Evening journal., 1916-05-23
NOTED boxers HAD
Their BUGABOOS
In Most Cases Champion Not
Only Feared His Nemesis
But Lost Title
CANS AND ERNE WERE
MATCHED THREE TINES

Few boxers OF note have not had
their bugaboos. John L. Sullivan had
his Peter Jackson. Jim Corbett his
Efitzsimmons. Terry McGovern his
Young Corbett. Johnny Coulson his
KID Williams. Jim Jeffres his Jack
johnson.
And Frank Erne had his Joe Cans.
lin all the cases except one the title
holder not only feared his Nemesis,
but was defeated for the title The ex-
ception was Sullivan and-1aeNson
and the champion avoided defeat by
refusing to meet the negro in the ring
Most singular Of all was the case
Of Cans and Erne. for the champion
had 10 his credit a technical knockout
over the negro previous to the time
he was bereft OF his title by a knock
out In the first round. Up TO the time
or the defeat OF Chip by Mccoy Erne's
downfall marked the first time in his
tory a champion had lost his honors
IN the first minute of the first round.
The first meeting between Cans and
Ernc took place at the Broadway A. c.,
on March %. 1900. and the negro,
after outboXing Erne. the champion,
for eleven rounds. declined 10 con-
tinue the bout after the twelfth round,
on the claim that a cut over one eye
rrevented him seeing his opponent
clearly enough to box.
They met again at Fort Erie On
tario. May -, 1902, and Cans won the
tite with the first hard punch he let
60 n right to the jaw.
While Cans and Erne met twice In
the ring. theye were matched three
times. and the failure of the men Il
come together furnishes one Of the
sfrangest chapters of the ropet
square. II also indicates that while
the Buffalo boy had a decision ovei
the negro. he was not az all conhden
of success in another bout.
According to current report, III
frst meeting was not on its merits, 81
Ear as Cans was concerned. and evi
dence is not lacking that Cans han
diers wagered large sums OF none
on Erne. II was declared at the tim
that Cans had his instructions
efiop" not later than the twelft
round, and it was said that the negr
found Erne such easy picking that h
was in a quandary as TO how to delive
fie goods In the twelfth round Ern
bit Cans a glancing blow over tn
right eye. cutting the skin and bring
ing the blood When the bell sounde
FOR the thirteenth round Cans said h
couldn't see to box. and would hav
to quit. AS only one eye was affected
those who had wagered on Gan
thought he could have continued th
bout with the aid OF his other eye, an
smclled a large rodent in his action.
= Erne declared that Cans quit be
cause he was getting a hard beatin
and this infuriated the negro. who do
manded another meeting, Cans tol
bis handlers.
Erne was approached once MOI
and urged to meet Cans in a siX-roun
rln-decision bout at the Penn Art !
c. in Philadelphia. which was maj
nged BY Martin Julian. Erne was a
snred by Cans handlers that thel
would be no hard hitting and that
money without much work. Howev'
that may have been, Erne consents
and the match was made. II was s.
for a night in the winter Of 1902. an
there was a big crowd in attendanc
Cans arrived early and there was
peneeful CLEAN in his usually mi
eyes
At s o'clock Erne had not come. an
Julian telephoned the Scott Hot'
Philadelphia, and was informed th'
Frne had left the hotel at Z o'clo'
and was on the way to the club Ju
ian realized there was somethir
wrong, and went 20 the hotel, whei
Ne found Ernes incOmpleted sign
ture on the register. Julian ais
learned that as Erne was about
sign a man sidled up to him and viii
pered in his ear:
Look out, Frank. The coon
trained like a racehorse. and is out
hang one on your Jaw"
Erne did not finish his signatur
but left the hotel in a hurry, and toe
a train for New York.
Julian found a substitute for Err
and Cans, on stripping for actio
proved that he was trained to 1
minute
Quite naturally, this incident
suited in much comment, adverse
the champion. and he finally conse
ed to a match for the title.
Joe Gano was one OF the great
iightweights that ever drew or
glove. but he was forced by unscru
lous handlers into several scandal
fakes. He was also sacrificed to \
son on the altar OF weight reduction