The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-11-25
OLD MASTER IS
s. YEARS old
JOE CANS REACHES AGE A
WHICH BOB FiTzsIMMoNs
WON:

BALTIMORE, Nd, Nov. 25.-Joe
Cans is 80 years old to-day. The un:
disputed champion Of all the light.
weights and the old muster" OF the
prize ring saw the light OF day IN this
city on November 25. 1874. At the
threshold Of his saith year-iust the
age of the great Bob Fitzsimmons
when he wrested the heavyweight
championship FROM Jim Corbett at
Carson-Gans stands without a peer
among the men Of his class, and until
some ley wonder arises his place IS
secure.
James Edward Britt was the last
real lightweight to argue the ques.
ton of superiority with Baitimore's
..old master" Nemsic, whom Cans met
In Los Angeles, being properly a vel.
%terweight. Britt gave up the battle
after four rounds, without coming up
for the impending knockout, and thus
left the black man the king Of light.
weights.
The coloreI champion began his
ring career in 1891 and since then has
fought about $50 battles. In 1891 and
1892 his record was one Of continual
victories. most OF them being by the
knockout route. He continued his
triumphant career without n break
until July 10, 1895, when he was de
feated in twenty rounds by George
Siddons. Young Critic also defeated
him in that year, but Cans got back
at Siddons by knocking him out in
seven rounds on November IS. Dan.
ny Mcbride was the next man TO de-
feat the negro, on August 81, 1896,
after he had won n long string OF
bouts. He fought only n few BATTLES
from that time until 1895, and then
started a career Of victories which
was not broken until George McFad-
den knocked him out in this city in a
23-round bout, April II, 1899. Mead
den outpointed him again two months
later, but In October Cans even the
score by winning in twenty-five
rounds.
In the last six years Cans has
fought steadily several times n year
and in that time has been defeated
but six times, some of these defeats"
being admitted fakes. George McFad.
den and Terry McGovern have the
honor iof being the only two men who
have knocked out the champion. He
fought a draw with Joe Walcott in
1904. Ganss' greatet battle was with
Battling Nelson at Goldfeld in Sep.
TENDER of last year. the negro getting
the decision in the forty.second round
of one of the most exciting contests
ever pulled or In the ring. For this
bout a purse Of s33,5O0 was offered,
but Of this sun Cans received only
$1,000 for winning, as he had agreed
to give Nelson the balance, win, losse
or draw.
Guaged by the standards OF orli-
nary life, Gan is still a young man,
but as n fighter he rankss among tie
octogenarians. For all his seventeen
Years In the ring, he has not yet de-
veloped slgnss of entity. He is just
as sinewy and fast as ever, just as
calm and calculating in the heat OF
battle, when other men become excited,
and Just as much the master of all the
craft and cunning of the prize ring.
While his Goldheld hotel in Baltimore
is becoming a profitable proposition
and his other financial interests are in
such good condition as to enable the
"old MASTER to spend the rest of his
days In ldleness and comfort, Balti-
more sports do not consider 1t likely
that Cans will permanently retire as
long as there are any good purses to
be picked up in the fighting game.
Cans has declared his willingness to
again meet Battling Nelson II a sufl-
GENTLY large purse is offered, but de-
clares that Nelson must accede to the
same terms that weer forced upon the
negro at their GnldOell hntttle.