The Longest Fight, The Joe Gans Story

On September 3, 1906 Joe Gans (called The Old Master) and Oscar “Battling“ Nelson fought under the searing sun of Goldfield, Nevada. At the time Goldfield was the epicenter of the last great gold rush in America. The boxers were fighting in what was billed the “Fight of the Century“. The first black boxing champ in America (Gans) would defend his title in an epic 42 round bout that would make history. Gans and his story is largely unknown except in boxing circles. He was an innovator who established many of the techniques boxers use today. In stature and build he would be closest to Floyd Mayweather today. Gans won the fight when Nelson kept fighting dirty ultimately delivering a low blow sending Gans to the mat but delivering him the victory. The fight was organized by Tex Rickard who went on to promote the notorious Johnson-Jeffries fight in 1910 and would then go to New York and build the third Madison Square Garden turning it into a boxing mecca. The 1906, September 3 Labor Day fight w