Joe Gans Fights Kid Herman

On New Year’s Day 1907, Joe Gans, Lightweight Boxing Champion of the World, fought Kid Herman at Tonopah, Nevada. Gans held the title from 1902 to 1908. Ring Magazine editor Nat Fleischer named Gans the greatest lightweight boxer of all-time. Gans died from tuberculosis in 1910 at thirty-five years age. Tuberculosis was fatal at the time and cuts Gans career short.

This fight drew 3,500 fans to bout at Tonopah Pavilion. The promoters accomplished a feat with this attendance figure because the weather was freezing. Newspaper reporters wore heavy gloves at ringside making notes taking extremely difficult.

Gans entered the fight as a 3-to-1 favorite, but few gamblers were interested in betting on Kid Herman. Tex Rickard offered $10,000 on Gans but no one accepted the bet. We are fortunate that footage of Gans versus Herman still survives. The fighters fought eight rounds.

After watching the fight, I was surprised that Gans, a master boxer, used a jab so sparingly. Gans pawed with the jab in this fight using it to gauge the distance so Gans could hit Herman with a right cross. Gans bloodied Herman’s nose in the first round.

Gans was born Joseph Gant on November 25, 1874, in Baltimore, Maryland. Gans started boxing professionally in 1891. A writer wrote his name as Joe Gans instead of Joe Gant and the name stuck. Gans caught tuberculosis around 1908 causing him to stop fighting in 1909. Gans died on August 10, 1910.

His wife Martha, two children, and foster mother survived Gans. Gan’s death caused an outpouring of grief including from World Heavyweight Boxing Champion Jack Johnson, who considered Gans a friend.

You can leave a comment or ask a question about this or any post on my Facebook page .

Sources: Reno Gazette-Journal (Reno, NV) January 2, 1907, p.2