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Joe Gans (November 25, 1874 - August 10, 1910) was
born Joseph Gaines in Baltimore, Maryland.  Gans
was rated as the greatest lightweight boxer of all
time by boxing historian and Ring Magazine editor,
Nat Fleischer.  He fought form 1891-1909, and is
believed to have contracted tuberculosis in 1908. 
His final record included 131 wins (88 KOs) 9
losses and 13 draws.

Gans won the lightweight championship by knocking
out Frank Erne on May 12, 1902,  Erne had
successfully defended the title against Gans
earlier, when Gans was forced to quit due to a
serious eye injury.

There is some dispute as to whether Gans
relinquished the crown in November of 1904. 
According to the Ring Record Book, compiled by Nat
Fleischer, Gans relinquished the crown after
winning a fight on a foul from Jimmy Britt.  Britt
was battering Gans, who claimed weakness from
having to make weight, but Britt was disqualified
when he struck Gans when Gans was down.  Fleischer
claims Gans stated he could no longer fight
effectively at the lightweight limit and gave up
the crown.  According to this version of history,
Gans later regained the title on September 3, 1906
by defeating Battling Nelson on a foul after 42
rounds.

British boxing historian Gilbert Odd, lists Gans
as champion from 1902-1908.  There is no
corroborating evidence of Gans' abdication of the
title, and Gans continued to fight as a
lightweight; thereby casting doubt on his
attributed stated reason for surrendering the
crown.  Whatever the true facts may be, he was
defeated by Battling Nelson by KO in 17 rounds on
July 4, 1908, thereby eliminating any further
claim to the title by Gans. 

Gans fought many great fighters during his career.
 He drew with the original Joe Walcott who Nat
Fleischer ranked as the greatest welterweight
ever.  He also fought and defeated Jack Blackburn,
and lost on a decision to Sam Langford.  Gans is
listed among the Ring Magazine's list of 100
greatest punchers of all time.