Joe Gans at Fairyland Park, California, ca 1907

Joe Gans at Fairyland Park, California, ca 1907

Joe Gans at Fairyland Park Arcadia, Cal. Arcadia, California: n.p, n.d., ca 1907. Printed broadside. 9 x 20 in. (228 x 506 mm)

In 1907, Gans successfully defended his title against Jimmy Britt in San Francisco on September 9th. He was then scheduled to defend it again, this time against George Memsic (aka Jimmy Burns) in Los Angeles. In the intervening weeks, he would train in Arcadia, California founded by Elias Jackson “Lucky” Baldwin, a man who had made his fortunes during the gold mining rush of the 1850s. The Los Angeles Times reported on September 25, 1907 that Gans was training at Baldwin's Ranch and noted that at least one of the fans watching the training and cheering for Gans was African American. Gans would face Mesmic on September 27 at the Naud Junction Arena in Los Angeles and would win by decision after 20 rounds.

Joe Gans (born Joseph Gant, 1874-1910) is considered by many to be the greatest lightweight boxer ever to fight. Known as the “Old Master,” he was renowned for his scientific approach to the game. He would carefully analyze opponents, determine their weaknesses, and strike with precision. He was the first African American to hold a boxing title, becoming the Lightweight Champion in 1902, defending it successfully until 1908.

Gans began boxing in 1891 in his hometown of Baltimore. He convincingly won the World Lightweight Title in 1902 from Frank Erne. Starting in 1903, Gans began to take fights in the welterweight class and won several fights against excellent boxers including Sam Langford, Barbados Joe Walcott, Jack Blackburn, and more. Indeed, by modern record-keeping standards, Gans would have been considered welterweight champion. Welterweight was not a marquee class in this period, however, and did not earn large purses. There were several pretenders to the title who claimed that Gans had “abandoned” the title by fighting in the welterweight division. By 1905, Gans was without a manager and dire straits financially. It was in this atmosphere that his most important title defense came with a blockbuster fight against Oscar “Battling” Nelson in the gold rush boomtown Goldfield, Nevada on September 3, 1906.

The fight was organized by Tex Rickard as a way to provide an influx of cash for the town. He capitalized on the controversy that now existed in the Lightweight title, as Nelson was claiming the title. In 1904, Gans had successfully defended his title in 1904 against Jimmy Britt, but a brawl erupted after the bout and Britt would claim later that year that he won the title. Bolstered by Gans fighting in the welterweight class, Nelson then claimed the crown when he knocked out Britt in September 1905. Rickard saw a golden opportunity to “settle the debate” and profit on the results.

Gans was desperate for any fights in 1906 and agreed to an unequal share of the purse as well as conditions set by Nelson. Notably, Nelson insisted on an unheard-of three weigh-ins before the fight. Making weight was a concern for Gans as he needed to shed several pounds from his forays into the welterweight class, a task that would tax his body. By requiring three weigh-ins, it meant that Gans would be unable to eat properly before the fight.

The fight went an astonishing 42 rounds in the Nevada sun. Nelson was continuously warned for headbutting and hitting below the belt, with the fight often devolving into wrestling. Though the “Durable Dane” was living up to his nickname, the champions tired in the Nevada heat, and Gans was getting the best of Nelson knocking him down more than once, and helping him up each time. In the 42nd, Nelson landed an illegal hit below the belt sending Gans to the canvas. The referee immediately declared Gans the champion. He would take his winnings and open the Goldfield Hotel in Baltimore.

The Goldfield fight proved to be the pinnacle of his career, as he would succumb to tuberculosis. While no clear diagnosis exists, many historians speculate that he already was infected at the time of his first fight with Nelson, possibly as early as 1904. Gans would continue to successfully defend his title the next two years with his last successful fight against Rudy Unholz on May 14, 1908. Later that year, when he was decidedly suffering from the effects of TB, he would lose the title in a rematch with Nelson in Colma, California on July 4 and again on September 9. He would die at just 35 on August 10, 1910. Today, a statue of Gans graces the lobby at Madison Square Garden and is rubbed by modern boxers for good luck.
Condition Report: Tear to upper edge. Creases.