The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1906-09-07
NELSON LOST
TO JOE CANS
THEIR Fight At GoLOFIELD
LASTED FOR AZ ROUNDS,
BATTLER FOULED.

SO1uACAu, ANON.S OOPUs 1oSoAAA6
Nelson deliberately fouled Joe Cans in
the AID round of the best and longest
fight seen here in many years. Both
men we're tired when the fight ended,
but Cans was apparently the stronger.
BE was away ahead on points, and
had smashed and cut Nelson all
through the fight without being badly
hurt himself.
Shortly after the 42d round com.
menced the men were in their usual
clinch. Nelson had his head on Gan g
shoulder and his arm down. Several
times he hit Cans below the belt, ap-
parently feeling for vital spot. At
last he drew back his right arm and
hit Cans a vicious blow square below
in the groin.
The colored boy sank to his knees
and rolled over on his back Referee
Siler without hesitation ordered Nelson
to his corner and awarded the fight to
Cans on foul. Siler's decision re.
ceived almost unanimous approval.
The foul was SO obvious that even the
men who bet on Nelson could not say
that it had not been committed.
All through the long contest Mel
son had employed rough tactics. He
repeatedly butted Cans and had to
have his head hauled away by the ref
cree Referee Siler stated to the press
that while he would not say that the
foul was intentional there was no doubt
but that it had been committed.
Nelson, he said, had used his usual
tactics all through the fight, and while
he knew that Nelson was butting when
ever he had an opportunity he did not
disqualify him for that, because he saw
that it was not hurting Cans, and as
no other referee had ever disqualified
Nelson for doing the same thing he did
not feel like doing so. Besides, the
people were there to see the fight and
he did not want to disappoint them
Siler was loudly cheered as he left
he ring, as was Cans, who was carried
to his dressing room. Nelson and his
seconds were hlssed as they departed.
Billy Nolan, Nelson's manager, made
a disconnected statement in which he
said that Cans had promised not to
claim the decision on foul and yet he
jumped at the very opportunity to
make such claim. All Nelson would
say was that Cans was tired and quit
Cans, in many ways, put up most
remarkable battle. OF course, his skill
as a boxer was expected to be shown,
but his endurance surprised everyone.
His work was the more wonderful when
it is known that in the SD round he
broke his right hand. Never after that
did he strike blow with it, with the
exception of q few short arm jolts
while clinching. He did all his work
with his left hand and put it all over
Nelson
Cans generalship was shown when
he broke his hand. In the SD round
he landed hard right hand punch on
the side of Nelson's face. A bone in
the hand snapped, and Cans stepped
back with an expression Of pain. He
limped around as if he had stepped on
his foot or turned it, and no one realiz.
ed chat he had badly injured his right
hnad, although it was suspected that
it might have been injured.
dans stated after the fight that Mel.
son Intentionally fouled him. He said
he knew he could have finished Nelson,
as he was comparatively strong and
Nelson was growing weaker all the
time.
Larry" Sullivan announced for
Cans that he would meet Nelson in
two weeks in another fight, as he was
sure he could whip him and did not
want to take any advantage of the
foul. It is hardly probable, however,
that the men will meet again in that
time.