Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1923-09-15
Dempsey Keeps Title
By Knocking Out Firpo
in End Round of Fight

flat He rolled over on his back with
blood trickling from his mouth, remain
ing in this position while the referee
swung the count over him. Dempsey,
nervous. rushed over and helped pick IN
his fallen foe and then trotted to Ms
corner.
The champion fIoored his Argentine
challenger five times in the first round
and twice in the second round before
= short right uppercut to the jaw
sent Firpo down for the last time.
But in the three minutes and 81 Sec
onds Of whirlwind, terrific mauling,
Dempsey himself once was knocked
clear through the ropes on top of the
press benches, and groggy udnre q
bombardment Of mighty rights, once
sank to his knees.
Before Firpo went hurtline down in
defeat carrying with him the shattered
hopes Of a continent. he gave a vast,
frenzied throng Of $4,000 one OF the
most thrilling and courageous ring ex-
hibitions Of all time.
Battered, bloody and grogFy. ne show
ed his marvellous stamina by dogding
back with whirlwind. crushing drive to-
ward the close of the first round that
had the title-holder tottering, closer 10
losing his crown than ut any time in his
career.
Firpo fought the best fight Of his
career. The challenger's mighty right
was never mightier.
He was beaten. but his menace TO the
heavyweight throne was not removed.
Firpo was the first to land as they
came to close quarters but in n flash
the champion plunged, <Sot in right
to the body and left to ths jaw, send
ing the challenger crashing to the floor
on his side.
Momentarily dazed. but with eyes
ablaze, Firpo rose to his feet after
short count and rushed back. Again he
was met by n whitening drive. and went
down for the second end third times.
Firpo went down twice more and
both times il seemed the end had come.
But after taking a count Of nine on
his fifth knock down the challenger
suddenly sprang at his adversary like
wounded tiger, an infuriated Jungle
beast.
Swinging with flail-like rapidity and
sledge hammer power. the famous right
thrust that has brushed aside all op-
position before and swept him to fame.
the Argentine rushed ut his adversary.
Caught unawares by this stunning
comeback on the part of the man he
had believed beaten into submission.
Dempsey reeled under the assault. A
right TO the side Of the had sent Demp-
sey to his knees and as he arose an
other swing knocked him from his feet
and through the ropes on top Of the
newspaper men huddled at the edge or
the ring.
Dempsey's knees wavered On he climb
ed back in. He clinched to save him
self.
Unleashed for the second round. they
leaped at each other once more. Demp-
sey again was the quicker on the at
tack and Firpo went down under the
crushing blows of the champion. He
arouse only to 20 down once more.
The challenger. bleeding, and tottering.
forced himself to his feet. carrying on
largely by instinct. Dempsey stepped
in, whipped his left to the body and
then a short right to the chin that sent
Firpo sprawling on his back. staring
vacantly Mt the glare OF lights over
head.
The Argentine tried feebly to turn
over. to gather strength to rise His
fighting heart called him back to the
fray but the body that had withstood
one Of the most terrific assaults the
ring has ever known. could not re-
,spond. He lay flat at the count OF ten.
after 5T seconds Of the round had
elapsed, and was helped to his corner
by the victorious champion.