Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-05-14
WILLARD UPSETS OLD ACE
DOPE and CRuSHES JOHNSON
FIRP0 STOPS MCAUL|FFE

Two giants of the prize ring. Luis
Angel Firpo, pride of the Argentine.
and Jess Willard. Kansas man
mountain, stood out tonight as chal-
lenrers for the fistic throne occupied
by Jack Dempsey after scoring
knockout victories in the two main
bouts of the Milk Fund carnival be-
fore a crowd of nearly 10000 at the
Yankee Stadium
Firpo demonstrated once more he
is enc of the most terrific hitters
who has climbed to pugilistlc prom
inence in recent years by knocking
out Jack McAuliffe. II, of Detroit, in
tho third round. Willard, while
none too impressive in his comeback
after years of idleness. proved HIM
solf the master of his young Iowa
antagonist, Floyd Johnson, and was
awarded a technical knockout after
il rounds of the most spectacular
battling on the card.
These two bouts, both scheduled
for Is rounds, were headliners OF
card of five heavyweight contests.
one of the most spectacular fight
programs ever staged in this Coun-
try, and a magnet for a picturesque
throng that all but filed the great
Yankee ball park. Official figures
were lacking tonight but it was es-
timated that the throng was at least
5000 less than the crowd of $4,000
which packed the stadium at the
opening American League baseball
game recently. 1t was a record for
a. boxing show in this state but far
behind.the attendance figure of more
than 10000 at the Carpenter emp-
sSy bout two years ago.
EirnO'S 0nicE victory over Nc
Auliffe a highly-touted westerner
who wilted in the second round and
collapsed in the third under the
South Americans terrific barrage Of
rights and lefts to head and body,
was the most decisive bit of ring
work of the afternoon but the tri-
utnph of the 40-ycar-old Willard
oyer a youngster half his age in a
hammer and tongs struggle from
start to finish, was the high spot of
the show.
Most of the experts were skeptical
OF. the Pottawattomie giants ability
to come back after his long lay-off,
but while he was at time unimpres-
sive and an easv mark for his ag-
gfessive opponent, he proved beyond
dpubt that he has regained much OF
his old stamina while retaining his
powerful punching ability.
willard fought coolly and cau-
ttously against Johnson's plucky at
tack and in the end his tremendous
advantages in height. weight and
reach were the undoing of his OPP
ponent who was outweighed SO
pounds.
johnson stood UP under a terrific
bhttering from the fifth round to the
end. Keeling and groggy from Will
lard's smashing uppercuts and
straight jolts to the head, he was
several times on the verge Of a
knockout before the eleventh. Three
times. in the fifth, eighth and ninth
rounds. he was saved by the bell
from probably a final count, while at
other stages he weathered the storm
by his defensive tactics.
.Ponderous in his movements, slow
afoot and at times an easy mark for
Johnson's blows, Willard. however,
was never in distress. The Iowan
tsung Willard occasionally about the
head and body, but his punches
lacked effectiveness. At one juncture
in the tenth round, Willard brought a
roar from the crowd by dropping his
guard for few moments andssmiling
as he allowed Johnson to punch him
unmolested.
Both INDUCED in a lot of wild
swinging and clinching in the first
four rounds but Willard, waiting for
his opportunity, came in close in the
fifth and soon had johnson in dis
tress. The IOwan was daZed as the
bell ended from series Of ripping
undercuts.
johnson rallied in the sixth and
seventh. gaining applause with his
aggressiveness, but in the eighth
Willard shook him with another
crashing uppercut. Fighting back
gamely but ineffectively, johnson
slipped to the floor few seconds be.
fore the bell rang.
The tenth saw Willard waiting for
his chance to shoot over the deciding
blow and in the next the beginning
of the end was in sight with Johnson
Keeling about the ring under a meas
ured attack to the jaw. The Iowa
boy fell headlong to the canvas from
a 3olting uppercut just before the bell
rang and lay inert. Carried to his
corner in a dazed and helpless >eondi-
tion, his seconds quickly tossed in the
towel in token of defeat.
Gate receipts were announced I'M
officially by Tex Richard. promoter
of, the show for the Municipal Milk
Fund benefit, as approximately $780,
600.
Two Of the three other bouts on the
card besides the main fights, also
We're terminated before the limit.
Jack Renault. Of Chesham, Quebec.
Canadian heavyweight champion.
was declared the victor over Fred
Fulton. Minnesota plasterer on foul
blow in the fourth round, after the
Canadian had piled up substantial
lead on points.
In the other preliminary matches,
Harry Drake Of England, was award
cd the judges decision over Joe Nc
Cam Of Newark, n. j., in a four
round encounter. while Tiny JIM
Herman. Omaha. Neb.. knocked out
Al Reich Of New York in the 9th