Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1923-07-13
FIRPO DEFEATS
jess WILLARD
MEICHTHROUND
Argentinian Had Best Of
Fight From Ringing Of
First Gong. Firpo to Meet
Dempsey for Championship


RINGSIDE. JERSEY CITY. ~ T..
July 13.--Jess Willard. the man noun
tain from Kansas. went back to fistic
oblivion last night. but he staged the
last. though futile net Of his comeback
before vast throng of more than 100
900. the greatest in ring history. that
filled Boyle's Thirty Acres 10 over
flowing.
Luis Angel Firpo. the dark -browcd
mauler from Argentine. closed the door
10 Willard's attempted return 10 fiS;ic
fame by knocking out the giant former
champion in the eighth round of a
slashing battle-one Of the greatest in
recent heavyweight history. Incident
ally. be reached the goal AT which he
has aimed for the past year of his
meteoric rise to profninence--a match
for the title with Jack Dempsey
There was no question Of the
superiority Of the brilliant Argentine
hattlcr last night Wizards superior
weight. height and reach enabled the
big kansan 10 check Firpos rushing
attacks in most Of the early rounds
but. despite the Americans gameneSs
under fire. the tide If battle swung
ihc'Naois ~ iaN"t VI tue NtuH.fi, more
rugged fighter.
The final round opened slowly
They SPARED at hong range and there
was little hint that the end was near.
But suddenly Firpo uneashed say
age drive 10 Wizards head and body.
The fury Of that attack had never be-
fore failed to bring down the South
Americans quarry and Big Jess. de-
spite his towering size and stamina.
wilted. Step by step Willard gave
ground. trying almost blindly 10 ward
off the volley OF jolts to his head and
body. Backed against the vopes. his
head sank. then right shot 70 the head
sent him to his knees. lie kncelcd a.
Referee Harry Lewis started counting.
shaking his head and trying po lift
up. But the waning strength in that
great hulk was unequal to the task and
he sank into the arms of his handlers
at the final count.
Four years ago Willard caine--up
after being Knocked dawn seven times
in the first round Of the fight in which
he lost the title TO Jack Dempsey
But while the same courage remained
today. hc could not muster the strength
to arise after that devastating attack Of
Firpo's.
Firpo's greater speed and ability To
attack his big target at more angles
gave him an early advantage. But the
South American often displayed bad
judgment Of distance. aud this. coupled
with Wizards ability 70 block his op-
ponent's rushes. resulted in little ef
fective battling.
Willard except for an occasional jab
with his left. stayed on the defensive.
waiting for chance TO shoot in an
uppercut. But Firpo. shfty object.
gave hun few opportunities. in the first
Firpo cut willard's ear and IN the
fourth he pummelIed the big kanSan
about the ring with n drive Ia the head.
Jess absorbed heavy punishment hut
came back i'm the next round with his
only real offensive.
F'irpo backed 10 the ropes under n
bsrrage IF blows TO the head. but Viii
lard failed to follow up his advantage.
brief a il was. He seemed lethargic
and hesitant 10 carry the fight To his
opponent.
After that one flicker of fistic fire.
way for the end with >lashing attack
in the sixth. weakening the big kanSan
with rights To the body. The end came in
the eighth after one minute and fifty
five seconds of fighting.
Thus ended fight that has no
parallel in ring history for bout in
vhi,h no championship was AT stake.
But the fact that two Of the most pie
turesque fighters the game has ever
known-one n veteran trying to scale
the heights again. aud the other n
rugged. brillinnt youngster-wcre 10
fight for chance az the throne now oc-
cupicd by Dempsey. proved the greatest
magnet Of any match in history. The
main bout OF the evening was followed
by flash of the dramatic. which on AN
other occasion would have attracted