The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1910-08-11
colored Lightweight Who Once Held
Championship Was One Of the
Foremost Figures in the
Fistic World.
CANS TRUE SPORTSMAN
Tough Clearly During His Long Ca.
reer and Even In Defeat he
Was Admired for His
Ring Tactics.

The death Of Joe Cans removes one
OF the foremost figures that ever has
graced the pugilistic stage. For near
~ Is years the negro boy was the
best drawing card in the 133-pound
class, and for six of those 16 years
ne ruled supreme in the division. He
fought all as they came until, well on
in years. he fell victim to the then
comparatively youthful Battling Mel
son, july 4, 1908, and on Sept. 9. in
the same year.
Cans won the title from Frank
Erne of Buffalo at Fort Erie Nav 10.
1902, when he defeated the conqueror
OF Lavigne in punch. Prior to that
time he had been knocking on the
door to the championship for 10 years,
but, like all men of his color, he prac-
tically had to defeat every man in the
division twice before given a chance
at the title.
Dating from the time he wrested
the crown from Erne Cans blazed his
way to string of triumphs in the ring
and to popularity in the sporting
world. despite his color 1t was often
remarked that had Cans been a white
man his popularity with all classes
would have surpassed that of James
]. Corbett when the actor-fghter was
at the zenith of his career.
Makes Many Friends.
He had way of making friends
without forcing himself upon them.
He gave his hand to everybody, snub-
bed nobody and all who wanted could
be his friends. Cans was fairly well
educated and could discourse on any
subject with considerably more intelli-
gence than the average boxer. That
and keen sense of humor and a
ready wit made him pleasing to all
his listeners. He made many friends
by the latter traits, as he was well
spoken and eliminated much of the
vulgarity associated with pugilists.
Cans was much like the lamented
George Dixon; he was his own worst
enemy. He gave with a free hand,
gambled considerably, but when he
was broke" he was the last to con-
plain. Joe was al man OF the world;
fighter because he liked the game
more than for the wealth that could
be obtained. He never refused to take
money when the chance was offered,
but unlike most boxers he never let
the question of money interfere with
his chances to secure a match.
No more striking illustration Of this
could be cited than the first Nelson
Cans contest in Goldfeld, New, Sept.
8, 1906. Cans, then the cham 2ion,
agreed to give Nelson two-thirds OF
the purse offered by Tex Rickard, win,
lose or draw. Cans had everything
to lose and nothing to gain from that
transaction, while Nelson's position
was just the reverse.
Nolan's Peculiar Methods.
Nelson then had for a manager
the brow-beating Billy Nolan. who
urged Battling on to make demands
on Cans that would have caused any
other man to wash his hands clean OF
the whole business. But with Cans
1t was different He wanted to meet
the meteoric Hegewisch lad and he
knew the public demanded the meet
ing. BY his sportsmanlike conduct in
that one fight Cans made more friends
than he ever had made before, while
Nelson's methods in dealing with the
negro were the cause of considerable
public criticism.
The story of bow Cans was forced
to give Nelson s22.500 of the s33. 500
purse is still fresh in the minds of the
followers of boxing Also the mem
DRY Of how Cans was made to weigh
in at the ringside with his trunks and
shoes on and still do the legitimate
lightweight figure of 1913 pounds or
lose his forfeit money. 1t was that
sort Of tactics that detracted from
popularity enjoyed by the Dane before
he became associated with Nolan.
When these stories came to the
ears of the public, many expressed a
wish that the black man would
triumph. And when the tidings came
out of Goldfield that Labor day after
noon the Cans sympathizers far out
numbered those of Nelson. Cans
won that battle and won it on sheer
nerve. Nelson, the challenger, prior
to that contest credited with unlimit.
ed courage, was terribly beaten and
forced to foul his master in the forty
second round to save himself from
further punishment.
Slows Him Up Somewhat.
1t is said that Cans was never the
same dashing fighter after that con
nc 10 y,c h