The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-05-14
FIRPO PICKED TO-
MAUI WILLARD IF
TEX MATCHES 'EM


NEW YORK, May 13.-Nhen a
spit ball pitcher lubricates the ball
and lets fly, the batter might as we'll
shut his eyes and swing in the dark,
because the pitcher himself doesn't
know what way a spit-ball is going
to bend
The right hand smash of Luis An
cello Firpo1 is a spit-ball, and one
strike is out.
When Luis Angelo hoists that right
to point about two feet above and
a yard astern of his right shoulder
blade, in that conscientious, brooding
manner of his, and discharges it in
the general direction of an adversary.
he isn't certain whether it's going
to break shoe lace. a belt, a couple
of ribs, few vertebrate or layout
of dental work. All he is certain of
is that wherever it lands something
is quite certain to be carried away.
AS old Jack Britton, one of the
cleVerest boxers that ever stepped in
side of a round house swing, OBJ
served during Firpo's brief but vio-
lent dealings with young Jack Nc
Aulffe Saturday afternoon: THE
other fellow can't tell which way it's
coming, because Firpo doesn't know
himself"
Tex Nails Jess.
Tex Richard. taking advantage of
the exuberance of jess Wizards new
found illusion of youth. has bound
Willard to promise that he will
fight Firpo on June 80, in the same
ring on the same spot just over the
pitchers box in, the Yankee stadium
where each of them whacked a clean
knockout Saturday. Willards defense
is as wide open as flat-car He
couldn't even keep at arms length
the comparatively tiny Floyd John
son. His right hook couldn't nail
johnson until after 80 minutes of ac-
tual fighting, Although Johnson had
no defense.
/ OF course, there will be a merry
cash register obligato to the sombei
booming of the gong when Willard
catches FirpO's swift pitching in the
ball yard. If there's anything more
soothing to the soul or more uplifting
to the dropping spirits Of a defeated
prize fighter than this same melody
1t is the VI ;.on OF few bushels OF
box office greens. Willard may count
On receiving 100000 atileast for box
ing Firpo, and then, having cleared
S125,00 in his Comeback" minus q
few thousands for expenses, Nhe may
retire again to his quiet acres in the
middle west to mediate upon the
lunacy of public which viii have
paid him a grand total of nigh abou,
| one million dollars for less than five
hours actual work in the ring in al
his career. Willard got $4,000 fol
defeating johnson. and unless al
notions of Jess Willard are false, III
will get away with every farthine
of it. Most fighters who receive bis
| purses at once become paymasters
oisbursing large sums here and ther,
to those who arrange things" vii.
| lard has no manager. Neither ha.
Firpo, for that matter.
A Powerful Man.
Wizards tardy Knockout of John.
son only proved that he was NOR,
| powerful man as to brute strength
than a young fellow whom he out
| weighed by so pounds. johnson hi
him 20 blows to very one he landed
but whereas the young fellow:
merely bounced off willard the ole
| mans far-fetched uppercuts and righ
swings to the head each took ava,
| some of Johnson's strength Whei
Willard tried to defend himself h
was simply ludicrous.
Firpo has learned nothing abou
using his left hand and probably h,
never viii learn. He has been laugh
| something, however, about blockin,
a punch or ducking or rolling will
one to diminish the shock and il
therefore, much harder to hit square
| ~ than he was when he fought larg,
Bill Brennan.
| Both Firpo and Willard at presen
| would be as easy for Dempsey to hi
as a dangling meal bag in a gymna
SUM. 1t would be cruelty to put VII
lard in the ring with Dempsey, bu
| Firpo might be able to take some Of
the champions punches on the Shout
ders or high on the head for few
rounds and then pitch that spit ball
1t Is conceivable that Dempsey would
stop it with his chin and go down
and out. Because no man can tell
which way to duck 1t.