The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-30
RY TEX RICHARD

By RiCkAHU Copyright 1924 in United States and Great Britain cSea Japan and South r A%s's s by When George Siler appeared in the ring that September afternoon, eigh- teen years ago, and called Joe Cans and Bat Nelson to the center for final instructions I was a much relieved man. The ght now was certainty I could sit Jack and see every blow without another worry about the pre- liminaries.
 I was really interested in the fight itself as much as in the promotion. wanted to see every blow.
 Just as Cans was about to pull on his gloves we passed up telegram to Mcdonald, who in turn gave 1t to him. It was from Joe's old mother historic. One phrase of 1t is today by-word in sport. It read:
 Joe: The eyes of the world are on you. Everybody says you ought to win. Young Peter Jackson will tell me the news, and you bring home the bacon"
 | Sullivan Telegram
 Another telegram that caused a big laugh was from John l.. Sullivan Sorry cant be at the fight. It ought l to be corker. My regards to all, especially the Sullivans." | sullivan was tan 1lnanCldl packer and took an active part in the darkeys corner. He was also master 1 of ceremonies.
 In presenting the fighters to the crowd the announcer warned against disorder. declaring that there were three hundred armed deputies in the | crowd; if called on they would mean business. He was right, too.
 That crowd was a picturesque as semblage. There were miners, cow boys, bootblacks, distinguished men from all cities and fully three hundred women.
 From the start these women appear ed to be in sympathy with Cans. In fact. he was the favorite of most every body before the fight had gone ten rounds.
 Never Anything Like It
 Cans started it by jabbing Nelson with his left twice in rapid succession From that moment the crowd saw what l regard as the greatest fight ever held in America. For sheer grit and. endurance I have never seen anything ike t-never expect to. It did not give me a thrill like the Dempsey -Firpo fight, for example, but for real fight ing the Gans-N Nelson affair stands out.
 For just minute Nelson attempted to box with Cans. His efforts were ridiculous. He might as we'll have at tempted to box a shadow. Cans fairly peppered his face with jabs and hooks.
 Seeing he had no chance at boxing, NeIson, following instructions, began boring in and hauling Cans about the ring trying to punish him with body blows. He wrestled as much as he boxed.
 NelsOn's Foul Tactics
 Tn addition to that ugly style of fighting Nelson used all kinds of foul tactics. After ten or twelve rounds he was intensely unpopular.
 Iime and time again Cans boxed Neison off and then tried to fight him at long distance. Instantly, though, Nelson would fall back into the clinch again.
 From Nelson's corner Billy Nolan kept yelling to hi into keep boring in. ne didn't want Nelson to attempt box Ing. In that respect Nolan was wise, though very unpopular.
 Cans was forced to meet Nelson at ms own game. Round after round passed without decisive incident. In the eighteenth, twenty-fourth and tnirty-second rounds Nelson hit Cans below the belt. Some claimed that he nao been instructed to do this from nis corner. don't know the truth aDout that. I do know that Referee Sller frequently warned him. Foul! Foul!" frequently came crowd. @-'e
 Nelson Resorts to Buttinx
 Then Nelson began putting. Several times he bored in and drove his hard mead against Cans chin Joe protest eu, put as no harm was done, Siler let 1t pass.
 Lhe crowd was getting disgusted with Neison. On top of his other foul tac- tlcs ne struck Cans in the stomach when the negro was lifting him to his ieet' Inere was big hiss at this
 In the thirty fifth round, I think it was, Nelson slipped and was almost driVen through the ropes. Cans caught him and lifted him to his feet. Tn response to this Nelson socked his tion.
 The crowd, seeing Nelson outclassed in the boxing, began offering bets on Cans at two to one, and even three to one with no takers.
 Cans Lands on Jaw
 In the thirty-third round Cans land ed hard punch on Nelsons jaw and broke bone in his hand. His sign of distress was a limp. No one knew of his broken hand until afterward.
 And so the fight dragged and mauled on, the two hammering at each other. O