Joe Gans and others in an automobile: photographic print

Photograph was taken at 102 E. Ramsey Avenue, Goldfield, Nevada, in front of the Lewis Rogers, Attorney-at-Law Office. July 4, 1906. Joe Gans (left) with three unidentified men. One is most likely Rogers, his attorney. Handwritten inscription w/ image: "On Sept. 3, 1906, Joe Gans, known as the "Old Masta", fought Oscar "Battling" Nelson in Goldfield. The fight was promoted by Southern Nevada Mining magnate Tex Rickard. Nelson had come out of retirement for the bout saying "I want to settle once and for all that a white boxer can defeat a ------ any day." Gans, a negro, had come to begin his training in Goldfield in June 1906. Because Gans was was black, he was compelled by boxing promoters to permit less-talented white fighters to last the scheduled number of bouts with him and occasionally defeat him. The Gans-Nelson fight for the lightweight championship lasted 42 rounds and is considered the single greatest boxing performance in history. Gans won when Nelson deliberately fouled him. The fight brought in a purse of $75,000 and was attended by 6500 spectators, both records at the time. Blacks from across the country came to cheer on Gans and many stayed in town to work following the contest. Less than four years later, Gans would be dead of tuberculosis."