The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-08-21
PASSING OF CANS
LOSS TO RING
Old Master Stood for All That
Was Clever in
Sparring.
WHY GAME Is DYING
INTERFERENCE WITH AMATEUR
BOUTS ONE REASON.
WHY GAME IS DYING
BY w. W. NAUGHTON.

San Francisco, Aug. 20.-With the
passing of Joe Cans, the prize ring
lost a man who will probably be re-
membered for his cleverness as long
as the sport of the gloves is regard
ed with favor. Cans was not what
you might call a natural fighter. He
wasn't given to hooking and swinging
or tearing in towards an opponent
with lowered head. He stood for all
that was clever in sparring.
When at work his temper was
never inflamed He was GOODNESS
itself, and he judged every offensive
and defensive tactic 10 nicely. de
seldom struck at his man unless there
was an opening and he was Wen
within striking distance, and by the
same token he seldom missed the
mark. After delivering a blow sue
cessfully he was certain to note the
effect of 1t, and If there was any one
among the latter-day boxers who re-
duced the game of the ring to a
| science, Cans was the man.
Before his strength began to Waae
and with his strength naturally his
rapidity Of movement and precision
in hitting-it was a rare treat to see
| Joe Cans in action.
I know of more than one resident of
| San Francisco who used to say: 4
| have no particular liking for fighting
| but l always go to see Cans box"
His gFaeefulness and his effective
ness were a revelation, even to those
who did not pretend TO understand
/ the inwardness Of leading and block
/ ing. Above all, he was never cruel
| Whenever Cans had his man in bad
way, the look on his face plainly told
/ that ne invited interference from some
/ quarter.
II would be interesting TO know
| lust when the dread disease cOnsump-
/ ton first fastened its grip upon Cans.
/ II seems to me that Cans lungs We're
affected earlier than many supposed.
1t was the nature Of the man to con-
| ceal any physical shortcomings, and
| I know that for many years Joe re-
/ belled strongly at the rumors and sug-
| questions that he was afflicted with tu-
! berculosis.
GOldfieId Killed Him.
] The trying campaign in Goldfield,
| when, in accordance with eleventh
hour demand he was compelled to re-
duce himself TO skin and bone almost
| to make weight for Battling Nelson.
N
was lurking in his system. Cans
never made much of a fight after
| that. Whatever victories he scored
were simply on account of the supe-
rior class. He had MS opponents
awed, and utter lack OF confidence
! helped towards their defeat as much
as the punishment they received from
| Cans. If Rudy Nnholz, for instance
had not been reduced 20 a condition
of bewiIderment by Joes timely and
battling tactics, he might have done
what Battling Nelson accomplished
later.
Without wishing to besmudge Nell
sons reputation as a world beaten in
the slightest. candor compels express
zion of the opinion that Cans was a
consumptive when he went down be-
fore Nelson's aggressive milling ir
July. 1908, and again In September oi
the same year II will be rem en-
bered by any one who attended either
OF the contests in question, and who
watched closely for developments
that Cans was practically fought out
before the first round of either affail
was finished. He went back TO his
angle OF the ring with his eyes CLASSY
and lips parted, as If fighting FOL
breath. In one Of the fights-the last
1 think-he was shivering As though
with ague many rounds before the enc
| came.
Cans will be pleasantly remembers
on account OF his personality, apar
from his fighting ability. He was
mild-mannered fellow and always ap
proachable. II anything. he was tos
deferential The majority of fighter,
reserve the privilege OF being impa
tient with what might be called cranl
questioners, especially while in tram
ing. II was not in Joe. apparently, Il
be cross with anybody. He hal a sof
word for every one who spoke 10 him
Material Scarce.
Some of the critics have been TAX
ing stock Of the pugilists in commits
! sion and deplOring the scarcity OF ca