Los Angeles herald., 1906-04-04
DANES FIGHTING POSE

consequential stickpin and wears no
patent leather toothpicks.
In dress he is as plain as he is in
manner Being homely to a certain
degree he does not powder nor paint
nor does he attempt to conceal his
homeliness with the flash of loud rags
and lugubrious sparklers.
Instead of a 14-inch balk line cane
he totes a plaything that is neither a
walking stick nor a dudes emblem, but
full grown piece of swamp cane that
Is adorned with a crook and an al
uminum tip.
In short he is plain Oscar Matthew
Battling Nelson, born in Copenhagen,
Denmark, twenty-four years ago and
believes he is the best man at his
weight above ground.
With all his LONELINESS and plain
dress, Bat Nelson Is not rough in any
sense of the word and is exceedingly
modest for a champion and quiet in de-
meanor for one who occupies the posi-
ton he has attained in the fight world.
The absence of the spirit of bragga-
docio and arrogance naturally to be
expected of a champion fighter is no.
ticeable and whenever he speaks of his
foes in the rinC. past and future, it is
always with kindly word and a COM
plment
Altogether, Bat Nelson is a pleasant
parsonage to meet and an interesting
conVersationalist on all things pertain
ing to his profession Personal pro-
nouns are not intolerably used by him
and to converse with him for a few
moments one would consider him a
mere ordinary prelim fighter of no
merit save modesty.
Praises Herrera
Nelson thoroughly appreciates that he
has the fight OF his life on his hands
when he stacks UP against Aurelio Her
rera and, while confidently expressing
the belief that he will win, says that he
mas all due respect for the prowess of
the Mexican. He said:
Il have fought Herrera and know he
is the hardest man in the world that 1
could hook up with. Personally, if |
was making matches for myself on
easy money propositions, l would
teaVe herrera out of all consideration,
because he gave me the hardest battle
OF my life and I recognize the fact that
ne has improved since we last met.
You don't notice any of the other
!ghtWelghts rushing around the coun-
try badgering Herrera for a fight. do
you? Well, they don't want any of his
game. He is a tough customer. Let
me tell you, and / am going to take
no chances with him.
Anybody who tells you he can't bit
is misinformed. l know he can hit
and when he lands it is more like the
KICK of an army mule than anv gentle
love tap. And he is d good ring gem
eral and as foxy as any Of them, TOO {"
The conversation was turned towards
Baltimore and when Cans name was
mentioned Bat said: You will do me
o favor If you don't print my name in
the same issue with that of Cans. 7
nave tried to be on the square all nv
life and would not fight any man If
there was any suspicion that the battle
would be other than on the square.
L have never barred any lightweight
through fear and l think my record is
suinclent to convince any one that
am not picking out my fights. [ will
meet any lightweight in the world ex-
cept cans and | will never fight nirn I"
Replying to the query as to whether
ne would meet the winner of the Britt
Herman bout in the event he defeated
Herrera, Nelson said: You know there
IS little money difference between
Brltt and and he can get my game i'm
twenty seconds after that is settled. |
peat MIN once and can do it again. If
Herman wins from Britt and proper
financial inducements are offered
wouldn't be surprised if Nolan would
make the match for me-"
From telegraphic reports sent out In