McGovern's Featherweight title. Erne also agreed that if he could not knock McGovern out in 10-rounds he would get the losing side of the purse. Erne almost won the fight when he knocked McGovern down in the first round.
If you are in need of any round-by-round accounts of Erne's feel free to write me at [email protected]
I hope I was of some help to you,
Hunter

none considers frank erne the greatest lightweight today. none who gets punched out with one punch is the greatest