The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-09-25

- lie long years Joe Fleming
~ss a participant in the sour science.
md in the years following the time
he placed his gloves and resin
csked shoes on the shelf. he has
seen some OF fmmorials o, the prize
rings, hst;lers who carried their
names deep in the minds az fans
with punching power and boxing
skill.
Fleming, who Tough; under the
name Of Denver Joe Cans started
his boxing career in Denver in 1907.
losing 6 decision 10 scrapper bear
ing the name Of Re ID" Hallisan
Ia the succeeding years he met
such fighters Sc Charlie White, Ed
die Duffy. Oklahoma Jimmy Duffy
When Fleming launched his iisuc
career Joe Cans. the "Old Master.
has jus; been Knocked out by Bat
fling Nelson after having won by
q foul in AZ rounds the year be-
fore. Because Fleming's style was
similar 10 that Of the former light
weight champion, he Was named
"Denver Joe Cans"
Fleming veniured East in 1918
meeting Congo KID, then managed
by the late Dickie Giles. OF Flint,
IN q bout al Toledo. Cans winning
the decision. On the suggestion OF
his bro;her-in-lsw the late Bill
Kemp. editor o; the now defunct
Detroit Leader. Cans came 10 De-
troit and became part and parcel
Of that group of fghtcrs who bsttled
a. the old Circle theatre the early
1905 Sonny Rumpky. Memphis
Red. Buddy Paige. Kid Billikin, and
Charlie Rodgers.
The fights were promoted by the
Dunbar Athletic club Of which At
torney Charles A. RoXborough was
president; John w. Roxborough.
secretary and treasurer. and the
lsie Oscar Rhodes. matchmaker.
Cans met Congo Kid in return
match at the Circle, osing the de-
cision. He later met Memphis he'd
and was hoored seven or eight
times in the fght.
1T was then that ! began to
realize that my ighting days were
nearing an end" Gals said. later
boxed Jesse Parrish, a practically
unknown, in Flint, in 1924, losing a
six-round decision TO him. That was
any las, fight"
The fighters OF today are not as
good rs they were when came
along" declared Cans. The boys
just don't train properly, and they
don't take the game serious enough.
Preliminary bouts today get
more than fighters OF main bouts
got In my days. But in the days
when I was q fighter We gave more
action than the present crop OF
bsttlera"
Cans thinks Ray tSugar) Robin
son Is one OF the greatest lighters
be ever saw. He compares him with
such great welterweights as Dixie
Kid Jack Blackburn, and Joe Wal
colt.
in my opinion, Robinson would
have defeated Henry Armstrong
when Henry was at the peak OF his
fighting ability. Ray can box, punch
and has excellent ring generslship.
Henry was good fighter. but he
took too much punishment"
Fortunately, Cans had the fore
sight to leave he game before he
was marked up by the blows OF OPP
ponents. Today he's employed as
waiter at the Detroit Athletic club
where he has been serving the
members for the past Is years.
II was just a year ago this month
that Secretary OF War Henry l.
Stmson announced that he would
personally investigate the shock
ing details OF the scheduled fight
between Sgt Joe Louis and Cpl
Billy Conn, chief contender for
Louis heavyweight crown. The
bout had been, scheduled for Oct
IL. but was abandoned after a gov
ernmental tour.
One g :Aes details Of the widely
advertised championship bout was
that the War Department originally
announced the hght as 100 per cent
for Army Emergency Relief How
ever. this was before a representa-.
tive OF the War Department .alkeu