The Nelson-Wolgast Fight and the San Francisco Boxing Scene, 1900-1914
by Arne K. Lang
IBRO Book Review by Clay Moyle
Arne Lang’s new book is focused on the February 22, 1910 40-round marathon for the lightweight title between “Battling” Nelson and Ad Wolgast in Point Richmond, California and their respective careers and post-career lives. But, he also provides a lot of detail concerning the sport in the early 1900s as well as a number of other great lightweights during that era.
Chapter three provides a series of short biographical snapshots of some of the more prominent men in the San Francisco area including James Coffroth, Sam Berger, Willus Britt, Harry and Tom Corbett, Billy Delaney, Jack Gleason, Eddie Graney, Alex Greggains, Billy Jordan, Spider Kelly, Sol Levinson, and “Tex” Rickard that includes many interesting nuggets of information and should prove very interesting to most readers. Chapter four is a short chapter concerning some of the more interesting writers of the era including the likes of “Tad” Dorgan, Robert Edgren, W.W. Naughton and “Hype” Igoe, among others.
Chapters five through seven provide the historical background of the careers of the two main characters (Nelson & Wolgast), while chapters eight and nine go into the details of the buildup to the title fight, adding to some of which is covered in the opening chapter, and the fight itself. I was a little surprised that the chapter concerning the 40-round battle was as short as it was (only four-pages) and if I had one criticism of the book I guess it would be that I would have liked to have seen more detail devoted to that actual fight itself, especially since it’s included in the title of the book.
To some extent I think the title of the book is a bit misleading because in my view it’s really about more than just that one fight and boxing in San Francisco from 1900-1914. There is a lot of information concerning the careers of the two men and their lives outside the ring, as well as a fair amount of information concerning other fighters such as Joe Gans, Terry McGovern and to some extent, other great little men during that period throughout the country. In fact, as I read chapter 10 concerning Joe Gans and “Battling” Nelson I found myself wondering how the title of the book was conceived and I couldn’t help but suspect Arne may not have selected it. Regardless, it was an interesting chapter.
Subsequent chapters titled ‘Ad Wolgast at His Peak’, ‘The Flickering Light of Nelson’s Boxing Career,’ ‘Ad Wolgast’s Descent,’ and ‘Battling Nelson’s Later Years’ were all interesting and informative as well.
It’s not a long book, comprised of 189 pages including appendices, footnotes, bibliography and an index, but it’s well-written and informative. As a result, I have no hesitancy in recommending it.
The book was published in soft cover by McFarland Publishing and is priced at $35.00. It can be ordered from their website below or by phone via # 800-253-2187.