Evening star., 1923-09-15

It seemed the crowd would never
get seated. Right up to the time
of the main event the people kept
fling in, although when ] arrived
arround $50 the place seemed filled
TO capacity.
Nobody seemed to be interested in
the preliminary bouts. They hard
" got a hand from the immense
gathering.
It's funny how hard the prelimi-
putting up a better exhibition than
the big timers. yet their work
scarcely gets a rumble.
When it came time for the star
event between Jack and Luis, the
fans were impatient Nothing that
fed them. All that interested any
body, apparently. was whether Jack
would be able to successfully de-
fend his championship crown against
the mighty Argentine
There was all kinds of Dempsey
money in sight at ringside, but few
fans willing to cover 1t.
FYrpo Seemed Scared.
Ffrpo was well received by the
crowd as he edged his way to the
ring from the aisle near the base
ball press stand. He seemed to be
sort of scared to me, but that, [
guess. is only natural whsn you
! land.
The fans were standing up all over
the stands waiting for Dempsey's ar
rival. He came in the same way as
did Firpo. Jack was in white
sweater and appeared confident. Jack
Kearns and Joe Benjamin guided him
through the crowds that blocked the
aisles, eager to get q closeup of him.
Jack Dempsey proved that he is a
real champion at the Polo Grounds
last night. We always knew he was
a great offensive fighter, but for the
first time we learned that he is a
game one.
It is easy enough for champion
when everything is coming his way,
but to be on the verge of a knock
out then come back and win by a
knockout proves Il man Is a real
fighter.
jack Proved He Can 'sTake IT,
No one ever knew for sure before
that Dempsey could take 1t He has
been handing out punishment for so
long that no one had any idea what
he would do II he were on the receiv-
ing end. Well, Jack proved he is
every ounce u champion. taking
Firpo's most dangerous waIlops and
then coming along and winning like
real one. 1t was a good thing that
Jack was trained to the minute. Had
he been in no better shape than he
never would have been able to stand
up under Firpo's sledge-hammer r
blows
Dempsey was trained to the minute.
otherwise we'd probably be ringing
the praises of a new champion today.
II was well for Jack that he had the
world of speed that he possessed. II
he did not have the great speed to
carry the fight to the South Amer
lean from the jump he probably would
have been felled like an OK.
Firpo in another year will make q
mervelous fighter. He is learning
pointed out in my previous articles,
he is a much better fighter than he
showed in training.
Boxing for me in private, Firpo dis
played some of the short, snappy
punches that nearly spelled Demp-
sey's Waterloo. His right uppercut
sent Dempsey out Of the ring.
Gave Jack His Hardest Fight.
Firpo gave Dempsey the hardest
fight he has ever had. He didn't last
was In there he made the champion
realize he was up against 1t.
Had Dempsey neglected his train
ing or had the financial worries he
had at Shelby he probably would
have had his title taken away from
him.
Firpo is as game as pebble. The
twenty-five pounds or more he had
on Jack counted in his favor. He
wasn't bothered by the hostile gath
ering and 1T must have gladdened his
heart to see that the great army of
fans present took off their hats to