Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-10-29
THE PUGILISTS.
FOR WORLD
 CHAMPIONSHIP
Cans May Weaken Himself to Get Down to Weight for His Meeting With Britt Other News.

Britt Other News.
 As the date of the contest between Joe Cans and Jimmy Britt for the lightweight championship of the world approaches, interest in the outcome grows apace. The pair are to meet next Monday night at San Francisco in twepty-round bout at 133 pounds, ringside. In town those who follow doings in the prize ring have made number of wagers on the outcome. The negro is natural fayorite, although most of the wagers have been placed at even money. It is thought that by tomorrow, at the latest, the price on Cans to win will be 5 to despite the discouraging reports that are emanat- ing from dlis training camp. It is said that the negro is having the struggle of his career in reducing to 133 pounds. It is announced that he is only down to 136 pounds, and is pretty much used up as result of his trying to get to the required scale.
 These reports, especially as to Gans's weight, must be taken with a grain of salt. Those who know any thing about Cans and the methods of his manager, Al Herford. realize that Herford would not have made the match if he thought his protege would
 
 ments Many of the wiseacres think that Herford is trying to convey the impression that Cans is having trouble to get to weight just to influence the betting Knowing Cans will enter the ring favOrite. He may also be planning for an excuse should Cans meet with reverse. If this comes to pass he could easily say that the weight in- capacitated Cans and taxed his vitality %1,o% pared to do himself justice Of course this is mere supposftion and should be taken for all it is worth.
 Ed Graney. who is to referee the contest, had a talk with Cans yester- day about the rules under which the men are to scrap. Graney assured Cans that he could expect the fairest of treatment.
 Don't let the fact that you are coI- ored disturb you,' said Graney. l will protect you at all times and the , best man will win.'
 Cans and Britt are to fight under / straight Marquis of Queensberry rules, which permit the men to punch in clinches as long as one hand and arm Is free They must protect themselves at all times and break when ordered to do so.
 Mike (Twin) Sullivan has issued 3 challenge to fight the winner and has posted $1,OO0 to show that he means business. He has agreed to weigh in at 133 pounds at 3 o'clock on the after noon of the mill. Mike is eleven lightweight and has an excellent rec, ord.
 NEIL TALKS OF BOWKER. ] Frankie Neil, the former bantam l champion of the world, who left his fistic laurels in England when he was j defeated by Jem BoWker, returned home yesterday on the Baltic. Neil was accompanied by his father, Jim < Neil. The pugilist thought that If given another chance he would be able to beat his former opponent. '"The English rules handicapped me great deal,' said Neil T was at loss to in-. terpret them properly, and this fact s in measure helped to defeat me. But there is no denying that Bowker is a good man. He deserves all the credit in the world for his success. He prom ised to give me return match. and | guess he will keep his word. l was not in the best of trim. You know, the climate in England is materially different from our own. You have got to get used to it. thought that two weeks would be sufficient to put me III the pest or cOnQlIl0n, put SOOu realized my mistake. We were origin. ally to have met on October 10, but I was i'll and the contest had to be post pened until October IT. Even at that I was not right. I will know better the next time and will take plenty of time to get into trim think that our next fight will be decided in America. Neil, in conclusion, said that he waa treated with great respect by English sportsmen and that he will always have a good word to say of the trip. As regards Bowker's plans, he thinks the Englishman will visit America pretty soon. "If he concludes to come here," observed Neil, ''you will see a good two-handed fighter, and I am confident that he will be able to sue cessfully hold his own against the best bantams in the business Neil will 4 return to the Pacific euust in few days with his father.
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