The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1906-10-18
SPO r IS
CANS ACTING LIKE
WORTHY CHAMPION
ALL REPORT ARE TO THE Eff
Feet THAT CANS Is CONDUCT
ING HIMSELF TO WIN FRIENDS,

1t was a great thing when Joe Cans
defeated Battling Nelson. He is now
doing a greater thing by giving an ex-
hibition of how a real champion may
also be a real gentleman. No man
who ever stepped in a prize ring has
conducted himself more becominglyl
than Joe Cans has
People who have had a chance to see
him at close range were surprised. The
common idea of Cans was that he was
a cheap, ordinary crap shooting negro,
with water melon mouth, who talks
with a broad darkey brogue and wears
la habitual grin. Any one who had
followed Cans ring career might know
that no such persons as Cans was
popularity supposed to be, could ever
have had the career he has had His
record itself tells that he is a man
of superior intelligence.
And such a man he proved to be
In crowd no one would have picked
him out as the champion He was ex-
,ceedingly modest and quiet, did not seek
to attract attention to himself. did
very little talking, except to answer
questions, and conducted himself w tn
dignity and decency all the time.
He is man of brains and a man Of
intellectual keeness, within certain
limitations
His conversation was pleasingly diff
ferent from the kind of talk we have
been getting from such white cham
pions as Jim Corbett, Battling Nelson
and Jack O'Brien.
If any man ever had a right to feel
swelled Cans has. No pugilist has
ever received more unanimous praise
than Cans has received. His record
has entitled him to it. He might be
expected to show some signs of top
heaviness But he doesn't. He did
not talk much about himself, and he
didn't belittle any of the other fellows.
He was outspoken in his praise of
many of the men he has fought and
expects to fight.
And even when talking of Nelson be
did not express any bitterness. He
certainly could be forgiven, if he ex-
| pressed a vigorous hatred for Nelson.
But all he has to say of Nelson is, that
the Battler had been corrupted by
| Nolan, and then he adds with charm-
ing frankness, Just as l was by Her
ford" And he says that Nelson Can
never get anywhere until he cuts lnosc
| from Nolan.
80 far as Battling Nelson is person
ally concerned, I am willing to forgive
and forget, bat Mr.. Nolan cannot do
business with me except on my own
! MI.
lie has almost unanimously condemned
Nolan for his attitude toward me all
through the Goldfeld affair. There
isn't an inch of true craftsmanship in
his body l claim no credit for what
1 did but it is conceded that there
could have been no fight had it not been
for my concessions to Nolan's unjust
demands Nolan is more to blame for
Nelson's dirty work than Nelson him.
self. Nolan put him up to it. Since
the fight Nolan has acted like a baby
After everything he demanded, and
forcing me to make concessions which
increased Nelson's chances 80 per cent
at least, he hasn't got the decency to
take his medicine like a true sport but
fills the press with rawlings about crook
ed work, and charges the referee with
selling out and throwing the fight
Thousands of people who saw that
fight had money bet on Nelson, and
not one man, so far as is known, kick
ed on that decision or on paying his
bet. l feel no bitterness toward Mel
son, and should like to see him succeed
but he will never again stand as well
as he did unless he cuts loose from
Nolan. Nolan is the most despsed
man connected with the game in this
country today, and he deserves to be
He put his foot on my neck when he
could have played fair. Now he must
play the game my way or not at all
and believe the sporting public will
support me in this position"
Speaking of Britt and some Of the
others, he said: These boys can fight
me on their own terms. l won't make
it hard for them" There was no as
sumption on his part of a superior right
to dictate terms just because he was
champion.
How different this Kind of talk is
from the kind Nolan and Nelson have
been giving us.
Cans is only human when he declares
than Nolan must pay fRr all the abuses
heaped on him if he wants to do bust
ness in the future.
Cans still bears the marks upon hin
of the kicks Nelson gave him in tn
ring,
Cans will be the most popular of al
champions once he becomes known a
he is. If he keeps up his present at
titude he is sure to win new friend
everywhere The average man like
to see fairness, decency, intelligenc
!. and modesty even in a prize fighter
: And We have not had much of thes
! qualities in modern prize fighters
After talking with Cans and watch
ing him.. it is easy to see why Nelson /
not in his class. Cans has brains H
thinks. Nelson cannot think.