GANS, JOE-BATTLING NELSON ORIGINAL ANTIQUE PHOTO (1906)

The Joe Gans-Battling Nelson fight in Goldfield, Nevada on September 3, 1906 rates as one of the greatest lightweight championship bouts ever contested. For 42 hard fought rounds the two lightweights engaged in a titanic struggle, which is the longest gloved championship match recorded under Marquis of Queensbury rules. The San Francisco Chronicle reported on Sep 4, "Dancing lightly in and away, Gans hit Nelson when and where he pleased" and described Gans as "a marvel of speed and science." Gans scored two knockdowns and had his opponent out on his feet on two other occasions when the granite chinned Nelson was saved by the bell. In today’s fight game the fight would have been stopped long before the 42nd round when Bat purposely fouled out. Nelson absorbed a frightful beating, his left eye was closed and he was bleeding from his ears, mouth, and nose, as well as cuts on his face. Frankie Neil, a former bantamweight champion and a ringside eyewitness, said, “It looks as though Nelson, who was a very badly beaten man, took an easy way to quit." (Chronicle Sep 4, 1906). Presented here is an original, first generation, antique photo depicting the two fighters shaking hands as their handlers look on before the fight. This is a Miles Bros. photograph.
This is an original, first generation photo. Photographers stamp for Miles Bros.-N.Y. & S.F. with copyright 1906 at lower left. Photo is clearly first generation, taken from original negative, but photo paper indicates it was likely printed after 1906. Image is bold and clear. Small crease in upper right corner. No tears. Minor edge wear. Clean front and back. Paper residue on back from being mounted in an album. 8" x 10." Rare shot.