The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1906-09-05
BATTLE OF ~ ROUNDS.
Battling Nelson Lost the Fight
by Fouling Joe Cans.
Cans Endurance Surprised Everyone.
In the 33rd Round He Broke His
Right Hand and Afterwards Did All
His Work With the Left Hand.
Fought a Clean Fight.

Tou9nt Oledn Flynt'
Goldfeld, New, Sept. 4. - Battling
Nelson lost the fight by fouling Joe
Cans in the 42d round of the best and
.ongest fight seen in many years.
Both men were tired when the fight
ended but Cans was apparently the
stronger He was away ahead on
points and had smashed and cut Mel
son all through the fight without be-
ing severely hurt himself.
Shortly after the 42d round began
he men were in their usual clinch.
Nelson had his head on Cans shoulder
and his arm down. Several times he
nit Cans below the belt, apparently
feeling for a vital spot. At last he
1rew back his right arm and hit Cans
vicious blow square into the groin.
The colored boy sank to his knees and
rolled over on his back. Referee Siler
without hesitation ordered Nelson to
lis corner and awarded the fight to
Cans on foul.
Decision Had Unanimous Approval.
Silers decision received almost
unanimous approval. The foul was so
obvious that not even men who had
bet on Nelson could say that it had not
been committed. All through the long
contest Nelson had employed rough
tactics. He repeatedly butted Cans,
and had to have his head hauled away
by the referee.
Referee Siler said that while he
would not say that the foul was inten-
tional, there was no doubt but it had
been committed. Nelson, he said, had
employed his usual tactics all through
the fight and while he knew that Mel
son was butting whenever he had an
opportunity he did not disqualify for
that because he saw that it was not
hurting Cans and because no other
referee had ever disqualified Nelson
or doing the same thing. Besides, the
people were there to see the fight and
he did not want to disappoint them.
Siler was loudly cheered as he left
the ring, as was Cans, who was car
ried to his dressing room. Nelsop and
| his seconds were hissed as they de-
parted. Billy Nolan, Nelson's man
ager, made a disconnected statement
in which he said that Cans had prom
ised not to claim the decision on
foul and yet he jumped at the first op-
| portunity to make such claim. All
Nelson would say was that Cans was
tired and quit.
Cans Broke His Hand.
Cans in many ways put up remark
able fight His endurance surprised
every one. His work was the more
wonderful when it is known that in the
33rd round he broke his right hand.
Never after that did he strike a blow
with it with the exception of few
short arm jolts while clinching. He
did all his work with the left hand.
Cans generalship was shown when he
broke the hand. In the 33rd round he
landed hard right 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 though he had hurt foot
and no one realized that he had in
jured the right hand.
Cans said after the fight that Mel
son Intentionally fouled. He said he
knew he could finish 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 ad-
vantage of the foul
Cans explained that he did not want
to box Nelson for fear of firing him
self He found early that he could
protect himself in clinches and real
lied that the exertion in fighting that
way was less than if he stood back and
did some snowy boxing. He was hit
| ting Nelson all the time and making
the Dane do most of the work
The first Is rounds of the fight were
| hst. After that the men slowed up.
Although Cans was far ahead of Mel
son in points and most of the time
| looked like sure winner, Nelson put
up a wonderful fight Time and again
Cans would jolt him on the jaw, send
ing the Dane back. His knees would
| bend and his eyes become glazed, but
he always fell into clinch and held
on and would then come back fighting
as hard as ever.
On occasions Nelson apparently had
| the advantage. He would hit Cans as
they broke from cinch and the col
ored boy would hang on and wrestle.
Cans Fought a clean Fight.
Cans fought a clean fight. Twice
when he knocked Nelson down he
picked him up. Once when one of
Cans punches knocked Nelson through
the ropes Cans picked him up and
helped him to his feet AS the col
ored boy stood with his hands down
waiting for Nelson to steady himself
Nelson gave him a vicious blow in the
stomach. Nelson was roundly hissed
for this by the crowd.
Although Godfield is mining camp
there was no disturbance of any kind
and 10 rough language used. Cans
was the favorite. His behavior won
the admiration of the Goldheld people
and they showed it.
The attendance was about 5000.
About 200 women were present. An
| nonncer Sullivan Declared that one of