San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-01-21
RISE Of F|RP0
ASF|GHTER HAS
|. BEEN ME- EOR|C
Has Fortune and Reputation
Based on Only Few
Minor Scraps.
STARTS FOR u. S. FEB. |
This Time He's Really COM
ing to Prepare for Bren-
nan Bout.
STARTS FOR u. S. FEB. |
BY SPARROW MGANN.

Copyright. 1928, by The San Antonio Light.
New York, Jan. 2O.-Buenos Aires
dispatches saying that Luis Firpo will
leave the Argentine for New York on
February 1 to fulfill an engagement to
meet Bill Brennan at the Madison
Square Garden were received with in
terest today along the great white way.
Insiders had had the idea that Firpo
was already en- route. The fact that
he is not is quite in line with the way
the Firpo dope has run ever since he
had been in the limelight
Several times in the past year he has
been reported as on his way to the
United States or about to sail hither
only TO have the report subsequently
replaced by a word picture Of the big
Spiggoty sitting pretty in Buenos
Aires apartment with rich food and
drink at his elbow, a bristling bank
book no further away, and outside, the
cheering populace.
Fortune Based on One Bout.
But this time he will come, beyond
doubt. He has cleaned up n small
fortune in South America on the basis
of one fight, an apple sauce bout against
Jim Tracey of Australia. and now he
must go afield for further prestige. He
will be received here with acclaim. Pro
moters will be at his service, check
books in hand.
Was there ever fighter who saw
so swift n change in fortune? Hardly
n year ago Firp6 landed here in the
steerage of South American steam
shin. poor, unknown, the protege OF q
Spanish negro, "Cal" Restress, who had
had ring experience in America. Inc
two men made their way out TO n
suburban community in New Jersey
and it was months before any OF the
New Jersey promoters could be induced
to take a chance on him.
Were an American heavyweight 10
make n claim for recognition on the
basis of Firpo's record, he would Dc
laughed to scorn. What has he done:
Well, in his first battle he put Sailor
Maxted to sleep and received 500. In
his second. he waited Joe Mccain into
Greenland and in his third he plastered
italian Jack Herman. These victories,
including the soft affair with jim
Tracey. which Melted him 100000, com
prise the South Americans record He
has vet to meet even fair second
rater.
It is not so much what Firpo has
accomplished but the manner of accom-
plishment. the splendid physique OF the
man and his hitting ability that have
inspired confidence in him. He knows
little about scientific sides of ring
practice and to date he has been un-
willing 10 learn. his idea being that
those who couh teach him, such
man. say. as DeForest, would put some
thing over on him.
There is no greater teacher Of fight
ing than DeFOrest. Even 80 great
fistic star as kid" Mccoy was willing
to accept points from him and so was
Jack Dempsey. DeForest says that
with a years instruction he thinks
Firpo would give Jack a tremendous
battle. He will not say that Luis could
beat Jack because he regards the cham
pion as the best type of natural fighter
the world has produced, while Firpo
will. at his highest development, be
only n representative of the made type.
But he does think that, with Dempsey
beginning to slip a bit, as will happen
in year or so, Firpo could wrest the