The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1908-11-12

NOW tnat battllng NelSon Us tHc
undisputed lightweight champion Of
the world little of his personal
history will be of interest. Here is
his story:
At last / am recognized as the
only real live champion lightweight
fighter in the world, l have long
known that could beat any man in
the ring at my weight, but have
had q hard time convincing the
public at large of my ability. Now
that | have shown them by decis-
lively beating Joe Cans, | have ac-
complished my one great ambition
in life. and in doing SO have col
lected so much of the so-called
root of all evil" that don't know
how to get rid of it without disturb
ing the peace. have not been fool
ish with my money, like some for
mer champions, but have invested
1t wisely, and today would not sell
all of my property that have for a
quarter of million dollars.
When l was quite youngster
read of the championship, and
thought then that / would like to be
champion. have had my wish.
When l went out to the battleships
the other day hundreds of small
boys followed me along the water
front and cheered me.
There is the new champion"
they cried, and could not help get
ting wider around the chest when
the leader of the gang yelled: Hes
a fighter from Fightersville."
] guess that kid was right. I'd
rather fight than eat. That's the
secret of my success. l have lost
several fights, but have never been
beaten. Sounds rather paradoxical.
doesn't it? But it's true, just the
same. The reason for my defeats"
is that am not short distance"
or 'parlor" boxer. | believe that
all fights should be to a finish to
determine which is the better man.
Everything that fights keeps on till
1t wins, is beaten or has enough.
By beaten ! mean unable to con.
tinue. | have never yet been
placed in the situation where l was
unable to continue or where l had
enough, AMI in all the battles that
have been decided against me / am
morally certain that / would have
stopped my opponent if the contest
had been longer Therefore, / do
not consider that / have ever met
my master in the fighting game
at my weight, of course.
have always felt that l would
be the greatest fighter in my class.
1t is in the stars, and, although
am not -superstitious, l can't help
believing that l was ordained to be
a successful fighter. This is how
I figure it out: was born on June
5. 1882, in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Nothing very remarkable about
that, you say? Well, hold on a min
ute; June 5 is the Danish independ-
ence day, and you much remember
that beat the heretofore uncon-
querable Cans on July 4, Uncle
Sans independence day. Kind of
coincidence, isn't it? OF course,
nations do not obtain absolute in
dependence unless they fight for it
and win, and from the fact that the
independence days of two nations
are such important dates in my
career l am justified in thinking as
/ do.
Although l was born in Denmark,
] am full fledged American, for |
was brought to this country when
was year old. My father, Nels
Nelson, declares that | was born
fighting and have been fighting
ever since, and guess he is about
right. That's why he named me
Battling. My mother, Mary Mel
son, tackled the two other handles
to my surname, so l have to go
about wrapped up in the disguise of
Oscar Battling Matthew Nelson
when | attend social functions.
From my elongated name I'd as
sumo that was an heiress hunting
nobleman if l didn't know differ
entity.
went to school off and on until
! was 16 years of age, but was
always getting into trouble and be
ing suspended for fighting. My
teachers always declared that | was
living up to my name as a battler
But you can bet l never played
hockey. / was forced to stay away
from school too much against m,
will to get any pleasure out of it
All of the other kids were just
dying for the chance to stay away
but with me it was just the oppo
site. ! studied for all ! was worth
and don't think that was SO bad
As a matter of fact, l had all the
other kids In my class beaten a
mile when 1t came to mathematics
] remember the first examination