The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-05
CANS HAD ND CHANCE
 FROM START OF BATTLE
In the 18th Round Cans Is Floored Three Times and From Then To the End the Negro's Blows
 Were Very Weak.
By w. w. NAueHToN.


 Cans lost to Battling Nelson in the 17th round of fierce fighting. In the final three minutes of battling Cans went to the floor no less than three times, but at that he was not sprawling. He was in such condition of weariness from the punishment that Nelson inflicted upon him, as well as from the "Battler's' persistent milling, that 1t required very light taps to bring the Baltimorean to his knees.
 In the closing scenes of the fight Nell son had hammered his man to the ropes. Cans, who for few rounds had de- layed the inevitable by holding on, gasped and dropped to his knees from left dig in the stomach. He arose wearily and tried right uppercut but dropped again from a right on the point of the chin. As he got tip Nelson swung with right to the head and stomach. Cans made an attempt to rise, but the contest stopped before he strengthened up and Referee Welch turned to Nelson and said:
 You winr
 Although Cans uppercut and poked
 
 strength lasted it cannot be said that there was a moment during the fight when Cans looked winner.
 Fight By Rounds.
 Round 1.-The men shook hands. They circled and Cans stabbed Nelson on the face with straight lefts. Cans rapped Nelson on the jaw with right and then clinched. After the break Nelson forced Cans around the ring. Cans tucked Nel- sons blow and grinned. The black got in two light upPercuts to the face and Nelson got in a right on the body as they were clinched Nelson got in a left hook on the forehead and Cans ducked several lefts. Nelson kept forcing and Cans tucked Nelson pressed Cans to the ropes and reached the body with both hands. Cans held on and rested himself. When they broke Cans hooked an upper cut with both hands, reaching the Dane s head. Nelson brought blood from Cans lips with a left jolt on the mouth.
 Round 2-Nelson jumped in with left hook which bruised the top of Cans > head. He tried another with the same result. Nelson missed with right; Cans countered sharply on the jaw with the right. They clinched and Cans got in a hard right on the chin while breaking He scored again with the right and when u right on tn face and Cans jolted him with lefts and rights They leaned to- gether and Cans baffed Nelsons attempts to reach the body. Cans tried to measure Nelson with the right but the Dane was too well covered. Joe backed away and let fly with both hands as Nelson came after him. He reached Nelson several times.
 Fierce Sluggng.
 
 and Cans caught Nelson twice on the jaw with right while going away Twica after that Cans sent his right against the face. He drove punishing right into the stomach. Nelson bled freely from the mouth. There was a long-drawn clinch Cans rested, and saving himself from Nelsons attacks on the ribs Nelson put in hard left on the stomach and drop ped to his knees when Cans uppercu: him on the chin. Cans uppercut him on the mouth again as he was arising They were slugging fieroely at the gong and Cans appeared to be slightly tired
 Round 4-Nelson missed with the left a couple of times and they went to a clinch. Cans drew away and reached the face with both hands, the blows being uppercuts. Cans paid great attention to his body. They clinched and the referee broke them. Several other Aclinches fol-
 
 ing, but his blows did not land and Cans shot in right uppercuts whenever he saw an opening. Cans got in one uppercut after the bell. and Nelson glafed at him angrily.
 Round 5-Nelson tried a right t-hander and Cans threw himself aside from he blow and they clinched. Nelson tried hard to hammer the body but failed. Once in awhile Cans stepped back and tried hard punches. They swayed around and Cans drove fists to the face, making Nel- son wince. Cans seconds shouted glee- fully. The last minute of the round was one long cfinch, Cans protecting his body from Nelsons assault.
 Cans Smashes.
 Round 6-Gans missed an uppercut. Joe backed around with the Dane after him Joe got In two uppercuts and Nelson put in left jolts on the jaw at close quarters Nelson was short several times with his left swing and Cans smashed repeatedly with a right uppercut. Nelson got sev. eral body blows under Cans guard an6 took a right uppercut in the mouth 1T return.
 Round 7-Gans blocked two attempts b, Nelson. and backed away Cans got ir three right uppercuts. Cans sent in an. other uppercut and Nelson polSed hin twice in the stomach with his left Ref cree Welch cautioned Nelson. They liv. ened toward the end of the round and fought freely. Nelson was holding his own at this stage. Cans appeared to be tired and was clinging to Nelson at the bell.
 Round S--Nelson went close and Cans began to back. They clinched for sec. ond and Cans broke away using left ant right uppercuts. Nelson pressed in agair with a right to body and right on the car They leaned together and Gan. saved himself from Bats smashes witt crossed forearms. Cans was on the de. fensive for a full half minute, then put in lefts and rights on the face. Nelson also scored with both hands and pun. ished Joe with several right uppercuts They were leaning together and Nelson was hammering Cans body at the bell.
 Cans Is Staggered.
 Round 9-Nelson rushed and Gam backed Cans blocked Nelson's blows ant sent in a right uppercut and severa straight lefts. Cans kept Nelson off witt straight left and right raps on the face. They leaned together for soma seconds. neither making any attempt tt fight. Once after break Nelson hooked Cans with hard left. Cans staggered and Nelson hammered him to the ropes Cans was helpless and Nelson was beat Ing him down with lefts and rights when he bell sounded. and Welch pulled Nelson