Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-25
BOTH FIGHTERS
down TO !. WEIGHT
Betting on Cans Nelson Fight is
Now Even at Gold
field.

has eliminated the question Of weight from
the Labor day fight. When Joe Cans and
Battling Nelson began training that was
the only thing talked about Few believed
that the negro could get down to weight.
1873 pounds. without a hard struggle, and
there were all kinds of comments ON the
shrewdness of Billy Nolan in requiring
three times for weighing ON the day OF the
fight.
But there is ne such talk now. The six
Thousand feet above the sea level has ex-
peditiously and effectually done what hard
training could not do in the same time. The
fighters have discovered that there Is q
difference between the coast and the desert
and it all lies in the dryness Of the at
mosphere. Battling Nelson Is down to 130h
pounds. and Cans weighs 1921.
Both men have found that the altitude
has done for them without effort and with
out ill-enect what it usually takes weeks
OF training to do.
They have lost the extra pounds OF flesh
almost without knowing it. Everybody
does that comes here. 1t is part OF this
warm, dry climate. There Is a nominal
difference Of two or three pounds in the
same man between San Francisco and
Goldfield.
The ordinary man will lose ten or fifteen
pounds and won't know 1t unless he hap
pens to weigh, and then he is surprised.
AS result. both men have taken day
taking the lighter exercises and the road
work for their wind. They will keep this
up with such variations as seem best to
each other. Nelson went out for hts walk
yesterday and rounded up at the swimming
baths. but did no hard work.
Fit as Fiddle.
HE doesn't need It," said Young Kid Nc
Coy. his trainer. Hes as fit as a fiddle
now and could do any distance. Nelson Is
II, kv~fv~
He is husky and takes to his work like
sliding down hill.
II do not think the fight should last more
than ten or fifteen rounds and think
Nelson will put it all over the negro. I've
seen Cans fight and can't see where he
has any edge to go on in fight with man
Nelson rode back from the baths on a
gaily dressed burro, and in the afternoon
took few rounds in the training quarters
with Clifford and Lundle, and the work was
as rough as usual.
After his easy day Of Thursday, Cans did
a hard days work yesterday. beginning
with his ten miles on the road in the morn
ing and ending with sixty-fve minute
stunt in the gym in the afternoon There
was the usual crowd present, and among
them several women.
The Baltimore black was feeling tip-top.
was caution. He did fully twenty min
utes with the ball. then fought five swift
rounds with Kid Simms, during which he
nearly knocked his man out by mistake.
Next he hammered the bag for four hard
rounds. and finished his work by skipping
the rope 500 times. He did 1T all with such
ease and energy that it gave the lie to the
report that he laid off Thursday because
he was not feeling well.
Cans Under 1873 Pounds.
The rest brought him to under 1873 pounds.
and Trainer Mcdonald says he will stay
around that weight right along now until
fight day. The Goldfield A. c. and the
fight managers are negotiating with differ
emit persons for the sale of the fight pic
lures. It is the plan to sell the rights for
different sections OF the country, or sell
the pictures outright.
In five days and a half contractors have
pushed the work on the arena to the half
way point. They have ten days yet to go;
The directors of the club visited the ball
park to look the work over today.
Owing to the delay in the arrival of tick
cts, the sale will not begin until Saturday.
day off to play poker and had upset his
nerves and broken in on his training by
losing large sums of money. When Cans
was seen about the report he said:
you saw me work today. Did 1t look
like 1 was going back any?"
But about the poker game?"
There's nothing in 1t, said Trainer NC
Donald, breaking in, except that he did
half an hour. He lost no money, because
he had not any to lose. After sitting near
ly all the afternoon with Mrs. Cans and
myself on the hotel veranda. Cans played
a few hands, OF penny ante for recreation
There was no harm in it and no excitement
AS for interfering with his work, it is fool
ish to think of it."
The first book opened yesterday in Gold
field. The betting was 10 to on Cans at
the opening, but 500 bet on Nelson
brought the odds down to even money.
Otherwise the betting was very light.