The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-03-09
Nelson and Cans Are Likely to
Be Matched.
Question of Weight Seems to Be
the Great Trouble.
DANE SAYS 1873 POUNDS.
The Experts Would Prefer to
Seeing Negro to Britt.
Would Prove Most Exciting
Struggle Of the Year.


San Francisco, March 9.-Battnng
Nelson is now regarded as the en-
bodiment of everything that is effec-
tive in the fighting line. His manner
of assfmilating punishment has caused
him to be looked upon as a second
Joe Grim, while his ability to main
tain a high rate Of speed and do
effective work at one and the same
time has brought the local sports to
/ thinking that it win be hard to find a
man of his weight who is likely to
live through 20 rounds with him.
The impression prevails that the
Dane has improved greatly since he
boxed Corbett before. He was al
ways a COOL methodical genius in the
ring, but this last time he wasted
neither energy nor blows; the fur
Their he went the stronger and surer
shrieking and swaying, he was proof
against excitement. He appeared to
measure every punch to an inch. and
he made every blow tell He was the
coolest man in the pavilion, in all
probability, and he was as merciless
as he was cool.
There couldn't have been a fairer
test of mems fighting qualifications.
Nelson always did hold that referee
is an encumbrance in a ring until
such time comes as ruling is re-
quired. Corbett said he could have
defeated Jimmy Britt if Graney had
held aloof and allowed them to get
out of elinches the best way they
could.
In the Nelson-Corbett affair Welch
kept well away from the men and
allowed them to battle along the lines
they had mutually declared to be the
fairest. The result was a series of
mix-ups such as keep excitable on
lockers wrenching in their seats.
If the various obstacles which beset
the sport of the ring at this writing
are cleared away, Manager Al Her
ford will do his best to send Joe Cans
to the front as Battling Nelson's next
opponent. HEREFORD is puffed up like
a pouter pigeon over the warm greet
ing Cans received at the Nelson-Cor-
bett bout, and emboldened by such
convincing proofs of his protege's pop
ularity, he is determined to scare up
battle for Cans if one is to be had.
Herford will have a hard row to
hoe, at that. To begin with Nelson
has said that if 1t is made to appear
to him that Cans is the man he ought
to hook up with, he will insist that
Cans box at 1873 pounds ringside
weight Unless the dapper Baltimore
manager can utilize his persuasive
power in such a way as to have Nell
small chance of arousing interest in a
NelsOn-Ga match. The sports of
San Francisco have seen how Cans
strips and boxes at 1913 pounds, and
are thoroughly convinced InaC Inc
notch is too low for him.
Nelson is frank enough to say that
he would. prefer Britt to Cans, as lie
considers the native son less dan
gerous customer than the colored
pugilist. Britt has already placed
himself on record to the effect that
he will never fight Cans again, so that
it can readily be seen that HEREFORD
is confronted with bleak prospect.
There is just this much in his ia
vor, however. The inner circle of
fight followers regard a Nelson Cans
match more favorable than they do a
return date between Britt and Nelson.
The connoisseurs referred to feel that
under conditions which will ensure
each man being at his best, a scrap
between the Dane and the colored lad
would prove one of the most exciting
struggles seen in a. San Francisco ring
in years.
1t may be that Herford may be able
to turn the prattle of the experts to
account in bringing pressure to bear
on Nelson and the promoters, but it
must be said that the odds appear to
be against him.
The San Francisco club has secured
the March permit and has announced
that, Sacramento willing, it will match
Marvin Hart and Jack Johnson The
Yosemite, which expected the permit
and which had made arrangements
for a Nelson Britt contest, is sup
posed to be getting ready to spring a
surprise, or a mine, or something
week from now we will be better
able to tell where we are at.