Arizona republican., 1910-11-12
WHY CANS
WAS BEATEN
Sporting Writer Reveals
Some Hidden Facts
MET NELSON WHEN DYING
Billy" Neail Says Game
Little Fighter Was Foul
ed in 42nd Round. Mel
son Could Not Whip
Him When We'll.

There are sidelights of the career
or some particular event in the life
of every pugilist. which though the
fighter be dead, are bound to interest
the friends of the man who has pass
ed away as well as though who may
have known him personally or of him
through his achievements and fall
ures. Caring not that his skin was
of the darker hue, fight fans of
Phoenix knew Joe Cans to be as
white a man as ever stepped into the
squared ring. and when he came TO
Phoenix about one year ago seeking
health and life giving strength. II
was universally hoped that his quest
might not be in vain. His untimely
demise in Baltimore created u small
amount of regret among those who
met him while he was in the south
west.
When Billy" Neail, who managed
IbIlIllN buTllS III llldlly encounters III
this country and abroad and finally
saw his man go down to defeat be-
fore Jack Johnson in Australia after
having beaten decisively Squires and
Jewy Smith in Europe, came to
Phoenix a few days ago and an.
nounced that he would winter in the
Salt River valley. he was asked to
give to the readers Of The Republi-
can some views on the pugilistic
game. it being left to his judgment
Just what might most interest those
who are familiar with ringsde his
tory. Billy" Neail is known the
country over as one of the great
sporting writers. having for years
been connected with the Chicago
Inter Ocean and the Chicago Record
Herald and later with the San Fran
cisco Chronicle and the Bulletin of
the Golden Gate City.
Mr. Neail. knowing that Cans had
srent some time in Phoenix and also
having known him personally for
years. witnessing his defeat at the
hands of Battling Nelson agreed to
relate an incident or two with ref
erence to Cans and particularly with
reference to his meeting Nelson. Here
is what Mr.. Neail has written:
Il believe there is no one subject
which would more interest the fight
fans of Arizona at this time than
the few words l might offer defend
ing the defeat of Joe Cans at the
hands of Battling Nelson.
I'm days gone by there have been
a great many nice things said of Joe
Gains. especially since his demise. AS
for myself, / am a firm believer in
saying and doing these things while
the person in question is still above
earth But as there was one par
ticular act in Cans life. in which
the sporting writer's of the world
failed to uphold him, altogether.
many of them knew the actudl state
of affairs. | am forced to write the
following:
"The act I refer to is when The
old Master lost his title of light
weight champion of the world.
THE beginning of his downfall was
that memorable battle of fOrty-two
rounds. fought at Goldfield. Novem-
Der 2. 1906. 1 know it to be 4 fact
that Joe Cans was a sick man that
DAY with the same trouble that caus-
ed his death. Nelson tried several
times to foul him and succeeded in
the forty second round after being
warned several times by that great
and honest referee, George Siler of
Chicago.
when I mention George Siler's
name ! mention another old Master
for he certainly mastered the referee
end of the game as no other man
has ever done. his honesty never be-
ing questioned.
Il was his guest in Chicago on my
return from Europe in the year 1908.
few months before he died He
then told me that the Goldfield de-
cision was as honest as any he ever
handed down The way that he was
criticised as well as Cans did not
help his already feeble condition.
In the next two battles between
Cans and Nelson in San Francisco
Cans only showed a shadow OF his
rest self. on account of the disease
having frightened its hold upon him.
Therefore here is where | claim
Cans was never done justice. for
Nelson was given great Cituil loi
whipping a man that was all in and
should never have been allowed to
enter the ring. for in the days then
psysed. Nelson would never have
stood a chance with The Old Mas
ter
81 have always contended and still
believe that there never was a man
lived of 1873 pounds. that could with
stand Joe Cans right-cros when he
was in good health
This article is written with all
due respect to my friend. Battling
Nelson, for he is a great little
fighter but simply was not in Cans
class when Joe Cans was himself
therefore. is far from being the
champion that most sporting writer's
would have us believe"