Evening star., 1923-05-13


The main bout had plenty of rough
and tumble excitement, but much
the greatest thrill came from Luis
Irirpo in the semi-final where there
was something wonderful as wei! as
excitement. The big Argentine is
cat Nobody who stepped into a ring
ever was so intense. There Is no
telling whether or not he likes It,
He did not frown or Scowl. out ne
was in IA fearful hurry. The thlns
seemed impersonal, as much MAJ
ter of inherited instinct as d non
F'irpo killed clean. he was up
against a strong, clever fighter In
McAuliffe, who is only little
smaller. =,
The curious thing about Firpo Is
that it is hard to see where his amaI-
smooth and beautiful. but there are
no obvious muscles. He merely
ripples Yet on one occasion When
he pushed McAuliffe out of a clinch
his opponent shot clear across the
ring and hit the ropes.
The end came in the third Alter
A. minute and two seconds of tight
ing Firpo swung right WITH Ter
rife speed and down went McAullre
Although he was completely out ne
fell slowly. Then in some curious
way the coma grew deeper. HIS
body hit the floor without much
force. but his head was Immediately
seized upon by some force which
dragged it down with a bang. HIS
eyes were open and he smiled as
he had done from the moment he
entered the ring.
willard IL EusinessiIke.
There was nothing romantic about
the battle in which willard fought.
He was Mr. A. e or doing given
piece of work Still he worked with
his head as we'll as with his huge
bulk OF 24S pounds. which he allowed
Floyd Johnson to support m the
clinches. Ringside observers said
that the big man could not last, but
he improved as the fight went on.
At the beginning he was hideously
gray There was a distinct sugges-
ton that his temples would be quite
white but for the badger haircut,
which left no more than tuft on
top of his head. With eXertion and
the blows of Johnson. Willard grew
roster and more youthful. He en-
ployed a shrewd psychological device
in the tenth round: Johnson, a scrap
py little terrier, had been annoying
him constantly. In the tenth Willard
let him bite. He put his hands
down and allowed Johnson to whale
away To be sure. he rolled his head
with the punches. but he made no
attempt to block them. and as John.
son hit Willard smiled a big. genial
smile 1t took the heart out of the
little man. and in the next round ne
was knocked out.
Finish Proves Exciting.
The end was enormously exciting.
Twenty cr thirty seconds before the
bell. Willard sent Johnson down for
a count of nine. Then he nailed hlm
again solidty. Johnson was out, put
the bell rang, even before the count
could begin. Floyd's handlers rush
cd him to his corner and piled him
with smelling salts, water mass2Ge
and good advice. 1t was not enough.
The game boy wanted to go on, bus
it was obviously impossible. H's
manager would not allow II. Joe
Humphries. the announcer, ied rnres
cheers for the little fellow (wel, he
is 1875 pounds) who had gone UP
against the 24S-pound mountain ana
been crushed by it.
The crowd was somewhat smalier
than had been expected ana possibly
a little less demonStrative. Ihere
was no noise all afternoon Wnicn
could match the greeting Babe ltutn
received for his home run n the llrst
game of the season. ,r
Firpo was the only man who, Iike
Ruth had something magic ABOUT
him Wizards effort was decidedly
commendable, but that isn't a quail
itv which makes for excitement.
Rfckard's Luck Holds Good.
II was only by a great stroke or
luck that the bouts were held at al.
Ev noon the boxing commission IS
sued orders that the nights shouid pc
loss the rain stopped before / o'clock.
The last drop fell at exactly 1850,
and Tex Richards prover5lal luck
held good.