Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-09-10
Il nlpt Ole F|saI TOO many
Black Man Echoes John LIS Famous
Lamentation-eoth Men Bore Marks
of Battle, But Negro Suffered Most;
Declares He Will Never Fight
Again.
(By Associated PresS).

COLMA ARENA. SAN FRANCIS
CO.. Sept. 9.-Battling Nelson clinch-
ed his claim to the lightweight pugi-
listic championship by defeating Joe
Cans for the second time at Colma
Arena this afternoon. The light
ended in the twenty-frst round when
Cans. beaten down by a succession
failed to get upon his feet within the
count of ten. The veteran negro
fighter was severely punished. but the
champion too, bore the marks of the
battle. From the first clang OF the
gong to the last moment Nelson fore
ed the fighting. never giving ground
and gradually battered down his old.
er and less vigorous opponent. Cans
succumbed after being numerically
trounced. Nelson in the final round
gained right and left blows to tn"
jaw and body, and Cans sank to the
floor. Mechanically the now defeated
fighter watched Referee Eddie Smith
wave his hands. apparently too far
gone to hear him count. Not until
the count Of ten was finished did
Cans. ashen pale. his face terribly
cut and his eyes CLASSY, attempt tn.
rise. He realized. however. that Il
was too late and feebly declared:
Il have positively fought my last
batt1e."
The fight was spectacular. and at
no time did it appear that Cans had
q chance to win. Time and again
he would shoot wicked punches to
Nelson's face and body. but the lat
ter never for an instant waverei.
Failing to arrest the rushing cham
pion at any stage. Cans seemed 10
lose heart and gradually weakened.
though he often rallied and fought
back fiercely.
Referee Smith after the fight gave
out the following statement:
Cans was all in after the ninth
round. In the twenty-first both the
timekeeper and myself counted ten,
therefore making Nelson the winner
Cans. I believe, did not know he was
counted out, but it is just as we'll
that he was. for Nelson had him COM
pletely at his mercy, and it was use
less for the game colored man to
take a further beating"
When Cans was seen in his dress
ing room his face presented q terri
bic picture. His right eye was clos
ed. the left partially so: his lips and
nose was badly lacerated and hts face
was pulled out like an inflated al
loon. He gave out the following
statement:
Il. made one fight too many. Mel
son Is a tough boy and beat me far
". will never fight again. This
Is no Patti farewell, but in dead earn
est"
Willie Keefe. one of Cans princi-
nal seconds. said after the fight:
Cans was all in after tn ninth
round. In the eleventh ! begged him
to allow me to toss the sponge INTO
the ring. This he would not allow
me to do. saying he preferred to be
knocked out and would fight a long
as he had the strength to stand up.
For eleven ROUNDS Cans fought on
his courage alone. as he could not
land a damaging punch"
Nelson said:
Cans was tougher than before. He
was in good shape and he fought me
n different kind Of fight. From
now on I viii never fight colcred
man again. ] shook hands with R'iiy
Papke today and We both made the
compact
Il hurt my right hand IN the Sec
ond round. but kept II going regard
less OF the pain
The FIRST round was IN Cans favor.
IN, the second went TO Nelson. Ne
forced Cans all through.
The third round ended in Nelson's
favor. though he took many hard
blows about the face. Nelson forced
Cans q, every stage and drew nrst
blood from the ncgro's nose
The fourth was abou; even. with
Nelson forcing the fight.
In the 9Th round Cans had the al
5Copt!nucf on Second paccD