When Nevadans recall the great historic boxing matches, their first thought turns to the Johnson Jeffries fight in Reno. The “Great White Hope” vs. the black champion! If forced to choose a second fight, the nod would go to the night Gentleman Jim Corbett fought Fitzsimmons in Carson City. Yet, Sports Illustrated ranked the Nelson Gans fight as the fourth greatest fight of all time. It was the greatest early fight of all time. Why?
History: Goldfield was growing more rapidly than could be imagined. Gold! It would become the largest city in Nevada by 1907. And since it was a mining camp, it was wide open! It was also shady, with more suspect and shady endeavors than imaginable. But the East Coast citizens didn’t know this and invested in these shady deals.
Two of the most shady characters were Larry Sullivan (who Rice said new about as much as mining and mining-brokerage as an ostrich knows about ocean tides) and George Graham Rice (who would land in jail for fraud - twice) and they hatched a scheme to put Goldfield on the map. A prize fight between young, white, strong Oscar ‘Battling’ Nelson and the older more refined, black Joe Gans. Other places were looking for this match, but Goldfield pulled it off.
Pre-Fight: Gans had gained the world light-weight championship in 1902 making him the first African-American to hold any such sports title. Known as the ‘Old Master’ he fought 171 bouts and recorded 100 knockouts. He only lost 10 of those bouts. He would arrive first, Promoter Larry Sullivan met the black pugilist. Gans, travelling alone, asked Sullivan to be his manager.
He had a winning smile and personality, but he was black!
Nelson came a few days later. He was young and strapping. Everything the white crowd could hope for. But he was demeaning to his opponent.
By the time of the fight, he was no longer an overwhelming crowd favorite.
The Fight: The purse of $33,000 [mostly raised by Northern Saloon owner Tex Rickard] was the largest ever offered for a prize fight. It was hot with estimates that the temperature was 100 degrees. Jack London sat ringside to record the event. Teddy Roosevelt’s son was in attendance.In all 8,000 fans were there. Little did they know they were about to see such an epic event. But according to the rules of the era, the fight was to the “last man standing.”
Nelson was the puncher. He peppered his opponent with punches and what surely seemed like the occasional low blow and errant elbow. Gans was the dancer and by far the more skilled practitioner. Sometime during the bout Gans strained the ligaments in his right hand and basically had to go the rest of the bout with only one hand. Still he kept Nelson on his heels, and at one point even helped the Dane to his feet after a knockdown. Nelson returned the favor with another low blow, and by the 42nd round Referee Siler had seen enough. Another low blow and the referee stopped the fight and gave the victory to Gans.
Historically this would be the longest championship in the history of boxing. It would also propel Nevada into a haven for this sporting event which was outlawed in many states. It would also be the first fight ever captured on film. A bout worthy of being one of the greatest of all times and the greatest and most important ever seen in Nevada.
1. “Goldfield” By Shamberger
2. “My Adventures with Your Money” by Rice
3. Sports Illustrated
4. Las Vegas Review Journal article by Smith
5. Goldfield Historical Society
History: Goldfield was growing more rapidly than could be imagined. Gold! It would become the largest city in Nevada by 1907. And since it was a mining camp, it was wide open! It was also shady, with more suspect and shady endeavors than imaginable. But the East Coast citizens didn’t know this and invested in these shady deals.
Two of the most shady characters were Larry Sullivan (who Rice said new about as much as mining and mining-brokerage as an ostrich knows about ocean tides) and George Graham Rice (who would land in jail for fraud - twice) and they hatched a scheme to put Goldfield on the map. A prize fight between young, white, strong Oscar ‘Battling’ Nelson and the older more refined, black Joe Gans. Other places were looking for this match, but Goldfield pulled it off.
Pre-Fight: Gans had gained the world light-weight championship in 1902 making him the first African-American to hold any such sports title. Known as the ‘Old Master’ he fought 171 bouts and recorded 100 knockouts. He only lost 10 of those bouts. He would arrive first, Promoter Larry Sullivan met the black pugilist. Gans, travelling alone, asked Sullivan to be his manager.
He had a winning smile and personality, but he was black!
Nelson came a few days later. He was young and strapping. Everything the white crowd could hope for. But he was demeaning to his opponent.
By the time of the fight, he was no longer an overwhelming crowd favorite.
The Fight: The purse of $33,000 [mostly raised by Northern Saloon owner Tex Rickard] was the largest ever offered for a prize fight. It was hot with estimates that the temperature was 100 degrees. Jack London sat ringside to record the event. Teddy Roosevelt’s son was in attendance.In all 8,000 fans were there. Little did they know they were about to see such an epic event. But according to the rules of the era, the fight was to the “last man standing.”
Nelson was the puncher. He peppered his opponent with punches and what surely seemed like the occasional low blow and errant elbow. Gans was the dancer and by far the more skilled practitioner. Sometime during the bout Gans strained the ligaments in his right hand and basically had to go the rest of the bout with only one hand. Still he kept Nelson on his heels, and at one point even helped the Dane to his feet after a knockdown. Nelson returned the favor with another low blow, and by the 42nd round Referee Siler had seen enough. Another low blow and the referee stopped the fight and gave the victory to Gans.
Historically this would be the longest championship in the history of boxing. It would also propel Nevada into a haven for this sporting event which was outlawed in many states. It would also be the first fight ever captured on film. A bout worthy of being one of the greatest of all times and the greatest and most important ever seen in Nevada.
1. “Goldfield” By Shamberger
2. “My Adventures with Your Money” by Rice
3. Sports Illustrated
4. Las Vegas Review Journal article by Smith
5. Goldfield Historical Society