The San Francisco call., 1908-07-06
Dane Will Defend
Championship
Remarkable Fighter VIII Not
Rest on LaureLs already
Won
By r. A. Smyth


cIOseted until an early hour this morn
ing with Nelson, WiIIus Britt and Ben
ny SeIig in an effort to secure an
agreement between the men. Nothing
definite has been accomplished, but 1T
is possible that Cans will be given
another chance with the Dane.
Like a blushing bride trying to be-
come accustomed to the title of Mrs"
was the position in which Battling
Nelson found himself yesterday with
his title of champion won in stirring
combat on the previous day in the
amphitheater across the line in San
Mateo county The new honor, which
cannot be said to be an unexpected one
TO him, rests lightly on his shoulders.
He has claimed in season and out since
his meeting with Cans at Goldheld two
years ago that he was the master of
the man who has held the title so long.
At the first opportunity Nelson proved
the correctness of his prediction.
Nelson spent a comparatively quiet
day with his father and his friends. He
went TO his training quarters near Col
ma and stayed there the major portion
Of the day. He bears no mark of the
fight other than a slightly puffed lip,
in which a stitch had to be taken. Mel
son has no plans for the future, al
though it is evident from his remarks
that he is willing to defend his title
TO the championship against the chal-
lenges of any aspirants now before the
public He would probably welcome a
chance to meet "Packey" Mcfarland, his
one time protege, il the latter wants
a whirl in the ring.
The champion viii be the guest of
the sailors on the Z. S. S. Ohio this
afternoon. They have arranged to send
a launch ashore for him and he will
leave the landing&at Crowley's at 1870
p. N.
SMART DIVISIONS SHOCK
The smart division among the betting
men have not recovered from the stag
gering blow they receiVed at the out.
come Of this fight. According to all
the form available they figured Cans to
win and they bet their money accord
ingly That they are not much heavier
losers is due to the fact that they could
not get their money on, the Nelson men
being usually content with modest
wagers, while the Cans men talked in
thousands Cans and Ben Selig, his
manager, wagered jointly some $4,000
and tried to get on more. Selig nearly
made a wager of 900 at the ringside
with Jim May, but he was called off at
the critical moment.
The Improvement in Nelson's condi-
tion has been the greatest surprise. He
had never entered the ring at any
time in the four years he has been
lighting here in such perfect condi-
tiOn. For one thing Willie Britt had
made him stop his slugging matches
with his sparring partners, which were
undoubtedly undermining his strength.
During the fight he hardly drew long
breath, and the only time he was in
danger of losing was when Cans hit
him after the gong had sounded in the
fourth round. Nelson was unprepared
for it and the blow had considerable
force.
People are slow to give Nelson credit
for his effectiveness in hitting much
as they have done with Stanley Ketchel
After each fight it has been found nee
essary to make excuses for him. There
are none due this time, as Nelson
frequently oUtboxed Cans. He beat the
latter to the punch several times, just
as he beat Abe Attel. a feat few wou.a
be willing to give him credit for
CANS BADLY DISFIGURED
Cans was badly disfigured boxer
yesterday. His right eye was nearly
closed, and the right side of his head
was badly bruised where Nelson had
hooked in his wicked left repeatedly.
Cans nose and lips were also badly
pufed, showing that he was given more
punishment than even the spectators
believed. He said he did not feel sore
about the body, although there must
have been some reminder of the visi-
tation of Nelson's tireless right and
left, both Of which kept playing in
there with unfailing regularity.
Cans only explanation of his defeat
is that he happened upon an off day.
I did not fight as we'll as I did the
night 1 met Unholz,' he said, "and that
was only few weeks ago. I knew as
soon as I started that I was not right,
rerI7k
OF 1t and that once all the organs were
working properly I would get my sec
ond wind. This condition did not de-
VeIop and felt myself going gradually.
I took long walk on the morning
Of the fight, and this may have been
enough to take the edge off my condi-
ton. 1 weighed 1924 pounds when
got up and l went on the road with
out taking breakfast After had
been out some time I realized that I
was a long way from home and I
hailed passing wagon and rode in.
l found that 1 weighed 131Z pounds.
l am willing to acknowledge now that
there was some defect in my system
Of training, although I felt so good
while working that 1 thought 1 was
doing the right thing.
L probably should have done more
boxing, but it is hard for me to get
boys who can keep me busy, and I
did but little of this work.
CANS WILL GO HOME
Ben Selig said last night that Cans
would probably leave for his home in
Baltimore within a few days, but that
he would come out here at any time
he was offered a match. He seems
willing to take on any one now in
order to restore himself to the good
graces of the public. # Cans would
follow Selig's advice he would go to
the mountains for six weeks and
would then return and go through a
different system of training. It seems
TO be conceded that trip to the coun-
try worked wonders IN Nelson's gen
eral condition and that it would do
the same for Cans
The announcement of Jack Welsh
that he will refuse to referee another
/ hght means loss to the ring If
ne adheres to his resolution Welsh ref
creed a good fight Saturday, and he
gained false impression as to the at
tltude OF the majority of the spectators.
Willie Britt in his anxiety to help Mel
son win made as much noise as an, or
binary mob, and it was this which
Welsh took to- be the voice of the as
! sembled populace. Willie and Jack are
great friends, so there is no reason for
/ welsh to Tetira Ea fo