The Washington herald., 1908-07-07

There is a wide diversity OF opinion
among the sporting authorities Of this
city as to the merits Of the Gans-Nelson
fight last Saturday.
Pat OConnOr, the most prominent ref
cree in the South, and at one time a
boxer OF no mean ability himself. gave out
as his opinion that Cans is about all in.
THE best OF them reach the end of their
string sooner or later" said O'Connor.
and the negro is no longer a spring
chicken. That Nelson is not the battler
Of old there is little doubt. but / think
that the fight Saturday proved conclu-
sively that the older man has gone back
and is no longer able 10 show the ability
that won for him the premier lightweight
title Of the world"
Thinks Cans Stalled.
Ristie Leonard, the most prominent box
ing promoter Of the District, took a some
what different view Of the mill. "Ths
fight did not result altogether to my sat
isfactiOn, and while Will not venture 10
say that it was fixed, I cannot help be-
! lieving that all was not as il should have
been" said Leonard. Il am unable 70
/ reconcile myself 70 the fact that Cans.
who demonstrated so clearly his superb
Ority over Unholz and Britt. made such
] a miserable showing with a man whom
I CnholZ. Britt. and Memsic disposed Of
| in short order. ! doubt II Nelson could
/ beat Packey MacFarland and that McFar-
| land will never attain 10 first honors / am
| convinced, for I have seen Packey In
action. He lacks the punch. as was proven
/ by the fact that Freddie WelCh was able
/ 10 stall him off for twenty-five rounds
/ There was an excellent chance for a
man 20 clean up a bunch Of loose change
| on the Odde offered on Nelson's chances.
and Cans IS known 20 be willing to take
advantage of an opportunity 20 increase
his real estate holdings.
CAMS Not Knocked Out.
Nelson did not knock Cans out. despite
the fact that that was the verdict rem
dered. The negro was In full possession
Of his faculties when counted out Take
it from me, the next time the two meet
Cans viii show a decided reversal OF
form"
! jim Gray. who IS a close friend Of the
defeated champion and an ardent FOL
lower Of the boxing game. yesterday pro-
fessed surprise at the result OF the bat
feat 10 lack Of condition and overconh-
dence.
Il think Joe entered the ring too conf
dent OF victory" said Gray, and not in
shape 20 stand the strain OF a lOng-dis-
tance 60. Nelson's defeat at the hands
Of avowed second-raters made too mucf
Of an impression on Cans. and I am con
vinced that the reports so widely circu
lated OF the manner IN which the Battle,
had gone back, borne out as they wer,
by the showing the Dane made in hi
bouts with Britt and Mcfarland. encour
, aged Cans 10 believe that he would hav
! an easy time dispOsing of his rival I
was this belief, according 10 my notion
which led Joe 70 rely upon road work al
, most entirely in conditioning for the fight
2 and the consequence was that he lacke
! the power TO Offset the rushes OF his de
3 termined opponent
i Wore Cans out.
I see by the accounts in the paper
0 that Cans was on the road for an hou
and a half the day Of the fight whicl
. certainly didn't help his staying powers
: Nelson's forte was HIS ability 10 tax
. punishment, and he waded IN and took I
p In the early rounds IN the hope of wear
ing Cans down. which he did.
"The day before the fight I received
{ telegram from Joe, In which he expresse
his confidence Of winning. and for tina
reason. II for no other, I believe the bat
tie was fought on its merits. 1 feel saf
in predicting that should the pair b
, brought together again there will be
widely different story 10 tell. At an
rate. II will not be lack Of proper train
ing that will cost him the fight"