The San Francisco call., 1907-03-31
CANS MAY YIELD POINT
OF WEIGHT TO NELSON
A Half Pound Is Keeping
the Rival Lightweights
From Meeting
By r. A. Sn1ytI1

night between Joe Cans and Battling
Nelson, il seems inevitable that the
men viii meet again in the ring to re-
new the sensational struggle in which
Cans was returned the winner al Cold
field last September. 1t is only mat
ter Of a half pound in weight which is
keeping the men apart, and it is eX-
pected that Cans viii see the advan-
tage OF yielding this point and signing
10 meet the Dane. weighing 1873 pounds
with his ighting togs on.
This is the condition imposed by
Manager Billy Nolan. and it means that.
with cans trunks and shoes weighing
a half pound. that is the only weight
condition he is asked TO cOncede. When
the men enter the ring Nelson viii not
be any better OF than Cans. as he
must make the same weight. The
:. Dane has not been getting any lighter
] during the past year. and he viii have
10 work as hard as Cans 10 come in
under the weight safely. There has
been some discussion as TO IL being
easier TO make the weight in Nevada
than at the sea level. 1t is not likely
there is anything in this theory, as il
has been shown in the past that
boxer can make any required weight
II he viii do enough work on the road
and in the gymnasium.
Cans did not have 10 work hard TO
DO 1873 pounds in the dead OF winter at
Tonopah, when he met and defeated Kid
Hermann on New Years day. II he
could DO the weight with the snow on
the ground, IL is reasonable TO suppose
he could do 1t Ia Marin County, where
he would train for any night in which
he would be a principal in this district.
The only thing which seems TO stand
between the matching Of the men is
the pride OF their respective managers.
Each has made a stand on this ques-
ton and does not want to recede from
hts position. Nelson can take cheer
ful view Of the situation as he does
not have TO fight. being well provided
with this worlds goods. His earnings
have been well invested. and he is one
OF the few boxers in the capitalistic
class. He is much younger than Cans,
and. year or more OF delay in enter
ing the ring means nothing TO him,
while il means much TO the veteran
Cans has outlived all his contempO-
raries in the ring, but there must come
q time when his remarkable athletic
powers viii wane. There viii be one
tight too many, unless he times his re-
tirement as carefully as did Jim JEFF
ries Like Sullivan, he may not appre-
iciste it unless defeat .overtakes him.
The promoters here know the value
Of the Gans-Nelson match as drawing
card. and they stand ready TO give more
money for it than other club managers.
Britt and either OF the other boxers
would be strong card, but the Califor-
niaR seems in doubt about taking the
plunge and signing Up for the match
There is no middle ground for him.
as there is no other boxer before the
ipublic who is anywhere near their
class. 1t IS strange the manner IN
which boxers dope up" their pros
lpective opponents. Cans has said
frankly when discussing fighting with
his intimates that he would prefer to
fight Nelson TO Britt This means that
he feels he has a better chance with
the Dane than with the Californian.
Britt would rather fight Nelson than
Cans. He has fought the Dane twice
and he thinks he has him sized up. A
match between Cans and Britt could
probably be arranged in a few min
utes II the representatives OF the rival
lightweights could be induced TO sit
down and talk business. Each Of them
has an eye out for Nelson. and while
he is a possibility they win not talk
about any other match
The promotion Of four-round boxing
bouts looks so good to many people
who have watched the crowds assemble
at Dreamland Pavilion week after week
that many budding managers want to
break into the game. Three new clubs
are in the field for permits, and a lively
scramble is expected over the distribu-
ton Of the dates. Dan Crowley. who
financed a club some years ago. has
again entered the lists under the name
OF the Columbia Club. The Preside
Club is also a newcomer and will be
out for some OF the plums which are
to be given out by the administration.
Gregory Mitchell who has shown abil-
ity as a promoter in the past, has or
eanized the Shasta Club and has al
ready applied for a permit Some four
teen clubs want dates
In fbe mast it has been generally un-
derstoOd that members OF the Board OF
Supervisors have been interested in a
number OF these clubs. What pressure
viii be required under the present state
OF the city government is the question
that is puzzling some OF the promoters.