newsletter vol2 no14

[robert.snell1]

The Boxing Biographies Newsletter
Volume 2- No 14 24th June , 2008
www.boxingbiographies.com

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The Continuing story of Battling Nelson

A few days later I happened into Billings, Montana, one of the greatest little sporting towns in the west. Tony Minder, proprietor of the Topic theater, engaged me to box my old rival, Charley Berry, from Hoodoville Milwaukee three nights at $200 per night, in four-round exhibition bouts. A few days later I visited Minot, North Dakota. At that time there was an installation of the Elks Lodge there, and they being a sporty lot, and being aroused over my appearance there, suggested a boxing match. Clarence H. Parker, a personal friend of mine as well as a prominent member of the Elks, was on the arrangement committee and approached me as to boxing an exhibition for the entertainment of the Elks, with Mark Nelson, to which I readily consented. We boxed four spirited round on October 26th, for which I received $250 and expenses.

After the exhibition, I was invited as a guest of Clarence Parker to attend a deer hunt to be held at Charles Hewets' camp at Stroud on the Missouri river, about fifteen miles from Williston, N. D. I spent a pleasant week with Parker and friends and we bagged eighteen deer and coyote. Of the lot I bagged two nice bucks and a coyote.
So ends my career of 1907.

I arrived in the lucky Mormon state at Ogden, Utah, where I fought Jack Clifford on January I3th, I succeeded in knocking him out cleanly in the fifth round. Being idle practically for a year's time, my fighting blood was up and I went in at the start determined to go right after the championship. Clifford never was a world beater, although he proved a stumbling block for many, and many a near champion. He had knocked out several opponents, breaking two of their jaws and was dubbed "Jack the Jaw-breaker."

We fought before the Twin City Athletic Club, which was under the management of William Guiney, the fight taking place in the Grand Opera House. I knocked him out with a right uppercut to the jaw. When he went down he lay limp as a rag for several seconds, after Referee Abe Pollack had tolled off the fatal ten seconds. The last round is given here in detail as sent over the Associated Press wire:

"Round 5 Nelson rushed across the ring to Clifford's corner where Jack swung a hard right landing on Nelson's ear. Nelson waiting to land a knockout steadied himself, pushed Clifford back with a straight left. Clifford's nose bleeding. He clinched and held on. Nelson braced himself, shot a right uppercut which landed on Clifford's jaw which dropped him to the floor.
Bat landed with such force the blow could be heard in the gallery.



The fight critics at the ringside stated that Nelson showed faster and to better advantage than in any of his recent battles.

BAT GOES TO LOS ANGELES TO MEET THE JOKE UNHOLZ.

After knocking out Jack Clifford I boarded the Los Angeles Limited due for Los Angeles, where I was billed to meet one Rudolph (Boer?) UNHOLZ. We met on February 4th before Tom McCarey's club in a ten round bout, which in my opinion resembled a hundred yard sprint, more than a regular boxing bout. For ten rounds Rudolph was content with racing from one side of the ring to the other with me in hot pursuit. Of all the fighters I have ever met Unholz is without a doubt the biggest joke of them all. On one occasion when the
Joke Unholz turned his back and ran across the ring I playfully kicked him with the side of my shoe. It was a laugh.

Owing to the boxing laws there, we were compelled to fight ten rounds to a no decision verdict. This deprived me of a well earned victory.

Within a month after the time I had met the joke of the prize ring Unholz in a ten session sprint I again met my old rival Jimmy Britt for the fourth and last time.

I was determined to fight each and every month, and meet all the minor lights and force the public to make Gans tie up with me. I met Britt on March 3d at McCarey's club.

I held the upper hand during the contest and in the sixth round floored Britt, and the bell was the sweetest kind of music in his ears. From the sixth round on to the finish it was a case of Britt stall and run away as best he could and as he is the champion staller of the world he managed to last the ten sessions. Of course, Referee Charlie Eyton was not allowed to give a decision under the rules.

At the ringside were quite a few out-of-town sport writers, and each and every one, including the Los Angeles critics, was of an unanimous opinion except W. W. Naughton of San Francisco, Cal., who was sent there for his paper the San Francisco Examiner. This is where H. M. Walker, sporting editor of the Los Angeles Examiner, won my admiration by writing the fight just as he saw it "Nelson Wins From Here to Hegewisch and Back." His story appeared on the same pages that appeared W. W. Naughton's story "Britt Wins Easy."

BOXES DRAW WITH ATTELL.

On March 3ist, I met Abe Attell in a fifteen round bout.

Attell had previously been accused of stalling and loafing in all his contests. This was one time when he was forced to extend himself to the limit, as he was chased from one side of the ring to the other and backed into the corner and forced to fight every inch of the going. We went along fairly even until in the fourteenth round when I slipped a good hard left to his jaw and it began to look like curtains for Abe. This was where Attell was forced to do his utmost to last the round out. He came to the scratch rather fresh in the fifteenth round and we did some tall slugging, and the final bell found us in a hard mixup.



GANS' RETURN MATCH ONLY A MATTER OF
A DAY. THE BATTLER BOXES AN EXHIBITION
WITH THE CHAMPION
"GLOBE TROTTER" JACK GRACE.

Determined to keep up the good work and fight at least once a month I traveled to Seattle, Washington, where I was booked to meet Kid Sealer. In the meantime I had engaged Willus Britt to act in the capacity of manager, and to close, if possible, a match with Gans. Just before arriving at Portland, Oregon, I received a wire from Willus Britt telling me to stop in Portland and communicate with him over the long distance telephone regarding the Gans match. I felt very much elated over the news, as I knew my life's ambition would be realized if the match could be closed.

After three long distance conversations with Willus Britt and several hundred words over the W. U. telegraph, the match was within a few hours of being closed. I continued to Seattle determined to meet Sealer before Johnny Reed's club. When I arrived at the hotel Washington Annex I received a telegram from Manager Willus Britt stating that the contest between Gans and I was closed for July 4th. However, it was stipulated that I must declare the Kid Sealer match off, otherwise I would lose out on a match with the negro for all time to come.

I looked up Johnny Reed, the manager with whom I had signed articles and informed him that in order to close up the match with Gans I would be compelled to forfeit my match at his club with Sealer. Reed and I were very good friends and he felt very much elated over the opportunity of my meeting Gans, however he hated to lose the Nelson-Sealer match, as we had already set all the northern towns talking of our coming battle.

I agreed to stand all of the Seattle club's expense of the Nelson-Sealer match, if released from my contract. Johnny Reed displayed his true sportsmanship when he refused positively to allow me to pay one dollar of the expenses our match had incurred.

He at once released my contract, and even insisted that I accept my transportation to Seattle and back to San Francisco, which he had advanced me. The Seattle citizens, feeling the loss of the Nelson- Sealer fight, insisted that I show at one of the local theaters.

The Sullivan-Considine management secured my contract to work four days at the Star Theater, doing a three 'round exhibition with that old globe trotter, Jack Grace.

The Seattle public displayed their appreciation by packing the theater four days, and I received a total cash bundle of over $1,000.

As Grace made good as a sparring partner, I carried him along to Portland, where I showed another week. I went direct to 'Frisco and immediately began training for the big battle with the negro, which was scheduled to take place on July 4, 1908.

I went to Menden Hall Springs for a week's training with my assistants, Jack Grace, Jeff Perry, Red Cornett, Percy Dana and Manager Willus Britt.

We spent a week at the springs hunting and climbing hills and doing road work, etc. We found the high altitudes very beneficial. Next we went to Millett's training quarters at Colma, Cal., which had been my old lucky stamping grounds.

THE BATTLER THRIVES ON ROKO DURING TRAINING.

I put in three weeks of good hard training, for WHAT I FIGURED THE MOST IMPORTANT BATTLE OF MY CAREER.

I considered Roko the most important factor during my training, as it developed speed and agility, as well as sharpness of the eye.

Youth, Perpetual Motion and the Durability
of Concrete Wall a Winning
Combination.

DEFEAT OF GREATEST FIGHTER OF MODERN TIMES A SHOCK
TO WISE ONES WHO BACK THEIR OPINION OF
GANS' ABILITY AT ODDS OF IO TO 3.

RUGGED DANE RUSHES HIS OPPONENT COMPLETELY
OFF HIS FEET.

RESISTLESS, IMPLACABLE ATTACK OF CHALLENGER CANNOT
BE STALLED OFF BY THE TITLE HOLDER.
By R. A. (BOB) SMYTH.

Battling Nelson, lightweight champion of the world. So reads the record of the Queensberry ring as the result of the meeting in the arena just across the San Mateo county line yesterday of Joe Gans, who held the title six years, and the young Dane who has fought his way so gallantly from obscurity to the highest place attainable among boxers of his weight. A great throng witnessed the passing of Gans, who has stood out as the marvel of the ring for almost every one of the seventeen years he has been before the public. The title goes into clean hands, Nelson never having been a party to a dishonest act in his ring career.

Although Gans' frame was the picture of a well modeled athlete, the vitality had left the body. This was seen quickly when Nelson fairly rushed him off his feet with the pace he set. There is a time worn adage that "youth will be served," and this had its confirmation yesterday as it has so many times in the past. It's a story as old as the ring of one fight too many, and it is always the sturdy young man who lowers the colors of the master hand at the game.

END PITIFUL AND DRAMATIC.

The end of Gans' victorious career in the ring was pitifully dramatic, and for many the pleasure of Nelson's success was tempered by regret that Gans could not have made a better stand. When the pace began to tell upon him he looked an old, old man. This was accentuated in his dressing room, where he gave way to his feelings. He had put his wonderful powers to the test once too often, and in a brief time all the honors of his career had been swept away.

Gans' heart seemed broken by the time he had gone eight rounds. At the end of the third round he told his seconds that he felt his strength slipping away from him. His nerve gave way completely in the sixteenth round, when he had the palsy and he could not control himself. He had not regained his composure by the time he reached the ferry en route to his quarters at San Rafael.

Gans was either knocked down or went down to avoid punishment eight times in all during the fight. On a number of occasions he was just getting up as the time keeper was about to count him out. As a matter of fact, he was counted out twice officially in the last round. The first time, owing to the tumult, Referee Jack Welsh did not hear the count of 10 and the fight went on. The next time exhausted nature would not come to the relief of the old champion, and he was unable to regain his feet.

NELSON A WONDERFUL ATHLETE.

Of Nelson it must be written that he is the most wonderful athlete of his inches in all the world. He hardly drew a long breath during the fight. Added to the fact that he seems absolutely tireless is the

additional quality of being insensible to pain. He took blows from Gans which seemed to have enough power behind them to fell an ox. When they landed Nelson merely shook his head and rushed in for more. Each time Gans tried to mix matters and put in his best efforts to stop the Dane the latter came back fighting all the harder. He Was
relentless in his attack.

Nelson did his most effective work when in close. He kept both arms going as though they were machine driven and he landed an incredible number of blows. The majority of these were to the body and they sapped ' the strength of the colored boxer quickly and effectively. Although few admitted Nelson has any boxing skill he seems to find a way to land on the cleverest men who have faced him.

That two years is a big span in the life of an athlete who has passed the highest point in his career was demonstrated by the fight. Although Gans had none of the advantages of training for his fight with Nelson at Goldfield that he enjoyed for this fight he was not so effective in the ring. He seemed to lack the hitting power and he was also heavier on his feet, lacking the brilliant ducking ability and footwork which marked his work in the Nevada mining camp.

DANE WAS WELL HANDLED.

Nelson has undoubtedly improved. He as shrewdly handled in his training by Willie Britt and the latter mapped out what proved to be a brilliant plan of campaign for him to follow in the ring. Nelson claimed after the Goldfield fight that Gans did not want any more of his game, and this was the thought which carried him into the ring with such a light heart. He seemed absolutely devoid of nerves. This was shown in the tantalizingly slow manner in which he adjusted the tape on his hands in the ring. He acted as though he had all day to do so, and the crowd marveled at his coolness. He fastened the bandages’ well up his wrist to which Selig, representing Gans, objected. Nelson paid no heed to it, and nothing further was said about the matter.

Nelson is a cunning fighter in the ring and does much more effective work than the casual spectator sees. When he stood up and boxed Gans he showed at a disadvantage at once. He could be hit then and his own work was not so effective. His tactics were to rush in at the first opportunity, and resting his head on Gans' shoulder he was ready to deal out blows which the average boxer never learns. His left arm is peculiarly crooked at the elbow, making it terribly effective. It requires no effort to keep it up in boxing position, and when Nelson hooks with it there is no lost power. With Nelson in close Gans could not hit him effectively, although he tried all he knew. Added to this was the terrific pace set by the Dane which would have a tendency to rush any man off his feet. Gans knew there was a long route before him, and he probably tried to conserve his energies, but it proved unavailing with such an irresistible force in front of him.

GATE RECEIPTS HEAVY.

There were 7,598 paid admissions, which represented an attendance of nearly 9,000 spectators. The total receipts were $24,031. The fee of Referee Jack Welsh, amounting to $500, was paid out of this. The fighters received 70 per cent, of the receipts, amounting to $16,821.70. Of this Nelson received 60 per cent, or $10,093.02, while Gans received $6,728.68. Promoter Jim Coffroth's share was $7,209.30, out of which he has to pay the expenses of handling the fight, which were heavy.

Jim May, the Reno sporting man, was the heaviest winner on the fight. He made three bets with Tex Rickard at the ringside, all of which he won. He first bet $5,000 even that Gans would not win in 20 rounds. He then bet $2,500 against $5,000 that Gans would not win the fight irrespective of the distance it went. He also bet $2,000 even that Gans would not win in 15 rounds. Sid Grauman bet May $1,000 even that Gans would win in 20 rounds. The straight betting at the ringside went to 10 to 3, with Gans favorite.

The men weighed in 10 minutes before they entered the ring to fight. The scales were adjusted by John Clark, the stakeholder. Gans was the first to step on the platform and the bar did not rise. Nelson followed and he proved to be within the weight also. There could have been but a matter of ounces in difference in the weight.

NELSON LEAST CONCERNED.

When the last details had been disposed of and only the two fighters and the referee were in the ring, Gans walked about near his corner as though anxious to have the fight under way. Nelson stood quietly in his corner and seemed the least concerned man in the vast gathering. When the gong sounded, signaling the opening of the fight, the men went to the center of the ring and Gans began to jab Nelson's nose with his left. He landed frequently, but the blows did not seem to disturb Nelson, who kept forcing the champion about the ring. Gans varied his lefts with a right uppercut and Nelson came back with two lefts to the head. He missed a right and took another left to the head.

This early in the fight the men began to get in close, and while they were not clinched, it meant about the same thing. Near the end of the round Nelson landed a right to the head and Gans came back with a right and left as they broke out of a clinch. At the end of the round Gans' mouth was bleeding, while his blows apparently had no effect on Nelson.

Gans landed some rights and lefts to the head in the second round which were hard enough to stop any one but the man in front of him. When the round opened Nelson jabbed Gans four times with a left to the head and took a straight right to the nose and a right to the jaw as punishment for his temerity. This early in the fight Gans showed a propensity to hold on.

The men stood head to head in the center of the ring and Nelson began to play for Gans' body. Gans swung a big right and left to the head, but it only sent Nelson in the faster. Nelson started after Gans quickly in the third round and took three hard blows to the head and a particularly hard right to the heart. Gans followed this with another right and left, but Nelson was back at him fighting.

BAT BLEEDING BUT BUSY;

Nelson began to bleed at the mouth after this. Nelson sent a right to the body and a left to the head. Nelson slipped down and Gans showed what a perfect judge of time and distance he is by hitting Nelson a hard right to the head just as he left his knees. The crowd yelled "foul," but the referee signaled that the blow was a fair one. The end of the round found Gans on the ropes and being punished severely about the body.

In the fourth round Gans opened proceedings with a straight right to the head and a right to the body. The referee had to warn Nelson to keep his head up. Nelson landed a hard left hook to the body and Gans came back with three rights in succession to the head. Gans did not hear the bell at the end of the round and struck Nelson after it had sounded.

The fifth round found them head to head and Gans landed several hard blows to the body. Nelson landed two hard lefts to the body and got some tough ones in return. Nelson was working hard throughout the round.

There was little to choose between them in the sixth, each man seeming to pay particular attention to the body. The crowd seemed to scent victory for Nelson in the seventh round. This was all in his favor, Gans doing no effective work whatever. They exchanged rights for the head and Nelson's blows seemed to have the more force, as Gans seemed to stop fighting after he took a few of them. At the end of the round the spectators stood up and cheered wildly for Nelson. Gans' right eye was cut in this round.

Gans' face wore a serious look when he came up for the eighth round. Nelson, as usual, forced matters and fairly drove him around the ring. Gans sent a right to the head and repeated it twice without a return. Nelson began to use his left and landed four blows to the head without a return. He followed these with a big overhand right to the head which hurt Gans.

Nelson was punishing Gans severely at the end of the round.

Conditions remained unchanged in the ninth, Nelson still punishing Gans severely, while he had him on the ropes. Gans scored often to the head in the early part of the round, but his blows had no stopping power in them and the Dane kept crowding him.

Gans made a desperate stand in the tenth round and he staggered Nelson, but he was so tired himself that he could not follow up his advantage. He opened the round with a right to the head and took a hard right uppercut in return. Nelson sent a left to the head and Gans held on. Gans sent three rights to the head hard when Nelson was rocking on his feet for an instant.

Once Nelson recovered his balance he bored in again and evened matters up with his opponent. Gans was badly off in the eleventh round. Nelson missed a big right to the head, but was more successful soon afterward with a right and left. Gans sent a right to the head and Nelson chased him around the ring. Nelson backed Gans into his (Nelson's) corner and punished him badly. The windup of the round was all in Nelson's favor.

Nelson apparently knew that he had the fight won, as he fairly ran to the center of the ring to meet Gans in the twelfth round. Nelson landed his left to the head three times and each blow shook Gans badly. Nelson sent a right and left to the head which staggered Gans, and then sent a hard right to the body which, put Gans down to his hands and knees. Gans took nearly the full count and went down again, this time on his haunches. For the third time he hit the mat and remained eight seconds.

OPENS WITH RUSH AGAIN.

Nelson had Gans practically defenseless in the thirteenth round. He fairly ran out of his corner again, and they were soon head to head in the center of the ring, with Nelson punishing his man severely about the body. Nelson sent a left to the body and followed this with a hard right which sent Gans to the mat. When he stood up Nelson landed a right and left- to the jaw. Gans being unable to defend himself.

Gans showed a flash of speed in the fourteenth round, but the harder he hit Nelson the faster the latter came back at him, so that it proved an unprofitable style of fighting for the colored boxer. Nelson kept up his fusillade of blows for the body and punished Gans badly.

Early in the fifteenth round Gans tried to duck some of Nelson's swings, but his efforts were painful as compared with the skill he showed in this department of the game in other days. Nelson used his left for the head with deadly effect in this round and had Gans on the ropes near its end.

Gans' frame was quivering convulsively when he came up for the sixteenth round, as though he had a chill, and medical men at the ringside said that this was an indication that he had lost his nerve. He held on to Nelson as soon as they came together and the latter peppered his body frequently with right and left. Nelson sent a hard right to the heart and soon had Gans in a corner. Gans tried a right to the head, but there was no steam behind the blow.

OLD MASTER DEFENSELESS.

Nelson was after him relentlessly and the once peerless Gans had no defense against the attack of his young opponent. Nelson uppercut Gans with his right and landed that terrible left to the head again. Gans went down on his right knee and at the end of eight seconds the gong sounded the end of the round, just saving him from a knockout at this stage of the fight.

The seventeenth and last round found Nelson spurred on to the greatest efforts, as he knew the end of the fight was close at hand. He sent a right to the head and followed this up with a jarring uppercut. Gans rushed Nelson to the ropes and the Dane slipped back out of the ring, being half supported by the lower rope, which caught him around the leg. Gans fell over him, putting a severe strain on the Dane.

The latter was up without any delay and attacked Gans viciously, rushing him across the ring and Gans went down on his side, being partly wrestled down and partly hit. He was down on his haunches a moment afterward and stayed almost for the full limit of ten seconds. When he stood up Nelson sent a hard right to the jaw, and this time Gans stayed down for the. Full count of nine.

COUNTED OUT TWICE.

In the excitement of the moment the spectators could not understand under what conditions Gans had lost. Referee Jack Welsh pointed to Nelson as the winner and the information gradually reached the men throughout the arena that Gans was knocked unconscious, and was unable to respond to the call of time and was counted out. After the fight Official Time Keeper George Harting said that Gans had been officially counted out twice during the round, the first time there being so much noise and confusion that the result was not known to even the referee.

With the end of the fight a great crowd surged to the ringside and tried to hail the new champion, the latter's seconds throwing towels in the air and lifting the Dane high above their heads. Nelson's father was one of the first to greet him, and there was a world of expression in the handshake which they exchanged. It took but a few minutes to remove Nelson's gloves and he was then ready for a triumphal exit from the scene of his victory. His seconds had to fairly force a way for him and the big crowd cheered as he made his way to the dressing room.

Gans was sitting in his corner in the meantime in deep distress and being comforted by his wife and his friends. He had to be assisted from his chair and down the short steps leading from the ring. He was still shivering as though with a chill and seemed to have no control over his movements.





NELSON SHOWS HIS SUPERIORITY IN
EARLY STAGES OF THE FIGHT, PUNISHING
GANS SEVERELY.

FIRST ROUND.

The men shook hands. After feinting with the left Gans sent in three smashes to the face and swung to the ear. As Nelson rushed in Gans met him with a right uppercut. Gans backed away slowly and evaded Nelson's onslaught. They went to close quarters and were ordered to break by the referee. Before breaking, however, Nelson planted a short right to the wind. Mixing it at close range Gans shot right and left to the face and Nelson retaliated with a left to the nose. Nelson rushed Gans against the ropes, but the champion was too clever. Wriggling out of a tight place Gans shot right and left to the face. Nelson rushed in close, this evidently being his mapped out plan of battle. His efforts to land, however, were fruitless. The round was in Gans' favor. Gans' lip bled slightly as he took his seat.

SECOND ROUND.

Gans met Nelson with two straight lefts to the jaw as the Dane rushed in. Nelson swung wildly three times. Gans was quick to take advantage of this and planted three hard lefts to the face. He followed this with two short right arm swings to the jaw. Nelson continued to fight at close quarters and they worked to the center of the ring without harm to either man. Gans then staggered Nelson with a succession of short swings to the jaw, but they did not appear to faze the Battler. Gans raised Nelson's head a foot with a right uppercut as they were locked in close embrace. They continued to fight head to head and every time Nelson's head got a foot away from Gans' shoulder Gans sent in a right and left wallop to the jaw. They were fighting in Gans' corner as the round ended, which was in Gans' favor. It is apparent that Nelson intends to fight at as close quarters as possible.

THIRD ROUND.

Gans backed slowly away, landing right and left on the Dane's jaw. He continued to play with Nelson as if the latter were but a child, landing right and left to the face at will. The blood started to spurt from Nelson's nose as they emerged from a clinch. They continued to fight in close. After Gans had landed two hard rights to the face Nelson sent a left to the face, for which he was rewarded with a vicious swing to the face. Nelson fought in desperately and went to the floor from a well directed swing. Nelson kept boring in, only to be met with a fusillade to the jaw which started the blood flowing in a stream. Nelson spat blood and went to his corner with a serious expression on his face. It was all Gans.

FOURTH ROUND.

Nelson as usual tried to get to close quarters, but Gans steadied him with two lefts and a right to his sore mouth. They wrestled about the ring, Gans trying to make Nelson step back, but the Dane persistently refused. Gans then rocked the Dane's head with his favorite short arm right and left swings, which had considerable force behind them. Nelson scarcely landed a blow and Gans smiled as he covered up from the Dane's relentless attempts to land. Every time Nelson stepped away, his head proved a target for Gans' lightning left. Nelson then surprised the champion with a hard right to the face. Gans landed a vicious right to the jaw, but Nelson danced merrily to his corner as if nothing had happened. Nelson was bleeding as he went to receive attention from his seconds.

FIFTH ROUND.

They immediately closed in. Nelson tried to uppercut with his right, but the latter's guard was impregnable. Nelson finally swung a right to the jaw and Gans retaliated with a right and left to the same place. Nelson again sought refuse at close quarters. Gans outfought Nelson as the men had their heads locked, sending a hard right to the stomach and two lefts to the face. By way of diversion Gans hammered away at Nelson's stomach, but the Dane continued to fight hard at close quarters. They wrestled about the ring, Gans permitting Nelson to do all the work. Gans with consummate generalship, nursed his strength and went to his corner with his head held high.

SIXTH ROUND.

For the first time the men fought for half a minute at arm's length, during which Gans landed a couple of lefts to the Battler's face. They immediately resumed their shoulder to shoulder tactics, without result. Nelson landed a short right to the colored man's ear and forced the champion to the ropes. However, he did not land to any extent and they soon fought their way to the center of the ring, where Gans planted a vicious right to the kidneys. In a clinch Nelson sent a hard drive to Gans' face and they exchanged uppercuts to the jaw, Nelson giving as much as he received. After Gans had started the blood from Nelson's mouth with two hard left punches, Nelson swung a hard left to the jaw, which was the best blow he had landed during- the fight. The gong at this stage. This was more even than the previous rounds.

SEVENTH ROUND.

Gans backed away and seemed content to let Nelson waste his strength in useless wrestling. Nelson simply did not break away, and suddenly landed right and two light lefts to the face. Gans then staggered Nelson with a right swing to the jaw and a serious rally followed Nelson having much the better of it. He landed right and left to Gans' jaw and Gans apparently clinched. The crowd rose to its feet in excitement. They continued to mix it, and Nelson drove left and right to the champion's head without return. The bell ended a round which was greatly in Nelson's favor.

EIGHTH ROUND.

Nelson waded right in, forcing the champion to break ground. Gans, however, drove right and left to the Battler's face, but the latter did not give way an inch At close range Nelson swung lightly to the face, after which both men fought very carefully. Nelson staggered Gans with left and right short arm swings to the jaw and a moment later sent in a hard right to the kidneys. Nelson crossed right to the face and forced Gans to the ropes for a moment. Nelson continued to peg away, with Gans blocking.Gans sent in a straight right and followed it with a vicious left uppercut to the jaw. Nelson swung three lefts to the jaw and forced Gans to cover up after landing a hard swing to the colored man's face. The round ended with Nelson pegging away at Gans' face. It was Nelson's round.

NINTH ROUND.

Nelson came up like a bulldog. He rushed Gans around the ring and finally jabbed his left to the face, Gans retaliating with left and right to the same place. Gans caught Nelson at arm's length and sent three rights and one left to the Dane's jaw. Nelson closed in, but Gans uppercut him twice with right to the jaw. "Hold your head up," Welsh shouted to Nelson. Nelson did so and immediately Gans clouted him with a vicious right to the jaw. Gans rocked Nelson's head with a wicked right to the face, but it did not stop the Hegewisch lad. As they broke from a clinch Nelson caught Gans quick with a vicious left on the liver. He followed his advantage by sending the champion through the ropes with a succession of rights and lefts. Gans had a serious expression. It was Nelson's round.

TENTH ROUND.

Nelson quickly rushed in and Gans fought desperately to keep him away. Gans then planted two solid rights to the Battler's jaw, catching the Battler at arm's length. They immediately went in close and Gans did some execution with right and left to the mouth. Nelson did not cease fighting for an instant.

Gans again landed right and left to Nelson's sore mouth. Nelson's seconds set up a wild shout. The Battler's mouth was covered with blood. One particularly hard punch staggered Nelson. Nelson fought back viciously, however^ and gave Gans no rest. The round ended with Gans having the advantage.

ELEVENTH ROUND.

Nelson danced to the center of the ring and immediately forced Gans about. Gans pegged away with his left for the jaw, but Nelson was relentless. He shook Gans' blows off like so much chaff until finally Gans caught him a terrific clip on the point which staggered the Battler. Gans put another to the same place, like a fiend. Nelson forced Gans to the ropes. Gans contented himself with nursing his strength and permitted Nelson to do all the work. They fought viciously in middle ring, Nelson planting a left and two rights to the jaw. Gans rested up, but Nelson flung two rights to the stomach which forced Gans to cover. The bell rang at this stage. Nelson set a furious pace in this round, and although doing all the work was the fresher of the two. Nelson had a shade.

TWELFTH ROUND.

Gans met the oncoming Battler with a straight left to the face and sought to punch him with right and left to the same spot. Nelson got in close and thwarted him. Nelson swung his left to jaw as they came from a clinch and Gans came back with two rights. Nelson made Gans groggy and almost sent him through the ropes with a right. Gans' seconds threw water on him. Gans dropped to his knees from a left uppercut and looked all out. Nelson followed him about, planting right and left to head and body. Gans took the count of nine. Nelson rushed up to the beaten champion and Gans again took the count by being hit by one of Bat's favorite left half-scissors hooks on the liver. It looked as though he could not last out the round. When Gans got to his feet he planted a straight right to the jaw and the bell rang. Gans would have fallen had not his seconds rushed in and dragged him to his corner. Gans will probably not last much longer.

THIRTEENTH ROUND.

Nelson rushed in and landed two lefts on Gans' jaw. Gans stayed in close and tried for the Battler's body, but he was easily blocked. Gans fought, Nelson exchanging rights and lefts. Nelson then floored the champion with another left half-scissors hook on the liver. It was a wicked blow and Gans' face took on an agonized expression. Gans stalled and was evidently in sore straits. Nelson tried to reach him, but Gans hung on. Nelson worked unceasingly to put in the final punch. He hammered away at Gans' stomach, finally forcing the champion against the ropes. Joe fought back very determinedly. Gans did considerable stalling in this round, which belonged to Nelson.

FOURTEENTH ROUND.

Gans was the first up. They worked to close quarters and Gans used all his cuteness to keep the Battler at bay. Nelson's arms kept working like an aerometer for the champion's body and head and he finally swung a right and two lefts to the jaw and then three left uppercuts to Gans' jaw. All of Gans' ring generalship could hardly protect him. Gans covered up constantly and made little attempt to land. Nelson swung his left to the jaw, but Gans countered, rocking Nelson's head with right and left short arm jabs. This served only to make the Battler fight the harder, and he landed a couple of good blows as the round ended. The round was comparatively even and both men bled profusely as they sought their corners.

FIFTEENTH ROUND.

Nelson missed a vicious left swing and rushed Gans to the ropes. Nelson forced the champion against the ropes and Gans apparently held on, which prevented Nelson from landing. They fought shoulder to shoulder and Gans put in two rights to the face. Nelson put in several short arm rights and lefts to the stomach and varied this with a left and right to Gans' sore mouth. Nelson again sank his left into the liver. Joe retaliated in kind. Gans rocked Nelson's head with two rights, Nelson countering by sending in a right swing to the face and forcing Gans to the ropes. Nelson played for the colored man's stomach, and planted three short arm jolts to that spot as the bell ended a round in his favor.

SIXTEENTH ROUND.

Gans came up trembling apparently from a slight chill. Nelson kept after him, giving the champion no rest, but none of his blows landed, as Gans covered up successfully. Finally Nelson uppercut to the jaw and forced Gans into a neutral corner with a right to the stomach. Nelson caught Gans on the jaw with a right swing and fought him to the open ring. He hammered away at the champion's head and body and Gans was scarcely able to protect himself. Nelson forced Gans into his own corner, but the champion wriggled out and shot right and left to Nelson's stomach. It looked if Gans was trying to invite a foul. Finally a left found its way to Gans' liver, sending him to his haunches for the count of time. Nelson enjoyed a clear advantage.

SEVENTEENTH ROUND.

They wrestled for half a minute, Gans appearing a bit freshened up. Some ineffectual sparring followed with the men locked in each other's arms. Finally both men fell through the ropes. Nelson forced Gans about the ring-. Nelson sent Gans down with a right uppercut to the stomach. Gans took the count of eight and immediately Nelson sent him against the ropes. After Gans rose to his feet Nelson sailed in and landed a good hard left half-scissors hook on the liver. Gans went down for the third time and although trying to regain his feet, he was too slow and was counted out. Nelson was declared the winner amid a scene of tremendous excitement. The crowd surged into the ring and Nelson was fairly smothered with congratulations. He was finally carried to his dressing room on the shoulders of his seconds. From San Francisco Call, July 5, 1908. Ringside Description.

Ismael Laguna

was born, one of a family of nine, in a fishing village called Santa Isabel, near Colon, Panama, on 28 June 1943. Colon was a busy port at the Caribbean end of the Panama Canal and like many others from poor backgrounds Laguna scraped a living as a boy by shining shoes and selling newspapers. He soon learned to fight for his pitch, and then turned to boxing when , aged 12 or 13, he found national champion Carlos Watson offering to spar with anyone on the beach. Laguna volunteered and opened a cut which was still healing from Watson’s last fight. Afterwards, Watson’s trainer, Chino Amon, asked the youngster if he would like to learn the art properly.

Amon talked to Laguna’s parents and persuaded them that it was better for their son to spend his time in a boxing gym than on the streets.

Laguna fought just half a dozen times as an amateur, befor turning professional under manager Isaac Kretch at the age of 17. He fought as a flyweight in his debut, a second round knockout of Al Morgan, in Colon in January 1961. For his second outing, later that month, he outpointed Eduardo Frutos , a full blown bantamweight.

By the time of his third fight, n March 1961, Laguna was a bantamweight himself, scaling 120 lb for a points win over Javier Valle, on his Panama debut. He then had a tight squeeze in fight number four, his first six rounder, when he edged home on a split decision against a flyweight called Carlos Real.
At the time Carlos Guevala was promoting weekly shows at the National Gymnasium in Panama City and Laguna enjoyed a spell as a regular there, developing into a useful prospect. In April 1961 Laguna stopped Jose Pacheco in three rounds and outpointed Ernest Campbell over six rounds. While history will never regard these wins as watersheds of his career, they were vital moments in the youngsters education. They also allowed him to develop both his reputation and a good following among the demanding Panamanian fans who had spent years watching talented prospects come and go.


After a seven round knockout of a dangerous Jamaican, Killer Solomon, Laguna made his breakthrough into the big time when he outpointed the Cuban bantamweight champion Enrique Hitchman, which drew rave reviews. One called him the best Panamanian fighter since Al Brown.
After making his overseas debut with a 10 round points win over Castor Castillo, in Venezuela, Laguna came through a scare when Nelson Estrada dropped him with a right hand, in Panama City, in April 1962. He took an eight count, got up and had Estrada helpless when the referee stopped it in round seven.

By mid 1962 Laguna had risen to 5th in the Ring ratings and the Panamanian Boxing Commission set a precedent by declaring that he would be recognised as the national bantamweight champion without having to prove it in an actual championship fight. Laguna had already beaten the previous holder, Hector Hicks, in five rounds, and Hicks had since retired leaving the title vacant. The decision was said to be well received and in September 1962 Laguna became a double National champion when he stopped the reigning Panamanian featherweight title holder Pedro “Kid Manhattan” Ortiz in seven rounds. In all there were 27 consecutive wins in Laguna’s teenage years culminating in a third round knockout of Fili Nava, in Panama City, in May 1963. His first defeat came in the last fight before his 20th birthday, when his management team risked a trip to the Colombian capital, Bogata, against Antonio Mochila Herrera. The young Panamanian lost on points over 10 rounds.

Herrera was persuaded to accept a rematch in Panama City, in September 1963, and this time Laguna knocked him out in the seventh round. He then ended the year in Paris, winning his European debut with a 10 round decision over the Nigerian Joe Rafiu King. In his previous bout King had lost a 15 round verdict to world champion Sugar Ramos, so on the strength of this result the British paper Boxing News installed Laguna as the number one challenger to Ramos.

However, a shot at the 126lb belt never materialised. After a decision in Paris over the French based Cuban, Angel Robinson Garcia – who he was to rate as the best opponent of his career – Laguna took on the aggressive southpaw Vicente Saldivar in the Mexican border town of Tijuana in June 1964. With hindsight it was a foolish move on the part of Laguna’s management. Their policy had been to stay busy and take on the best. Saldivar and Laguna were two of the best featherweight prospects for years and their meeting was effectively a final eliminator for the world title. Not surprisingly the verdict at the end of the ten rounds went to Saldivar, who went on to dethrone Ramos in his next fight.

Laguna’s response was to move up to the lightweight class and at 5ft 9in he was certainly tall enough for the 135lb division. He coped well and the progression was natural. After an eight round win over Kid Anahuac, on his American debut, in July 1964, Laguna returned to Panama to wait for a shot at the world lightweight title. By this time his popularity at home was secure and three wins persuaded the local promoters to make an attempt to bring the world champion Carlos Ortiz to Panama City.

The fight was originally set for March, but was delayed due to Ortiz being ill. It eventually took place in April 1965 and Panama was to welcome its first world champion since the great Panama Al Brown in the 1920’s. Ortiz was outclassed by Laguna in a close fight full of fiery exchanges. At the final bell Laguna was crowned the world lightweight champion at the age of 21.

To be continued

[Robinson]

Thank you again.

I love when you post your newsletters !

Kym

[robert.snell1]

Hi kym

your very kind friend.Bit late getting this latest edition out

[Robinson]

Thats ok. Always love to read them.

Though I our admin clerk does not like how
much paper I go through ;)

Awesome reads.

[granberry]

Thanks, Robert.

Nelson never mentions that Gans died of tb 2 years after their last bout.