The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-09-14
Xtra! Xtra!'
Dem psey
Gets Shave
Champion Attempts to Cross
Up Terrible Torreodor Who
Attempted to "Steal
His Stuff"
Historic Fight Tonight
BY FRED S. HUNTER.

L
feeting hours and Argentina's first
attempt to capture a worlds fstic
championship will be written in his
tory.
Tonight is the night of the big rest.
As these lines are being written, JACK
Dempsey, the heavyweight champion
of the world, and Luis Angel Firpo,
the Argentine challenger, are slumber-
Ing. presumably peacefully, in prep
aration for tomorrow nights epochal
affair of honor and business.
Both Dempsey and Firpo have re-
treated into solltudinous seculsion.
Firpo, who came to New York from
Atlantic City Wednesday night, is en-
,joying the obscurity of his apartment
Non Riverside drive and will continue
TO deny himself to visitors Dempsey
slipped quitely into New York late
this afternoon and IS surrounded by
a heavy bodyguard in the Hotel Bel
mont.
Switch In Plans.
The champion made last minute
switch In his plans to cross up Firpo.
Learning that the terrible torreodor oil
Terra del Fuega had taken lesson
from the title holders book and was
permitting his beard to sprout. Demp-
sew decided to get a shave. Then he
went a step further and got hair cut
TOO boot. The champ isn't going to
let any upstart challengers steal his
stuff.
A check Of the ticket agencies on
the eve Of the fray indicates that the
Polo grounds will be packed to their
$4,000 capacity and that the total
gate will be not less than 1880. 900
exclusive Of the additional profit which
will be reaped by the spectators, who
now are hawking even the IS seats on
the side walks.
Dempsey Is Favorfte-
Dempsey, Of course, will 30 into the
ring a top heavy fsvorite. All the
Norid. except Argentina, apparently
expects the champion to retain his
aotle. ,,,,on,v
Firpo. however. remains suiieniy
confident.
"I'n win," he mutters between
scowls and let's it go at that,
Dempsey, OH l1S VNhcA A&e-4Ns -
more loquacious and not 80 morose.
Naturally, he predicts = victory for
himself, but he insists that he is
prepared for any kind of battle.
Clearly, the champion dots not pro-
pose to get himself in trouble by un-
derrating his opponent no matter
what his advisors tell him.
He refuses to accept the theory
that F'irpo will be setup and drop
dead at the first good punch in the
snoot. II shall be prepared for any
kind Of opposition" said Dempsey.
personally, I believe Firpo is much
better than reputed, and 1 will not
be surprised II shall be given the
stiffest fight Of my career tomorrow
night"
Dopesters Favor Jack.
The champions suspicious, how
ever. are not entertained elsewhere.
The universal belief Is that Jack
will risk no more than a few mo-
ments Of his time.
Firpo will have to depend entirely
upon his looping right swing. It's
quite a right at that. OF course,
Firpo writes a letter warning OF its
approach every time he let's 1t go,
but 1t has the power OF turbine
engine behind 1t when 1t does find
It's mark. II he Is able to land IL
any appreciable number OF times,
Dernpsey will have an excellent op-
artunity to exhibit his courage and
yasneness, as well as his physical
sta nina.
unhappily, Firpo's left is total
loss. He may as well throw 1t In
the Harlem river as take 1t into the
ring with him.
For Firpo that is very unfortunate.
because it happens that Dempsey's
defense is weaker against a good left
Against n right he has an almost
perfect defense.
Both Will Mix.
II is quite evident that both Demp-
sey and Firpo will try to force the
fighting. Dempsey is going to enter
the first round with manslaughter in
his heart and disorderly conduct In
his mind. He is going to try to tear
Firpo's roof off at the start.
In the first place. Dempsey doesn't
want to experiment with Firpo's right.
He knows It is powerful enough al
WAYS 70 be dangerous. So he'll try
TO dlspose OF Luis Angel quickly or
Mt least administer such n sound lash
ing that Firpo's strength will be des'
troped.
For those who may suspect that
the champion might want the fight to
proceed a few rounds for the benefit
of the moving pictures. let 1t be
known that Dempsey already has dis
posed of his share of the film rights.
Like Dempsey. Firpo will be trying
for knockout from the start.
knockout is his only hope and the
quicker he lands, the better off he'll
be.
Two Uncertainties for Fans.
There are, to all practical pur-
poses, two Uncertainties for the fans
10 ponder over between now and to
morrow night.
One has to do with Firpo's ability
10 take punishment. The other has
10 do with Dempsey's hitting power.
No one has any line on Frpoi's
<r,,,.. A. pae. Txxa. Calusnu Hir.l