Joe Gans
| Joe Gans | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Statistics | |
| Real name | Joseph Gant |
| Nickname(s) | Old Master |
| Rated at | Lightweight |
| Height | 5 ft 6 1⁄2 in (1.69 m) |
| Reach | 71 in (180 cm) |
| Nationality | American |
| Born | November 25, 1874 Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
| Died | August 10, 1910 (aged 35) Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 196 |
| Wins | 158 |
| Wins by KO | 100 |
| Losses | 12 |
| Draws | 20 |
| No contests | 6 |
Joe Gans (born Joseph Gant; November 25, 1874 – August 10, 1910) was an African-American boxer, born in Baltimore, Maryland, who was rated the greatest lightweight boxer of all time by boxing historian and Ring Magazine founder, Nat Fleischer. Gans was known as the "Old Master". He fought from 1891 to 1909. He was the first African-American World Boxing Champion of the 20th century, reigning continuously as World Lightweight Champion from 1902-1904 and 1906-1908.
Gans started boxing professionally about 1891 in Baltimore. He gained many fans within the boxing world, both white and black, with his "scientific" approach to fighting. Finding an opponent's strengths and weaknesses, then competing with a game-plan was Gans' specialty. He was known as a true student of the sport. On March 3, 1900 at the Broadway Athletic Club in New York, Gans quit with an eye injury in the twelfth round of his first World Lightweight Title bout against reigning lightweight champion Frank Erne, with the fight ending in a TKO. In their rematch two years later, Gans knocked Erne out in one round to convincingly take the World Lightweight Title. He was not quite the first Black world title holder. Canadian born, George Dixon, won the Bantamweight World Title in 1892.Barbados Joe Walcott won the World Welterweight title on December 18, 1901.
Gans reigned as champion from 1902 to 1908. A slender man, never weighing over 137 pounds. Gans frequently fought heavier boxers, adding to the legend of his scientific fighting technique.
On January 6, 1902, Gans defeated the former World Welterweight Champion Canadian born Eddie Connolly. Connolly lost in a five round disqualification at the Washington Sports Club in Philadelphia. One reporter noted that Connolly, "did nothing but hug and wrestle, adding variety to his performance in the third by deliberately trying to butt the Balitmorean (Gans)". A head butt is a foul usually resulting in an immediate disqualification. The reporter also noted that Connolly clinched frequently and "wrestled" rather than boxed, probably in attempt to protest himself from the fierce assaults of Gans. By the time the referee ended the bout in the fifth, Connolly had been "rendered practically helpless" by the powerful punching of Gans.
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