The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-01-30
Joe Cans Gently Lets Himself
Down in the Ring.
Has Changed His Mind About
Giving Up HonOrs.
STILL THE CHAMPION.
Would Fight Nelson and Divide
the Purse IS and 25.
Seuandered His Money on Races
and Bought an Auto.

New York. Jan. 30.-ln an inter-
view in this city Joe Cans, champion
lightweight said: 81 am back in the
ring. I have changed my mind about
giving up the championship. L
thought for a while that would have
70 sit back and take it easy because
there wasn't any one for me to fight,
but I see that Mcfarland Is coming
up and that Nelson has beaten some
body and wants to fight me again. So
here / am"
yes" said Cans ct thought I'd
Ike it. but I find that like the game
a little better. Ia rather fight than
lay of II there Is only somebody for
me to fight. Jeffries and I have the
same trouble. Jeff can't get matches
because he is so big and strong. l
can't get any one to fight me in my
class because have too much know
ledge of the game. I'm the only one
left of the old timers who Is still in
good fighting shape.
There aren't any great fighters
nowadays. Why, when 1 was doing
my hardest fighting the fighters out
classed the boys you see now. There
aren't any McFaddens or Hawkinses
or Ernes or WalcottS or F1tzS1m-
monses now. They've all gone by and
there are no new ones in their class.
But there is no reason for me to stop
fighting as long as I can get any one
to fight. I'm still at my best. I never
felt any age yet. 1 never feel any
stiffness or any pains. My hands are
good. And I know more than any OF
these new fellows. You can gamble
when feel age coming along I'm not
going to stay in the ring and get
beaten UP like some of these fellows.
] won't need to.
al have earned 1000 in the last
sixteen months and I haven't thrown
1t away. No liquor company is be-
hind me. I've put my money in prop
erty, where it'll always make a l1v-
ing for me. I've only done one foolish
thing. I thought I'd be swell and
have an auto like the rest of the mil
lianaires. It cost me a lot and If
keep on running it into things 1 guess
the repair bills will put me down and
out.
at used to rush to the race track
right after every fight and throw my
earnings away on the ponies. I didn't
lose much playing craps, as they say.
1t. was always the horses that got
mine. The last time I got trimmed for
$15, 900 in a few days. I had given
all my money to my mother to take
care of and / had to go to her for
the $4,000. I made up my mind to
quit right then. They keep after me
now wherever I go. but the bookies
won't get any more of, mine.
"I see Nelson wants to fight me.
I'll take on Nelson or Mcfarland,
weigh in at 1873 pounds ringside, and
split the purse rs and %. McFar-
land told me in Chicago he wouldn't
think Of fighting me for another year.
as he wants more experience. I'd
like to fight Nelson. 1 want to knock
him out and settle all disputes. He
gave me a hard fight at Goldheid.
Nelson is an exception. He's a Joe
Grim. He can't be knocked out with
Grim. He cane be knocked out with
one punch. 1 hit him us hard as I
knew how at Goldfield, but even when
I dropped him he got up strong. You
can't reach his body, because he's al
ways covered with his arms and ell
bows. He's so slow that he can't hit
a clever boxer himself. I always had
plenty of time to block or step aside
when saw his punches start. But
he's a wonder at taking it. I beat
him up as hard as 1 knew how for
eleven rounds. Then I said to my
self: This fellow can't be knocked
out in a hurry. I guess I'll have to
do something else or I'll whip my
ae1f hitting him. "