The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-07-05
NELSON WINS
 IN BIG FIGHT Joe Cans Loses In Seventeenth Round. LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP Attendance Was Greatest That Ever Witnessed a Fight. The Mn was one of the Most Des- ssrste That He. Been witssss-
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LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP

san Fransico. July 4.--Battiing Nell son today won the title of Lightweight pugilist of the world from the man who defeated him at Goldnaid, New, almost two years ago.
 He knocked out Joe Cans in the seventeenth round after fight as desperate as any that had Seen seen here in years. Fighting from the be- ginning to the end of every round, moving ceaselessly forward and never giving ground. Nelson. with his bull dog tenacity and wonderful stamina. slowly battered the veteran eoiored champion into submission. There was few who watched the progress Of the battle and saw Cans grow weaker and weaker from round to round. but had made up their minds as to the result long before the count was given thar made the Illinois lad champion Three times Cans was sent to the fioor in the final round. each time taking all the time allowed. A blow from Nell son's left to the pit of the stomach ended the fight and Cans toppIed over and rested on his knees. He tried in vain to regain his feet but failed ana was counted out. Then 10000 men and score Of women who had gath cred in the open afr arena on the San Mateo hills, cheered the man who had become champion after defeat and rushed in frenzied enthusiasm for the ring. The special police were bowl ed over and Nelson was swept on his feet and hoisted on tho shoulders Of his friends and carried about the arena. while the beaten, bleeding Cans was carefully escorted by bis seconds from the scene of his defeat.
 ssThe best man won beyond doubt" was Cans frank admission as he iert the ring. sIt's the old story of one fight too many. After the third round. began to feel nyself tiring. Old age will tell and that is all have
 There was the usual dispute about the count. Many of Gans's friends thought the count on the final knock down was short and that he was not properly out It was apparent, how ever. that Cans was a defeated man after the eighth round
 For the first five rounds Cans land, cd at will on Nelson terribly punish z ing him about the face, It did not look that Nelson had one chance in. g hundred to win but he never hesi- tated to. come to close quarters with the champion swinging his arms con- stantly seeking an opening. Finally in, the seventh round Cans began to. weaken and from that time till the, end the tide turned in Nelson's favor. Tn the seventh he caught Cans or his guard and landed heavily on the body. Thereafter it was Nelson's light lis the twelfth round Cans went to the floor for the count of nina on three different occasions. Nelson punished him severely about the body and face, but 1t was the body blows that event. ually brought the champion to grief In the fourteenth Cans showed e. flash of [, his class. Although apparently hopelessly beaten at this stage, ne. rnocked the Dane time and again with his famous short arm wa1lops. But, they had not the strength and the ct-9 feet. a
 Nelson, when seen in his dressing room after the fight, presented a bat tered up appearance, but was appa- rentiy as strong as before the fight commenced. He said:
 "I knew could lick him. I took all the bets could get and cleaned up a big sum. I have won the light weight championship and have all the money I want. I don't care if may or may not however, light again.
 Referee Jack Welsh had this to say after the fight: Nelson won clean cut victory. I do not. however, think that Cans of today was the Joe Cans of old. Nelson was too strong ana it wasea case of youth having It's fiing."
 The attendance at today's battle was the greatest, with two exceptions, that ever attended a prize hgnt Tn Califor- mia. The receipts amounted to sd0.- coo
 Round 1.-The men shook hands ana in three smashes to the face and ear. At close quarters Nelson sent short light to the breast and Cans landed right and left to the face. Nelson re- taiiated with left to the nose, rush ing Cans. against the ropes. The round was in Cans favor but his lip bled slightly as he took his seat
 Round 2.-Gans met Nelson with the worst straight left to Inc Jaw and the Dane rushed and Nelson swung wildly three times. Cans was quick to take advantage of this and planted three hard lefts to the face. following this with two short right arm 5abs to the jaw Cans then staggered Nelson with a succession of short swings to the jaw but they did not appear to worry him. They continued to fight head to head, every time Nelson's head got foot away from Cans shoulder, Cans sent right and left wallup to the jaw.
 Round 3.--Gans continued with Nell son as if he were but child, sending right and left to the face at will. The blood started to spurt from Nelson's nose as they emerged from a eiincn. Nelson went to the floor from veh directed swing but was up at once and rushing. The round was all Cans.
 The fourth and fifth rounds were like those preceding them They wrestled around the ring, Cans trying to make Nelson step back, but the Dane persis- tently refused. Nelson scarcely land ed a blow and every time he stepped away his head proved a target for Cans lightning left. Cans outfought Nei son whenever they had their heads locked. They wrestled about the ring. Cans permitting Nelson to do all the work, while he nursed his strength.
 For the first time the men fought for half a minute at arms length in the sixth, and Cans landed a couple of lefts to the Battler's face. They soon re- sumed their shoulder to shoulder tac- tics, however. Nelson showing Cans about the ring. In the clinch Nelson sent a hard right to Cans face ana Cans started the blood from Nelson's mouth with two hard left punches.
 Nelson swung a hard left to the jaw which was the best blow he had landed during the night. The sixth was more even than the previous round.
 In the seventh. Cans staggered Nell son with right swing to the jaw and a hot rally followed. Nelson having the better of it, He landed right and left on Gans's jaw and Cans apparently elinchsd. The orsYd rose @ ata fat