The Washington times., 1902-05-11
Premier Lightweights Battle
at Fort Erie Tomorrow.
A CHAMPIONSHIP CONTEST
White and Black Boxers Heavily Played
to Win-Pugilistic World Deeply In
terested in Bout - Both Entries Fast
and Clever, Have an Even Chance.


night 20 settle for once and all time the
question uppermost in the minds OF the
followers of the pugilistic game as to
which boxer is entitled 10 travel around
the country from playhouse to shack"
gathering in the shekels of Uncle Jona-
than's sons.
They are Frank Erne, of Buffalo, and
Joe Cans. of Baltimore The former car
ries the hopes end dollars of the whito
followers of the fistic game, while the
dusky boxer will have back of him all
the money, crap. policy, or otherwise that
the colored sport. whether he be of the
racehorse variety or in some otlcr branch
of the craft, can rake OF scrape to-
gether.
Have Beaten the Best.
Both are immensely popular. They
have won their way to the top of the
heap b. going through the long list of
ligttweights as If they were so much
paper. They fought all comers to a
standstill until the wise ones soon had
the pair stalled off into class by them
selves
polished, scientific boxer as he will ap-
pear before King Edward during corona
tion week. What Corbett md Mccoy are
to the heavy fellows. Cans and Erne are
in the lighter division. Perhaps more SO.
Many good judges class them as the best
exponents of the fistic art in the game
today.
Whether against dub or a dangerous
factor, the clubhouse in which they ap-
pear is always crowded. Their work is SO
fast that only the practiced ringside eye
can follow with real interest the fine
points.
Met Once Before.
1t will be the second meeting of the
pair, and to say that the wise ones are
evenly divided as to an opinion on the
outcome, best tells the caliber of the
match. Already considerable money has
been wagered and much more will be COW
cred before the pair hear the sound of the
gong. Thousands will change hands on
the result.
The two have met before. so that they
may be said to be fairly well acquainted
with one another i. was over two years
ago at the Broadway Athletic Club. in
Gotham. when, after fourteen rounds of
fast fighting, the negro quit. under the
claim that an accidental butt" received
in the locality of the left eye had rem
dered him misfit The blood was fow
ing freely from the wound and Cans was |
temporarily blinded. He claimed foul. /
which wss not allowed by Charlie White |
who Will referee the bout tomorrow night |
Up until the sudden ending Cans. in the |
opinion cf the referee, freely expressed |
after the fish. had a shade the best of |
1t. He had the white boy worried from |
his repeated left jabs, and 9everal times |
during the bout had him Oh cueer |
Street.
1t was In a mix-up in Cans corner that |
the colored boxer. in trying to get away |
from the Swiss. came in collision with |
his head. Both reeled back slightly grog- |
gy, while Cans allowed Erne TO walk away |
with the decision.
Well Trained Gladiators.
The pair will step on the rosined floor |
OF the ring trained to the minute. The |
negro. assisted by Young Peter Jackson |
and his manager. has been doing his |
work at Leiperville. Pa, while Erne had |
matters attended 10 at his home town.
They will weigh in at 1873 pounds at |
o'clock.
The weight agreement is regarded by |
some as an advantage for the Baltimor-
much stronger than when he first fought
the champion. The latter is confident,
however and his friends are sending |
out money on him to the limit.
There is also considerable bad blood be-
tween the pait Cans has bounded the |
white boy ever since the first match, de-
manding n chance to redeem himself.
This was repeatedly denied until several
months ago, when they were booked to
go in Philadelphia.
At the last minute when the club house |
was crowded awaiting the boxers, word
was passed around that Erne had funk
ed" Whatever IL was. he failed to ap-
pear Since then a wordy war ensued,
the outcome or which was the present
match.
Fast and Clever.
Although both are exceedingly clever,
they have different styles. Erne, re-
markably fast with his two hands, may
he said to be built on the order of Cor
be,t while Cans has often been hailed
as the black Mccoy Certain it is that
both are shifty and fast in the full mean
ing OF the words.
Cans. perhaps, is the coolest man in
the ring today, and as a Judge of dis
tance is without a peer. He can SEND
over left or right with remarkable force,
and at small angles His most danger
Gus blows are driven nome INSIDE Oh his
opponents guard
His foot movement alone is enough to
puzzle many OF the best In the business.
He is in and out like an eel. That he is
game as we'll has been proven In his many
hard battles with boxers that have out
weigh ed him. Sporting men have always
regarded the negro as the entry to bring
home the money.
Erne a Mixer.
In this respect he is something like
Erne who is also known to make good.
Erne keeps both hands moving all the
time. Although not as hard n hittef as
Cans and the judge of distance he hits
faster and has a punch that can bring
home the long green IL 1t lands.
In a mixup, and at the give and take
game, be shows up somewhat the better
as was proven In their hrst contest.
half dozen or more fierce mixups followed,
In ALI of which the colored boy was
forced to give way and resort to long dis
tance fighting.
Whichever way the wind blows tomor-
row night the sports who journey to the
ring side will see a fight which seldom
falls to the lot of even the most inveterate
ring goer with II is the chance to put
down your money.
PLAY the black or white. is the way
the knowing ones are handing 1t out, and
It's wise tip No two men ever entered
the ring, all things considered, more
evenly matched.