John Reid McGowan

John Reid "Gentleman Jack" McGowan (1872 – 18 July 1912) was an Australian boxing champion. During his long career in the ring he fought over 100 battles, and held the titles of bantam, feather, and light-weight champion of Australia.

McGowan was a second generation Australian and resident of South Melbourne. He first entered the ring in October 1889, when at Albury he drew with Mick Colles in a 15 rounds match. McGowan won the bantam championship in 1891 be beating Geo. Griffiths. In 1893 was beaten by Nipper Peakes for the feather-weight championship. On the retirement of Peakes, McGowan fought Harry Perry for the championship, and won in 14 rounds.

In 1894 began the sequence of four memorable fights between McGowan and Tim Hegarty for the championship. They met four times. In the first three battles (each 20 rounds) Hegary won on points. The fourth, of 20 rounds, resulted in a draw, it having been agreed that if both were on their feet to draw the stakes.

In 1896 Jack Marshall took McGowan to South Africa. There he beat Holloway for the light-weight championship of the country in four rounds, and Jimmy Murphy in 15 rounds.

In 1899 McGowan beat George Atkinson in three battles of 15, 20 and 51 rounds. He later encountered a boxer named Tom Mitchell at the Melbourne Democratic Club. Mitchell weighed over 11st. to McGowan's 9st. 4lb., McGowan stayed the limit but the verdict went against him.

McGowan was out of commission for a number of years, having turned his attention entirely to instruction of pupils. He came back after a few years and fought Bob Greenshields to win the lightweight championship of Australia.

He died from a cerebral haemorrhage in the Melbourne Hospital after collapsing while sparring with a pupil at the Melbourne Athletic Club.

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