The Washington times., 1923-01-11


out Of his fight with Jim Tracy,
which he won with a knockout In
four rounds. Luis evidently is e.
smart fellow. He used his popular.
ity to obtain q permit for the fight
from the Argentine government and
then sold the concession for the
equivalent Of $4,000.
Senior August, q former bank
clerk, promoted the fight. It was
his first venture of the kind and
he did very well with it. He alone
knows what the bout drew.
He refused to divuIge, the
amount, one Of his reasons being
that Tex Rickard or some other
American promoter might be at
tracted II It became known that
q punk fight could attract 20
much money and he wanted to
keep the Held to himself.
George Lawrence, manager of
Tracy, says that all he could learn
about 1t was that two weeks before
the mill, the advance sale amounted
to $4,000. He estimated the total
receipts at close to $3.50, 900.
o. this amount Tracy received
little, as he worked on fiat
guaranty, but Firpo obtained a
liberal slice OF the spoils SO that
his share of the purse and the
$4,000 he received for the permit
brought his end up to a small
fortune.
Firpo ranks right next to the
President in point of popularity.
Luis is twenty-eight and Unmarried.
He lives with one of the richest
men in South America, who Is
proud to have the fighter occury.
his home, magnificent mansion
surrounded by extensive grounds.
According to Lawrence, Firpo has
improved greatly since he was in
New York last summer. He has
four or i've husky sparring partners,
who work with him constantly. 40
that he 10 learning all the time.
One Of bis sparring mates ia
Joe BOykin, big negro from the
middle West who has had con.
siderable ring experience. An.
other Is Rough House Ware.
Firpo has learned how to use his
feet and his left hand, two things
that he knew nothing about when
he was here. He always did have
a powerful right hand and this is
better than ever. He broke two
of Tracy's ribs with a short arm
blow in q clinch.
At twenty-eight Firpo is rather
old to begin a ring career. South
Americans age more rapidly than
persons who live in a northern
CLINE. But Firpo's habits are of
the best. Despite his great popular.
ity he takes no part in the night
life of Buenos Aires. Resisting all
temptation, he resides in the sub
uros and retires at 10 o'clock.
If FirpO happens to beat the win
ner of the Johnson-Brennan bout
there is no doubt that he will be
matched with Jack Dempsey. The
match would not be held here, be-
cause it would take more than that
to make boxing followers think that
the big novice would have a req
sonable chance with the champion,
but down in the Argentine thew
would require no further proof of
Firpo's prowess.
So great is the interest in Firpo
in his own country that a match
with Dempsey probably would draw
close to $1,0O0,O00. Ringside seats
for the Firpo-Tracy affair cost SIS.
and they were all snapped up in a
hurry.
Tracy is about the least impress
sive looking heavyweight in the
ring. If they would give up SIS
to see him perform they ought to
be willing to give up ten times as
much to see Dempsey.
Senior August, the smart young
promoter who put on the Tracy
bout, is anxious to stage a. FirpO-
Dempsey match. and If things 20
well with Luis he will make q bid
for it that the champion will not
be able to ignore. It is possible
that Tex Richard would consider
promoting such q match. Richard
still 10 q name to couture with
down there.