Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1906-09-04
NELSON LoosEs FIGHT.

NELSON LOOsEs fight.
Battling Nelson lost yesterdays fight
10 Gold6eld, New, by fouling Joe Cans
10 the forty.second round Of the best
and longest 6ght seen IN many years.
Both men we're tired when the fight
ended, but Cans was apparently the
stronger. He was away ahead ON points
and had smashad aud cut Nelson all
through the 6ght, without being severely
hurt himself.
Shortly after the forty-second round be-
gan the men we're in their usual clinch.
Nelson had his head on Cans shoulder
and bis arm down. Several times he
hit Cans below the belt, apparently feel
ing for q vital spot. At last he drew
back his right arm and bit Gs:ns a
vicious blow aqusre in the groin. The
colorcd boy sank TO his knees and rolled
over on his back. Referee Siler without
hesitation ordered Nelson to his corner
and awarded the fight to Cans on foul.
Siler's decision received almost unsni-
nous approved. The foul was so obvious
that not even men who bet on Nelson
could say that it could not have been
committed. All though the contest Mel
son had employed rough tactics, repeat
edly butted Cans and had to have his
head hauled away by the reieree.
Referee Siler said that, while he would
not say that the foul was Intentional,
there was no doubt that it had been COM
mitted. Nelson, be said, had employed
bis usual tactics all through the fight,
and while he knew that Nelson vas but
ting whenever he had an opportunity, be
did not di.qualify him for thst because
he saw that it was not hurting Cans,
and because no other referee had dis.
quslified Nelson for doing the same thing.
Besides, the people were there to see the
agbt, and he did not want to disappoint
them.
Siler was loudly cheered as he left the
ring, as was Cans, who was carried to
bis dressing room. Nelson and his
seconds we're hissed as they departed.
Billy Nolan, Nelson's manager, made .
disconnected statement, in which he
said that Cans hsd promised not to claim
the decision on foul, and yet he jump
ed at the first opportunity to make such
3 claim. All Nelson would say vas that
Cans was tired and quit.
Cans in many ways put up a remark
sble fight. His endurance surprised
everyone. His work was the more won
derful when 1t is known that in the
thirty-third round he broke his right
hand. Never after did he strike blow
with it, with the exception of q few short
arm jolts while clinching. He did all bis
work With the left hand. Cans general
ship was shown when he broke the hand.
In the thirty-third round he landed a
hard right-hand 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 be had hurt foot, and no one
realized that he had injured the right
hand.
Cans said after the 6aht that Nelson
intentionally fouled. He said he knew
he could finish Nelson, as he was com.
paratiyely strong and Nelson was grow
ing weaker all the time. Larry Sullivan
announced for Cans that lie would meet
Nelson in two weeks in another fight, as
he was sure he could whip him, and
did not want to take advantage of
the foul. 1t is hardly probable, how
ever. that the men will meet again in
that time.
Cans explained his method by saying
that be did not want to box Nelson for
fear Of firing himself. He found early
in the game that he could protect him.
self in clinches. and also realized that
the exertion in fighting that way was
much less than if he stood back and did
some snowy boxing. He was hitting
Nelson all the time and maneuyering to
make the Dane do most OF the work.
The first Is rounds of the fight, were
fast. After that the men slowed up,
aud only at intervals was there rally.
Although Cans was far ahead of Nelson
in points and most of the time looked
liked sure winner, Nelson put up q
wonderful fight on his side. The en-
dursace and recuperstive powers shown
by Nelson were extraordinary. Time
and again Cans would jolt him on the
isw. sending the Dane back. His knees
would bend and bis eyes become glazed,
but he always fell into clinch aud held
on, aud would the come back lighting as
hard as ever in his peculiar style. The
minutes rest at the corner always did
him good, and he would come up fresh
and strong. On nearly half dozen oc-
cassions, when it seemed another blow
would put the white boy out, the gong
saved him.
On several occasions Nelson apparent
ly hal the advantage. He would hit
Cans as they broke from clinch aud
the colored boy would hang on and
wreslle.
hans fought remarkably clean light.
He was fair iu everything, and twice
when he knocked Nelson down, picked
him up. One time when one of Cans
puuches knocked Nelson through thu
ropes Cans picked him up and helpet
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