Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-11-01
LOST HEAD AND
CHAMPIONSHIP
Jimmy Britt Fouls Joe Cans and
Loses Featherweight
Title.
HAD PROVED HIS SUPERIOR
Drove Opponent to His Knees and
Struck Him Before He Could
Rise.

San Francisco, Nov. Jimmy Britt
lost the lightweight championship last
might when he fouled Joe Cans. He
had sent Cans to his knees in the fifth
round, and then, losing his head, gave
him a vicious punch and Referee Gra-
ney promptly awarded the decision to
Cans on a foul
| 1t looked almost from the start as if
it were Britt's fight. He actually out
boxed Cans and landed blow after
blow. In the fourth it was apparent
that Cans was scared, and barring a
foul the fight was Britt's to certain
ty While no excuse can be made for
Britt losing his head, it certainly seem
ed that Cans invited a foul. Britt
| showed marvellous strength and quick
ness throughout the fight, while Cans
seemed to have little force behind his
blows.
After the fight Graney said the foul
in the fifth was so palpable that he was
forced TO give Cans the decision.
I33 Pounds at the RingSide.
| At Mechanics pavilion last night Joe
Cans, of Baltimore, and James Britt, of
this city, met in a battle to decide the
worlds championship for lightweights
! The weight question. which had been
agitating the sporting fraternity for
days, so far as Cans was concerned,
was adjusted to a nicely and the men
entered the ring at 133 pounds ring
side.
An enormous throng was present
and by o'clock every part of the pa
vilion was crowded.
| First rOund-Britt put his left twice
in quick succession to Cans body, but
they were not forcible. Britt hooked
his left to the body again. following
with a right to head. Both then miss
ed rights and lefts to the head. Britt
shot his left to the body and missed a
right for head. Cans missed a right
for head. Britt was short with a left
for the body and missed a left for the
| head as the bell rang.
| Second round-Britt missed a left
and right for the body and they clinch-
ed. Britt suddenly sent a left to the
head and body. Cans forced Britt
about the ring. and they clinched with
out result. Britt missed a left poke
for the body and sent a straight left
to Cans nose, Cans retaliating with a
| left hook to the body. Britt drove
Cans back with a left swing to the
Body. Britt scored with a left and
right to the wind. They exchanged
| blows frequently and the round closed
with honors even.
Britt Proves the Better.
! Third round-They mixed fiercely at
close quarters. Cans got in a good
right to the body, but Britt retaliated
with a straight left to the stomach.
Brit caught Cans with a terrific right
to the jaw. dazing him. He forced
Cans TO clinch. Britt rushed in, fight
ing wildly. He bombarded Cans. and
as the gong sounded Cans was hang
ing on TO Britt to avoid punishment.
Fourth round-Britt waded in fierce
ly. rushing Cans TO the ropes with a
heavy left over the heart. He then
missed right and left swings for the
body. Britt sent Cans back with a
succession of rights and lefts to the
face and a left to the body. Jimmy
then shot a straight right to the body
and followed it with a right swing to
the body. At close quarters Britt land
co HedNE DlOWS- GdnS suddenly SlOJ
a left hard TO Britt's jaw, but in return
Britt put in body blows that sent Cans
to his knees. After a mix-up Britt
sent Cans 10 the floor with a left to
the jaw. Cans rose, but was again
hoored with rights and lefts to the
face. There was fearful confusion and
the bell was not heard. In this round
Britt hit Cans accidentally while Cans
was down. but the claim of foul was
ldisallowed. Cans was in distress and
lthe gong saved him.
Referees Decision Unpopular.
Fifth rouud-They mixed fiercely.
Britt went after Cans like a whirl-
wind. Britt sent Cans TO the floor with
la succession of rights and Iefts TO the
jaw. As Cans was attempting to rise
Britt met him with a desperate right
ito the jaw. Eddie Graney quickly dis
lQualified Britt and awarded the de-
lcision TO Cans The excitement was
terrific. Britt rushed at Graney like
a madman and fought him TO the ropes
4 squad of police Immediately jumped
Into the ring and il looked as if there
would be a general fight. The house
gave vent to its disapproval by tre-
mendous hooting and wildly cheered
Britt as he went TO the center of the
% i-ir