The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-11-01
Britt Struck film While Irving
 10 Rise
CROWD HOOPS THE REFEREE
Britt was Frantic with Rage and Att tackled Referee Graney After the Decision had been An
 nouneed.

San Francisco, October 81.-JImmy Britt of California, lost the lightweight cham pionship of the world tonight when he fouled Joe Cans He had sent Cans to his knees in the fifth round, and then losing his head gave hlm a vicious punch and Referee Graney promptly awarded the decision to Cans on foul. The same thing had happened in the fourth round. Cans had dropped to his knees to escape blow that did not land. Britt struck at him but Graney would not allow the foul.
 In the next round, however Graney very promptly recognized the foul fight ing. Britt actually outboxed Cans and l landed blow after blow. In the fourth round 1t was apparent that Cans was scared and barring a foul the fight was Brtts to a certainty. While no excuse can be made for Britt losing his head, it certainly seemed that Cans invited foul. The decision was a great shock to the biggest crowd that yer filled the pa- l villon, but fair-minded men agree that Graneys judgment was just.
 Britt Shows Marvellous Strength.
 Britt showed marvellous strength ana | quickness. He went at Cans ike pull terrier, landing heavy blows alternately l with swings on the jaw. During the first three rounds Cans appeared cool and confident and fairly strong. He ap- peared to be feeling Britt out, but at the end of the third and the beginning of the fourth, when Britt commenced to fight more viciously, Cans weakened percepti- bly He landed a few times on Britt but the little white boy paid no attention : to the colored mans light taps and every | time he was hit bored in more viciously than ever. There is no doubt in the minds of the majority of those present that in another contest at the same | weights Britt would defeat Cans easily
 Referee Graney said after the fight; l q really should have given Cans the de- . cision In the fourth round when Bfitl fouled him. but as Cans was not hurt | overlooked 1t. The second offense was so palpable however, that l was forced to give Cans the decision.'
 Frantic with Rage.
 Britt was frantic with rage when he realized that he had lost the fight, and he rushed at Graney, striking wildly. Graney, who Is something of boxer him. self, fought back, but the police inter ferred and separated the bellgerents. Britt declared he left the ring:
 ''I know I can beat Cans, and want to fight him again.
 The fight demonstrated that Britt Is wonder in his class. He Is as clever as a eat and a heavy hitter with the addition of having a bull dog grit that makes him fight all the harder when he Is being pun jshed Cans and his followers were highly delighted at the decision ana hao ID coih- plain coming.
 The fifth round lasted but thirty-eight seconds when the foul was claimed. It IS doubtful if any match ever brought oil ID this city has stirred up such vast amount of interest as that displayed over the result of tonight's contest. Britt ana Cans are admittedly the two cleverest boxers in their class the world has ever produced, and this fact. supplemented ny the intense local pride in San Franeiseos wonderful fighter, was responsible Tor the enormous throng that fought it's way into the pavilion. All afternoon huge crowds | stood in line awaiting the opening or 1he | general admission gates, and 1t required the constant vigilance of mounted pollee | to keen this congested mass in alignment.
 At o'clock the gallery was crowded lo suffocation, and at S:30 the holders or the reserved seats occupied every char on the lower floor
 "Young Corbett" and Battling Nell son, who are matched to fight in this clty on November 29 next. were present ana each expressed his desire to meet the Wii- ner of tonight's contest.
 Planned for Two Years. meeting between Cans and Britt mas | been looked forward 10 TUT oNei 1"S '~ 2 but the question of weight ana the coiof line proved a stumbling block ana pre- vented the men getting together at an . oar1iar date Finally Cans. who has been egbtinr around the l40-pound mark, agreed to make 1S3 pounds. Brltt walVea . Inc color question and the men immed'- a atolv went into hard training. Cans found tt ro easy task to make the required ,,oipbt and was compelled to undergo strenuous system of reduction even up 10 the eleventh hour.
 If was not until late this evening when definite assurance was given that Cans had tilted the scales at 13212 pounds that netting began in earnest The colored lad was at once made q warm favorite de- | snite the fact that Britt has a tremend- ous following here At o'clock the quo tations were 10 to 6H2 with Cans on the long end. Cans seconds were Al Her. ford his manager Frank Mcdonald and Kid" Sullivan while Britt was looked after by Spider Kelly. Frank Rafel Sam Berger and Smiling Metzger.
 Preceding the main event two four round bouts were decided The curtain raiser was between George Wilson and Billy Meehan. This went four rounds to a draw In the second preliminary Eddie Chambers was given the decision over Jack Burk in the third round.
 "Young" Corbett jumped into the ring as soon as Cans appeared and issued a challenge 10 the winner of tonights bat tle Cans appearance was none too in- vlting. His face looked plnched and drawn and his general appearance showed plain ly the effect of hard training.
 
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