Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-13
JOE CANS CHAMPION At LAST
OOlored Lightweight Captures Belt by
Knocking Out Frank Erne,
ONE ROUND AND A lab IN Jaw SETTLES IT
Crowd IL Surprised, While Erne and
Claim n "Fluke win"
and Demand Chance to
Fight Again.

FORT ERIE, Ont, May 12.-Joe Cans,
the Baltimore colored lightweight pugilist,
is champion in his class after knocking at
the door for the past ten years. Frank
Erne lost to him in the first round tonight
at Fort Erie.
The end came with startling suddenness.
The men were scarcely warmed up when
Cans, trying cautiously, caught Erne nap
ping and landed a hard right on the ear,
which appeared to Jar Frank badly. Erne
spared wildly and Cans sent out a left jab
as a feeler. 1t went home through Erne's
guard, drawing blood from his nose. Then
Cans rushed in. Erne's defense was pltia-
bly, weak and Cans slapped left to the face
and right to the point Of the jaw. The
blow. completely settled Erne. He sank
slowly to the floor. fell on his back and
was rolling over on his stomach when
Referee white had finished counting him
out.
Even Admirers Astounded.
The quick defeat sstounded the thou
sands Of Erne men at the ringside. The
Hereford party was overwhelmed with
congratulations and a crowd Of negroes
proudly escorted Cans to his dressing
room.
o course" he said, IT did not expect
to win so quickly, but I believe the end
would have been the same had the fight
gone much farther"
Hereford said he would defend the light
weight championship at the lightweight
limit.
Erne was br~oken-hearted over the de-
feat. When led to his corner It took a
minute to bring him back from dreamland
and there were tears in his eyes when he
fealized his defeat. One Of Erne's seconds
said: Cans will have to fight him again
for that was a fuke win IL there ever was
one."
yes" said Erne, springing to his feet.
I'VE can't let 1t go at that. He's got 20
give me the chance 1 gave him. He
crossed the ring ~unsteadily, looking for
Cans. but the negro and his crowd had
left the ring.
Crowd Not Satisfied.
The consensus of opinion Of the experts
at the ringside was that the fight was al
together too short to determine the SUI
periority Of either man with the small
gloves.
Erne weighed 1874 pounds and said before
the fight he never felt better in his life. II
was a d%ificult matter to see Cans, so gresi
was the secrecy exercised at the Hereford
quarters in the Queens hotel.
q entered the ring at 8:35, followed .
few minutes later by Erne. Cans crossed
the ring and shook hands with Erne, whC
got o great ovation.
Terry McGovern, who has beaten boti
men, entered tho ring and 1t was stated
that he would soon box at Fort Erie him
self. Art Sims, Kid Parker, George Nc
Fadden, Kid Mcfarland and all the bes'
lightweights Of the country challenged thu
winner.
Young Peter Jackson and AL Weinig en-
tered the ring, challenged each other ant
were matched to box at Fort Erie in tn
near future. - t .Stct
Erne's handlers were Jimmie Conner
Frank slimpfer and slip Kreiger.
In Cans corner were AL Hereford, Her
man Miller and Young Jackson. Both mel
wore bandages On their hands. When tn,
men stripped both seemed in fine form.
1t was then announced that Cans weighed
in at 1891 and Erne at 1921. The weigh
for the bout was 1875 pounds at the ring
side.
Charley White of New York entered tn,
ring and was introduced as the referee a
9:15. He called the men to the center o
the ring and there was a long discussion
Of the rules. The Canadian Interpretation
on Marquis Of Queensbury rules does no
permit hitting in clinches or holding an,
hitting.
Hereford and Erne met after the hght
Cans manager promised Erne a retur
match In the near future, but he said tn
meeting must take place in some othe