The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1900-12-14
CANS M'GovERN FIGHT IS
SHORT.
TERRY WINS IN SECOND
Colored Fighter Proves No Match
for Man from Brooklyn.
Lands but Once.

Chicago, Dec. 13-Terry McGoverl
is 10Y the undisputed lightweight
champion of the world. He knocke,
out Joe Cans of Baltimore tonight
after two minutes and five seconds o
fighting, in the second round. Gan
put up a very poor exhibition and wa
never in it at any stage of the game
McGovern started rushing him at tn,
sound of the gong and never let III
until Cans was counted out. Gam
never delivered an effective blow dur
ing the fight and for a man of his rep
utation he made a fight which will.
gain him no friends among lovers Of
true sport in the ring.
George Siler, the veteran referee,
who presided in the ring, said after
Cans had been taken to his corner
"Gans put up a very poor fight.
That's all I have to say"
McGovern put up a clean, fast fight
from start to finish and is entitled to
all the credit of his victory. He fought
hard and fast, his blows went home
straight to the mark and if the fight
is to be criticised at all it is on account
of the miserable showing made by
Cans.
During the first round Cans never
attempted to mix it. He never made
an effort to use his left counter for
which he is SO famous and did nothing
but back away with a scared look on
his face. In the first round he at
tempted to fight a little at the open
ing, but soon resorted to his back
ward march, attempting no return
blows and making no effort to block
the blows which McGovern sent in on
his head and face. As he was rolled
down on the floor time and time again
after every rush McGovern made, he
looked around with a helpless express
sion, al though he had no idea whether
it was part of the proceedings for him
to rise or remain where he was. On
the last Touchdown he was on his back
for six seconds. Then he rolled over
on his face, rose to his left knee and
remained in that position until Siler
tapped him on the shoulder, telling
him that the fight was owe and that
he was loser. He was lifted up and was
able to walk in a feeble manner to his
corner. As McGovern, smiling and
waving his hand, turned toward his
corner he was picked up in the arms
Of his manager and seconds and car
ried bodily to his chair. In an instant
the ring was thronged with McGovern
adherents, who gathered round the
Brooklyn boys corner and cheered
him again and again, as McGovern,
painting a little from his exertions,
but with no marks of any kind, started
to put on his clothes. "He only hit
me once,' said he, land that was in
the first round. He poked his left into
my mouth good and hard, but I knew
I had him GU the next exchange
Cans had no excuse to offer for his
quick defeat. His seconds, however,
said he was over trained and his
stomach had been bad all day.
There wal a long delay after the
preliminary fights, so that the ring
might be spread with fresh canvas and
the picture making device set in
operation. The ring was lit up by 68
arc lights and four enormous re-
Electors, the whole giving a candle
power of. 100, 600. Despite the great
heat generated by the lamps the hall
was unoomfortably cold, the windows
and doors having been opened on all
sides to permit the breeze to blow
through the crowd Of Is, 600.
The articles of agreement under
which the men fought provided that
the men should weigh 1873 pounds at
u O'Clock in the evening, Cans agree
ing to knock McGovern out in six
rounds, or accept the losers end of the
purse. The men weighed in at Z
O'Clock at Malachay Hogan's place on
Park street. The scales were fixed at
1873 pounds and McGovern stepped
onto them first. He failed to move
the beam, as was expected, and did
not look to weigh over 1874 pounds.
Cans stepped up as sooon a Terry
made way for him. The beam rose
slowly and remained fixed at the top.
The weight was slid along to 1874 and
the beam still remained stationary. 1t
was pushed to 1876 and fell. When
fixed at 184h it vas suspended, but
nearer to the top than the bottom. 1t
was then announced that Cans weight
was between l84A and 13456. The
colored boy was somewhat crestfallen
at the showing he had made, as he de-
lclared he had weighed under 1873 at
Harry Forbes gymnasium, just be-
fore starting for Hogan's place.
Under the agreement the forfeit for
overweight was to be o~ne-half Of that
Of the purse coming to the
at end Of the contest. Sam