Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1908-09-10
Defeats Joe Cans, Ez.ChaIl-.
piOTl, in l Bloody b Battle "a III
Of q Rounds
Cans Was Beaten "a in The
Ninth Round. But Fought
BraYlly On
Both Men Badly Punished.
Cans Says He Fights
No More

Colma Arena, San Francisco, Sep.
9.-7-Battling Nelson clinched his claim
to the lightweight pugilistic champion
ship by defeating Joe Cans for the
second time at the Colma arena this
afternoon. The fight ended in the
#twenty-first round, when Cans, beaten
down by succession of blows from
his sturdy conqueror. failed to get
upon his feet within the count of ten.
The veteran colored fighter was
severely punished, but the champion,
too, bore the marke Of battle. 4 q q i.
From the first clang OF the gong
to the last moment Nelson forced
the fighting, never giving ground and
gradually battering his older and less
vigorous opponent.
Cans suocumbed in the 21st round,
after being numerically trounced. In
this round Nelson rained right and
i left blows to the jaw and body and
Cans sank to the floor. Mechanically
the defeated fighter watched the re-
feree, Eddie Smith, waive his hands,
hut apparently was too far gone to
hear him count. Not until the count
of ten was finished did Cans, with his
face terribly cut and his eyes glazed,
attempt to rise. He realized, how
ever, that it was too late and feebly
declared, Il have positively fought
my last battle" # !. 4 ~ Y u. 3I s4a.E
The fight was spectacular and at
no time did it appear that Cans had
a chance to win. Time and again
he would shoot wicked punches at
Nelson's face and body, but the lat
ter never for an instant waivered.
1 Failing to arrest the rushing champ
ion at any stage, Cans seemed to lose
heart and gradually weakened,
though he often rallied and fought
back fiercely. s5.
Referee Smith, after the fight, gave
out the following statement: Cans
was all in after the ninth round. In
the twenty-first both the time-keeper
and myself counted ten, therefore
making Nelson the winner Cans,
IL believe, did not know he was count
ed out, but 1t is just as well that he
was, as Nelson had him completely
at his mercy and it was useless fol
the game colored man to take a fur
Z Their beating. II N &
When Cans was seen In his dress
ing room his face presented terri
Bile picture. His right eye was clos
ed. the left. practically so, his lips
and nose was badly lacerated and his
face was puffed out like an inflat
ed balloon. He gave out the follow
ing statement:
II made one fight too many. Mel
II son is tough boy and beat me fair
". j will never fight again. This
is surely no Patti farewell, but II
dead earnest"
Will o'Keefe, one OF Cans princi
pie seconds. said after the fight:
Cans was In after the ninth round
In the eleventh begged him to al
low me to throw the sponge into tht
ring. This he would not allow ms
to do, saying he preferred to be knock
ed out and would fight as long as hi
had strength to stand up. For clever
rounds Cans fought on his courage
alone, as ne could not land a damag
ing punch. Z Nelson said;
Cans was tougher than before. H'
was In good shape and he fought mi
q different kind OF q fight. From nov
on will never fight a colored MAJ
again. j shock hands with Bills
Papke today and we both made thi'
compact. / hurt my right hand in th'
second round but kept on going re
CARELESS Of the pain. (