Los Angeles herald., 1906-03-19
CANS IS REAL CHAMPION
His Showing Saturday Night Against
Sullivan Demonstrated Legiti-
macy of His Claims

The boxing exhibition given by Joe
Cans in his battle with Mike Twin
Sullivan at Chutes park Saturday night
lends a convincing argument to the
contention that he has "faked" more
than once in the game, and after wit
Messing his performance in the ring,
the local fans are willing to accept his
confession of taking in the battle
with Britt at Frisco when Britt lost
the decision on foul after beating
the dusky champion all the way to the
finale.
If Cans fought at his true form Sat
urday night there is ample excuse for
all the lightWeights and welterWeights
drawing the color line, as it is ex-
tremely doubtful if any of them could
stand up against him in a twenty
round battle.
If Sullivan outboXed and outfought
him at Baltimore when they first met,
Cans surely was out of condition or did
not fight to win. In both their sub
sequent battles Cans has played with
Mike until ready to do business, when
he knocked him out.
This impression that Cans is not to
be depended upon to do his best at
all times destroys his value as an at
traction, as the public cannot dope"
him to win against inferior opponents.
II is but natural that the public, which
supports the game, does so in the be-
lief that the exhibition is to be a true
test of skill in the art between the
battlers and if any suspicion of fake
attaches the interest is Indifferent.
AT the boxing game Cans has few
superiors. He knows all the arts OF
the game and is a heady fighter. He
gave an instance of his foxiness Sat
urday night when he stepped in and
permitted Sullivan to land on his jaw.
Immediately afterward Cans knees
became wobbly and he staggered as If
i'll great distress, when it was evident
to the audience that he was stalling
for the purpose of drawing Sullivan
into trap.
Sullivan was too wary to be deceived
and too afraid to attempt the desired
result. While Cans was doing this
stalling stunt, however Sullivan mixed
it with him once or twice and Cans
came out of the Wobbly state in II
hurry because of his eagerness to end
the battle, and showed clearly that he
was stalling by fighting strong and
with all his alertness and speed.
In the ten rounds Cans was never
in trouble and on every occasion that
blocked his leads and swings so neat
ly and effectively that the Boston boy
was unable to harm him at all.
Invariably, after blocking these leads
and swings, Cans made quick and ef-
fective return ard whenever he landed
the blows carried a remarkable amount
of steam behind them and hurt.
Sullivan was always in distress and
he impressed the audience with the
f,,sai tn,iS- tt-itl 4,
the negro. He probably realized that
he was outcassed and fought solely to
stay the twenty rounds and get Il
draw.
Regardless of the result. it is sefe
prediction that all the switch engines
in the world could not pull Sullivan
back into the ring Win Cans.
Just so long as Cans is able to per-
form in the manner and with the ef-
fectiveness shown Saturday night he
need fear none of the light \and well
terweight aspirants. The only other
battle in which he might engage that
would be drawing card would be with
Joe Walcott, the welterweight cham |
pion.
If Cans could induce Walcott to give
him battle it is safe prediction that
Cans would win, if he wanted to win
as he undoubtedly is the best of the
WelterS now Ill IralIllHS anu 10 loo last
and too clever for the slow-fighting !
Walcott.
Few of the white battlers will give |
Cans a match, and since he has twice |
decisively disposed of Sullivan, the |
prospects for future matches for the
dusky champion are not good unless
he gets on with Walcott or some of
his own race. He therefore has an
excellent prospect of holding his title
as lightweight champion for sometime,
at least.
Homeless children received and placed