The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-11-01
CANS WON ON A FOUL.
Britt Really Outfought the Colored
Boy Every Round.

1
Britt of California lost the lightweight
championship of the world last nigh
when he fouled Joe Cans. He haC
| sent Cans to his knees in the fifth
round and then losing his head gave
him a vicious punch and Referee
Graney accordingly awarded the figh
to Cans on a foul The same thing
had happened in the fourth round
Cans had dropped to his knees to es
cape a blow that did not land. Brit
struck at him. but Graney would mo-
allow the foul. In the next round
however, Graney very promptly recog-
nized the foul fighting. 1t looked al
most from the start as if IT were Britt's
night. He actually outboxed Cans anC
| landed blow after blow. In the fourth
round it was apparent that Cans was
scared and barring a foul the fight
was Britt's to certainty.
While excuse can be made fol-
Britt losing his head, it certainly seem
ed that Cans invited a foul. The de-
cislon was great shock to the big
gest crowd that ever filled the pa
v1lion, but fair minded men agreed
that Graney's judgment was just
Britt showed marvellous strength and
! qulckneSS. He went at Cans like a
terrier, landing body blows, alternat-
| ing with swings on the jaw. During
/ the first three rounds Cans appeared
| cool and confident and fairly strong.
| He appeared to be feeling Grit out,
/ but at the end of the third and the
Il
commenced to fight more viciously,
Cans weakened preceptibly.
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
Vlclously than ever. Thee is no doubt
in the minds of the majority of those
present that in another contest at the
same weight Britt would defeat Cans
easily. Referee Graney said after the
fight:
4 really should have given Cans the
decision in the fourth round when Britt
fouled him, but as Cans was not hurt,
overlooked it, though Britt himself
admitted that L could have called a
foul at that time. The second offense
in the fifth round was so palpable
however, that 1 was forced to give
Cans the decision"
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 a boxer
himself fought back, but the police in
terfered and separated the belIigerents.
The fight demonstrated that Britt is
wonder in his class. He is a clever
boxer, quick as a cat and a hard hit
ter, with the addition of having a bull
dog grit that makes him fight all the
harder when he is punished.
The fifth round lasted but So seconds
when the foul was declared.
The exact receipts from the Cans
Britt glove contest were S31, 100. OF this
which amounted to $22, 246. AS Cans,
by winning received so per cent of the
fighters share. he and Britt each car
ried away $11.123. The Shasta clubs
share was SO, 544.
After the fight Cans said:
1 was too weak to do myself Justice.
After 1 went to my corner in the sec
ond round I knew it. I would like to
fight Britt again, but 1 would not do 1t
at 1873 pounds ringSide.
Britt would have won had if con-
tinued.''
Referring to his failure to win the
championship, Britt said:
THE decision was fair. I could not
help it. Cans kept slipping to the floor
without being struck. He also kept
hanging on to me, and / tried to fight
opinion 1 would have knocked Cans
out had the fight continued"
Fight by Rounds.
Round Britt went at once into his
favorite crouched position and they
spared for some time. Britt shot his
but they were not forcible. After some
sparring Britt hooked his left to the
body again and followed it with right
to the head Both then missed rights
left to the body and missed a right for
the head, Cans apparently sizing up
Britt's reach. Cans missed a straight
right for the head. Britt was short with
the head as the bell rang. The work
in the round was light, Britt having a
slight advantage.
Round Britt missed left and right
for the body and they went to a clinch
Britt suddenly lunged his left to the
head and then brought it to the body
Cans continued to force Britt about the
ring and they came to a clinch without
result. Britt missed left hook for the
body and then sent a straight left to
Cans nose, Cans retaliating with a left
to the body. Britt drove Cans back
with left swing to the body. Britt
the wind. In the mix he exchanged
rights and lefts to the face. Britt
missed a vicious left for the body. They
came together again, Britt missing right
for the body. A rally in the center of
the ring followed, Britt landing right
and left on the face as the bell rang
but not before he had received a
straight left to the head. Britt did most
of the leading in this round. The hon
ors were about even. however.
Round 3-They mixed it fiercely at
close quarters, both doing some very
clever boxing. Cans got In a good one
to the body but Britt retaliated with a |
straight left hard to stomach. An in
effectual mixup followed. Britt caught
Cans with a terrific right to the jaw, |
dazing the colored man. He followed |
the advantage with a right and left |
swing to the head, forcing Cans to a |
clinch. Britt rushed in, fighting wildly. |
He bombarded Cans body with right |
and left swings and put some Furnishing |
rights over the heart. Britt at close |
quarters distressed Cans with a fearful |
right on the body. Cans chung des-
perately to Britt to avoid punishment |
and the gong found them in this posi- |
ton 1t was all Britt's round.
Round 4-Britt waded in fiercely.
rushing Cans to the ropes with a |
heavy left over the heart. He then |
missed right and left swings for the
body. Britt kept himself well COW