The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-03-16
QUESTION 'NH0IHAS
LIGHTWEIGHT TITLE /. |
Cans Must Be Beaten Before Any
Man Can Be Called
Champion.
Champion.
HAD. NO TROUBLE WITH NEGRO
Radical Differcncc in Style in
Fighting Of the Two
Men.

NEW YORK NJ. ", March 15.--There
10 q question whether the fight last
night championship title. Nelson claims
the tito by right Of his defeat OF Jimmy
Britt at colma on September 0, 1906. But
Nelson refuses to meet Cans, who for
many years has been recognized as the
real champion In the lightweight division.
Brltt and Cans fought in San Francisco
october 81, 1901. and after securing a
good lead over tho negro. Britt foulcd
Cans In the fifth round. this losing a
chance 10 secure beyond dispute the light
weight title.
Below Usual Standard.
Cans had to make 1s5 pounds for this
fight. and 1t was noticed that he fought
far below his usual standard. In fact.
Britt had no trouble in sending tho negro
IN tho floor several times. 1t WAS while
4 Cans was falling 10 tho floor that Britt
struck the blow that was called foul
Ivy Referee Graney. Despite these facts
the California admirers OF Britt persisted
II. calling him tho lightweight champion,
and when Britt was matched against
Nelson the promoters of the contest adj
vertised the fight OF being for the light
weight title.
q Not long ago Cans made a. public state
merit to the effect that his night wtth Britt
.as prcarranged fake. In which 1t WIS
agreed that Britt sho2i1l i:aSc all the
better OF the affair. b,it that ashc negro
was to win Tho decision. Cans also
said that he was forced tn do as the
Britt people requested or lose consider
able money. IIe stated that he knew
nothing of the agreement concerning the
fEht until a day before lie entered the
ring.
Reversal of Form.
Astifto corroboratc what Cans had said
the negro showed ii remarkable reversal
OF form when he put AWAY Mike (Twin)
Sullivan in the fifteenth round. few
weeks ago.
There WAS no question. however. after
his contest with Britt. that Nelson WIS
the holder OF the white lightweight
title.
Because 1t was limited to ak rounds
the battle last night should not be looked
upon az minor contest. Many historical
fights have ended in less time than efgh-
teen minutcc OF actual fighting. During
Terry.s speedy climb up tho pugilistic
ladder the Brooklypitn finished off the
clever and hard-hltting Oscar Gardner
in three rounds: tho famous title holder.
Frank Ertle. In three rounds: joe Cans
in two rounds: Gardner again in four
rounds: Herrara In five rounds. and was
finally put out himself by Young Corbett
I'm two rounds. and later on by Young
Corbct again in eleven rounds.
Difference in Style.
There Is radical dinareiices IN the
style OF fighting of the two men. sTerry's
battle must he won or lost quickly. AT
the tap OF the gong lie liz on top of his
man. whrling. twisting, smuggling. with
might and main until his opponent or
he himself is laid low. He simply beats
his man down. fighting half 1.-the time with
his eyes closed. But he Is 80 fast that Il.
II difficult for any boxer to sidestep his
PUSHES !,
Nelson is cool. deliberate fighter In
any kind of a contest. His stamina ami
ability 10 take terrific punishment en-
atlcs him to play a waiting game. When
hos opportunity does come he shoots in
with the speed OF bullet and lands
thc knockout blow. His eyes are never
closed. He always knows just where
he la at. He lis as good at fighting as
SrcGoverr and much better than Terry
atslong range.