San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-09-06
FIRPO'S FISTIC RISE ONE
OF STRANGEST AND MOST
PICTURESQUE IN HISTORY.
Son of Italian Immigrant to the Argentine Chal-
lenges for Worlds Championship, With All Its
Notoriety and Wealth. Two Years After He -
Struck First Blow of Career as Man = y
Tired of Washing Bottles and
Backing Boots.

New. York, Sept. 6.-Luis Angel
Firpo, ex-stevedore. the son Of an
Italian emigrant to the Argentine. has
scaled the pugilistic heights to chal-
lenge for the worlds heavyweight title
after one of the strangest. most pic
turesQue careers the prize ring has ever
known. Unheard of two years ago. he
is matched 10 fight Jack Dempsey,
the champion, at the Polo Grounds on
September IA.
Big, strong and possessed of a pow
erful punch. Firpo is recognized by
boxing critics here as dangerous con-
tender for the title. but back in his
native Argentine Luis is more than
that-he is n national hero.
Firpo'S early career in the land Of
the pampas gave little forecast of the
athletic pFoweSs he was to gain. Born
October 20. 1895, nearly IS years ago.
in Buenos Aires, he had little but size
and ruggedness to recommend him as a
ring prospect. His father. native of
Genoa. Italy. emigrated 10 the Argen-
tine at an early age, Enrique Firro
was small of stature. but his wife,
born of Spanish parents in the Argen-
tine. was of much larger build and
from her Luis inherited his size. The
mother died several years ago. leaving
an older brother and a younger sister.
besides Luis. The father is now en-
ployed in The government railroad of
flies Mt Buenos Aires.
Knocked Out in First Bout.
Before turning to pugilism as a
means Of livelihood. Firpo had n va
riety of occupations. doing odd work
as n stevedore for some time. He also
earned a little as a bootblack and had
another job as bottle-washer in drug
store-the foundation upon which was
built the legend that he once was a
drug clerk.
Firpo. however. irked under the
drudgery of these tasks and devoted
most of his spare time to athletics
where he demonstrated all-round pro
ess through natural aptitude and ply
steal qualifications.
He had read of the achievements
of the worlds great pugilists and one
day when friend took him TO a gym
nasium he seized chance TO enter the
ring against an amateur named Ange
Rodriguez.
The disasterous ending of that at
tempt. in 1917. was the real Stimulus
of Firpo's ring career. He wa
knocked out in the first round by Ro
driguez. who since mas retired from
active competition.
That setback. the only one ~ his
career. was followed by a succession Of
triumphs. Firpo. finding a natura
outlet for his physical ability, learned
the rudiments of the game rapidly
through relying chiefly on his strength
and punch. He knocked out scort
of opponents ms an amateur. Then. il
his first bout as professional. h
! knocked out an American. William
DAILY. in the seventh round. That bou
occurred in September, 1919. in Chile
and was followed by string of knock
outs by Firpo among opponents II
that country. Uruguay and his native
land, the Argentine.
Comes to United States.
BY the winter of 1922. Firpo haC
conquered about all the pugilisti'
opposition South America afforded anC
began to turn toward other fields. In
fluenced by spOrtsmen who had taker
an interest in him. Firpo came to thu
United States early in 1922 and, after
some delay. obtained match will
Sailor Maxted. at Newark, y. j
Firpo won by knockout in sever
rounds and then in succession stopped
two other lesser heavyweight lights
Italian Jack Herman and Joe Mccain
before returning TO the Argentine.
Yet unschooled and crude in thu
finer points of the game, Firpo showed
enough promise to attract attention o
boxing experts. After bowling owe
Jim Tracey. an Australian. in Bueno'
Aires. Firpo signed an agreement Will
Tex Richard to return to this countr!
for series of fights. the last witt
Jack Dempsey for the heavyweigh
title if he won the others.
That marked the rise OF Flrpo 4
real prominence and recognition as
title contender. He bowled over Bill
Brennan, Jack McAuliffe and thel
halted a comeback by jess Willard
besides scoring a number OF minor vic
tories here and on n transforming trll
TO Cuba and Mexico. He had battlet
his way to the top of the heavyweight
challenging heap and the title mattel
was a natural outcome.