[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 114 (Thursday, September 14, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S9625]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                 BOXING

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I rise today to honor a momentous occasion 
in the history of Nevada and one of my favorite pastimes: boxing.
  This September 16, 2006, marks the 100th anniversary of the longest 
boxing match in history fought under Queensbury rules. For more than 3 
hours, 2 of the greatest boxers in the country squared off for 42 
rounds in the booming mining community of Goldfield, NV. This fight's 
tremendous length might be important to the ``Guinness Book of World 
Record,'' but for Nevada, it was also an important moment in race 
relations during a tumultuous period in our country's history.
  Boxing promoters throughout the country billed the fight as one of 
epic proportions. Oscar Battling Nelson was one of the toughest 
fighters in the land. He was nicknamed ``The Durable Dane'' for his 
resilient and hard-hitting style. Rather than defeat his opponents with 
skill, Nelson preferred to absorb the blows of his opponents and 
outlast them in the ring. One biographer even went so far as to say 
that Nelson ``gave new meaning to the word tough.''
  With such fabled abilities, Nelson was the early favorite to defeat 
his opponent, a 32-year-old African American named Joe Gans. The 
Baltimore native was the reigning lightweight champion and the first 
American-born Black man to win a boxing title. His style was a sharp 
contrast to The Durable Dane: Gans was quick and fast on his feet and 
known as ``The Old Master.'' Rather than relying on brute strength, 
Gans tried to beat his opponents with skill.
  Such a marquee match-up was a boxing promoter's dream and was 
expected to promote gold stock in the area. With a record $30,000 purse 
prize, the fight brought national attention to Goldfield, the largest 
city in Nevada at the time. But a sharp issue hung over the bout like 
an ominous cloud. That was the issue of race.
  Before the fight began, rumors floated that Gans had thrown fights as 
a youth in Baltimore. So persistent were the rumors that Gans' 
promoter, a local saloon owner named Larry Sullivan, feared for his 
safety should his fighter lose. Others worried that a win by Gans could 
start a riot in the town.
  The hostility of the town quickly evaporated once the citizens of 
Goldfield had an opportunity to meet Joe Gans. It was his unassuming 
manner--and some say a love of the craps tables--that endeared Gans to 
the town. Prefight negotiations only served to steer more public 
support to Gans' corner. Gans gave into every one of Nelson's demands, 
including lowering his own share of the $30,000 purse to $11,000 win or 
lose. He also agreed to drop his weight to 133 pounds--well below his 
normal fighting weight of 142 pounds.
  The change in support was clearly evident to referee George Siler. He 
wrote: ``The men who wield the pick think that Gans has been imposed 
upon by Nelson's manager, and they want to see him win.'' The Goldfield 
News reported the shift in support saying ``. . . the camp finds itself 
in the unique position of wishing to see a Negro defeat a white man.'' 
By the start of the fight, the odds were 2-1 in favor of Gans.

  The fight started in the afternoon under the hot Nevada sun. Some 
estimates place the ringside temperatures at more than 100 degrees. 
Nevertheless, more than 6,000 people--and an unprecedented 1,500 
women--paid the pricey sum of $5 to watch the fight.
  Surely, none of the spectators knew that they would witness one of 
the greatest fights in history. As usual, Nelson tried to outlast his 
opponents' barrage of uppercuts, hooks, and jabs. By the end of the 
seventh round, Nelson was bleeding from both ears and Gans knocked him 
to the mat. But the Durable Dane would not give up. He tried to pin 
Gans against the ropes, and again Gans knocked him to the mat in the 
15th round. Nelson bounced back, winning the next three rounds. After 
almost 20 rounds, the sun began to set over the Columbia Mountain and 
it was clear that the fighters were tired.
  But neither man would yield. Gans broke his hand in the 27th round 
but refused to go down. He continued to fight back against Nelson, 
showing little sign of the injury. At the end of the 30th round, Nelson 
hit Gans after the bell, causing uproar in the crowd. The referee, who 
had warned Nelson about fouls throughout the fight, gave him yet 
another warning. Finally, the Durable Dane began to lose his famed 
endurance, while Gans continued to pummel him. In the 42nd round, 
Nelson landed an intentional low blow on Gans. The referee called the 
fight in Gans' favor.
  The telegraph wires carried the result of the fight across the 
country. And the town's support for Gans held strong. That night, the 
residents of Goldfield did not see Black or White: They saw a winner. 
Joe Gans, with his modest manner and stylish boxing, had won the town 
over. Siler wrote: ``Goldfield is a vast camp of hero worshippers 
tonight, and its hero is Joe Gans . . .''
  This Saturday, the boxing clubs from the University of Nevada, Reno, 
and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, will fight 42 rounds in honor 
of the Nelson-Gans match. The sounds of the closing bell for each of 
those 42 rounds will be from the original 1906 bell from the fight. And 
later that evening in nearby Tonopah, the audience will be able to 
watch video footage of the historic bout.
  Mr. President, the accomplishments of Joe Gans and the citizens of 
Goldfield are worthy for recognition before the Senate. I am pleased 
have the opportunity to honor this important anniversary today.

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