[2] Gans had an important early career win against Jeff Smith on July 8, 1919, in an eight-round newspaper decision of the Philadelphia Inquirer at Atlantic City.

[1] On October 23, 1919, he made a very strong showing against well known boxer Bert Kenney in an eight-round newspaper decision in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

[1] Rather than acting as a lever to gain access to more lucrative opponents, several boxing historians wrote than these wins, and Gans' exceptional record may have made it more difficult for him to sign for a bout with a white Middleweight championship contender.

[2] Gans worked as a sparring partner for Jack Dempsey prior to his a bout with future Hall of Fame boxer Billy Miske in early September 1920.

[1] Panama Joe won the World Colored Middleweight Championship from Bostonian George Robinson in Madison Square Garden on October 8, 1920, in a twelve-round points decision.

[1][4][5] On December 19, 1920, Panama Joe defeated Sailor Darden in a ten-round points decision for the Colored World Middleweight Championship title at New York's Madison Square Garden.

[6] After the fight, manager Tex Rickard presented Panama Joe with a diamond studded belt signifying his possession of the Colored Middleweight Title.

In a non-title fight on November 28, 1921, Gans impressively defeated Joe Borell at the arena in Trenton, New Jersey in a ninth-round technical knockout.

[8] Panama Joe defeated black Kentuckian boxer Jack Blackburn at Tomlinson Hall On July 24, 1922, in Indianapolis, Indiana in a fourth-round knockout.

[1] On February 17, 1923, Panama Joe defeated Jimmy O'Gatty in a fifth-round knockout at the Commonwealth Sporting Club in New York City.

[13] At 149 1/2 pounds, on November 18, 1922, Gans defeated Jewish New York boxer Marty Cross before a large crowd in twelve rounds at the Commonwealth Sports Club in the Bronx in a twelve-round points decision.

Gans recovered from the blow and came back strongly in the following round, continuing to press his advantage and bringing Cross close to a knockout.

[16] Panama Joe had previously lost to Gans on February 6, 1923, in a twelve-round points decision at New York's Pioneer Sporting Club.

[1] Around late December 1923, after a loss to Morrie Sclaiffer in Omaha, Nebraska, Panama Joe disastrously contracted pneumonia for a second time.

Gans defeated Andy "Kid" Palmer in their first meeting on January 6, 1923, in a twelve-round points decision at New York's Commonwealth Sporting Club.

[2][19] Estridge successfully defended the title in a rematch with Gans at Queensboro Stadium in Long Island City, Queens, New York on August 11, 1924, before a crowd of 16,000.

The title went into abeyance after Tiger Flowers became the first black boxer to win the world middleweight championship when he defeated Harry Greb in 1926.

According to BoxRec, Panama Joe's last recorded fight was at Balboa Stadium in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico against Francisco Soler on June 10, 1928.