The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-12-31
The Attendance at TOnOpah Not
to Be Record Breaking.
Measurements Show Cans to Be
Rangy and Herman Compact.
HOW THEY COMPARE.


Tonopah. New. Dec. 31.-In the mat
ter Of the fight between Joe Cans and
Kid Herman, the question IS not how
much will the promoters make by the
venture. but how snucn viii they 'ose?
That there will be a shortage between
the gate receipts and .he 5000 purse
alone is the opinion OF the writer all
though the match nakaTs are hopeful
that the box office aceumulations will
amount to sufficient. g. The COS ct the
new pavilion. said to. be about $4,000,
Mike Riley and his associates h0re to
get back in other pugilstic ventures TO
follow.
From a reliable source it is learned
that the advance sale Of tickets right
here In Tonopah has not as yet reached
1900. and this with the contest but As
hours distant. Several causes have com
bined to make the affair losing VEN
ture. To begin with. the Gather here
at this time Of the year is not % the
kind to attract visitors In the next
place the average fight follower does
not consider Herman anything Ike an
equal match for Cans. At that che av-
erage fight follower may ne mistaken
He frequently is in his estimate Of the
relative merits of a couple of champion
ship candidates, but that does not deter
him from being just as positive in his
ideas Of things when sizing up time
comes The betting is always an in
fallhie guide to what the public thinks
OF a match
In this case there is practically no
betting, at least so far as Tonopah is
concerned. Cans. of course, is the IA
vOrite. and the odds are noninally to
J. All. reports to the contrary, knowing
the short end is scarcely being nibbled
at, and it is more than likely that the
price against Herman Will be 10 to 3
or 10 I by Monday night The two
men have trained faithfully and are
equally serious in regard to the work
in hand. There are whispers of fake.
Just as there are on the eve Of every
pugtlistic encounter. If a job is con-
tenplated. the betting is not being done
in Ionopah, but this does not prove
anything
About the only way to make crooked
money would be to have Cans lay down
and & Is known that in former Jobs il
which Cans was implicated the most
wagering was done at points far remov
ed from the scene of the contest.
That some of Cans friends at a dis
lance are suspicious that Joe may be
going to turn a trick is shown by a
letter received by Cans Sunday. It is
from a fellow in Minneapolis. In the !
letter Joe is reminded that when he
was IN Minneapolis the cOlore1 lads
tAereabout rallied to his support and |
that he was banQueted, feted and cake |
walked TO his hearts content 1t is
suggested that under the circumstances |
II would be downright dislOyalty for Joe |
10 pull or anything without informing |
the darktOWn contingent of Minnesota !
IF you wire. my right hand is in |
bad shape, Will take il to mean that |
you are going to win, and If you wire |
my right hand is stronger than ever /
we Will know that you are going to |
lose. writes the Minneapolis man. |
and he does not even mark his COM |
mnnicatiOn conf iential."
7 consider that letter rank in
suit said Cans. 7 have been con- !
nected with fake fights in the past |
and I have told the public about /
them broke away from associates
and began all over again. and no one |
will ever ind me cheating"
It Is a pity for his own sake that |
Cans did not make up his mind to /
leave gambling alone when he turned i
from ways that are dark IN pugilisn. /
He is one of the best customers the |
games OF CHARGE have herea bouts. and /
81 IS said that his share Of the prize i
money. whatever it may be. is already |
mortgaEed to the tune of $1,000
Playing the races" is q favorite |
pastime with him. and he has had hair |
breadth escapes of landing winning |
combinations" calling for large
amounts.
It Is understood that the fighters
and Promoter Mike Riley are involved ]
in a little trouble over the moving |
picture prospect. The original under |
have so per cent of photograph |
profits, and the boxers 25 per cent |
each Cans considers the agreement
entered into between Riley and the /
l1~~A4 Ne-nAAAAG CCAAAAeAtAt eAJEo not set
forth the right and tltle-ao OF the con-
testants clearly enough and wants
new contracts. He threatens that if
the matter Is not Strengthened to get
out an Injunction restraining the
camera men from taking the con-
test
Apart from the bleak outlook so far
as profits for the promoters are con
cerned. there is a promise of a hard
contest between a couple of we'll train
ed. clover ring men. Cans. despite his
gecent talk of retiring. is looking for
ward to at least a couple Of contests
IN the Nevada gold belt, and he knows
full we'll that defeat at the hands of
will relegate him to the bar
gain counter
Herman has all the earmarks Of a
clean cut, ambitious youngster
Il would give the world to win and