Evening star., 1924-09-12


Wills won by one-sided margin on
points. He fought a cool. carefully
planned battle. In superb condition
and employing all his assets of speed
and ring skill. the big negro blocked
the most furious of Firpos rushes
ana at the same time delivered an
attack at close range that steadily
peat down even the stanch courage
and endurance of the massive South
American.
A year ago. almost to day, Firpo
went down in the second round of the
most melodramatic fight of history
a1ter a savage slugging battle with
Jack Dempsey in which the finer arts
or ring craft were tossed to the winds
Last night. the Argentine went down
10 defeat before science and skill.
Ffrpo's Star Has Set.
Thus this meteoric South American
among the most colorfuI ring figures
OF all time, has failed to survive the
TEST, either with brute force or skill
and unless his gallant fighting spirit
Sarrles MIN to an unexpected come
pack. Firpo's ffstic star SO far as title
hopes are concerned, appears to have
set
Wits, on the other hand, in brush
ing aside his foremost rival, has step
ped back into the position of logica
contender for the title worn by
dempsey. Off and on ne has held
TINS distinction for the past three
years, challenging the title holder
with patient but unavailing persis-
tence. 1t is no novelty for him, and
tnere is now no chance he can fulfill
MS nope of battle with the cham
plon for at least a year.
But convincing as was Wills tri-
umph over Firpo, and it's proof that
ne mad come back to remarkably
hghting condition. his performance
dld not, in the opinion OF most critics.
brighten whatever prospect he has of
oethroning Dempsey. To those who
watched the giant negro pound and
Wrestle his ponderous opponent into
SubJection there remained a conyic-
eton that for the present at least.
Dempsey has little to fear.
Wills Lacked X. O. Punch.
Wills. showed all the ring craft.
speed and skill which has lifted him
close to the top of the heavyweight
heap. Ffrpo, crude as he is looked
cruder by comparison, but in the final
analysis the fact remained that Wills
did not have the power behind his
punches to send Firpo down for the
final count
The negro flayed Firpo with every
y ~
5o1ts to the ribs and kidneys rapier-
like thrusts to the jaw. sweeping
rights to the head and body and short
left upnercuts that stung. 1t was a
straight right to the chin that sent
Firpo sprawling to his back in the
second round, but though the Argentine
was on the verge of complete knock
out. Wills could not successfully fol-
low up his advantage.
That ont andiDp hlow waS deliyer-
ed under unusual circumstances. It
came as they were breaking from a
clinch and with Firpo's guard down.
unsuspecting. Wills. seeing his sud-
den opening. shot over his right. 1t
landed squarely and with full force.
But F'irpo was quickly on one knee
and hack into the fray.
Frpo Is often Staggered.
Wills staggered Firpo on several
other occasions, but he was slow to
follow up his advantages. The negro
seemed to sense-as did the crowd
that there was dormant dynamite in
Firpo's right hand. He ducked and
blocked most of the Wild Bulls over
the others. Firpo seldom had an
opening, and usually it was quickly
closed by Wills defense.
Several times in spasmodic rallies,
Firpo connected with his right swing
But none landed with the force Of
the drive that sent Dempsey flying
out of the ring a year ago, and none
had any decisive effect upon the ne
gro, who at the final bell was un-
marked. while his opponent showed a
cut and swollen mouth and red
blotches on his sides where Wills, at
close range. pounded him ceaselessly.
During the bout Firpo frequently
complained of Wills holding and tao
tics on the breaks, astonishing ring
siders by cries Of "Hey!" that showed
the South American has progressed in
his linguistic, if not his fistic, capa-
bilities.
Claims of Fouls Ignored.
The Argentine and his handlers
claimed Wills was resorting to foul
tactics but Referee Danny Sullivan
declined to uphold their contentious.
They had agreed, he explained, to
continue fighting in the clinches as
long as one hand was free. and this
style of battle exactly suited Wills
The negro always has shown an in
clination to grip his opponent with
his long left arm and batter away
with his right. From long practice
he has become an expert at this
method of attack. and Firpo was an
'favorite fashion.
While it failed to break any at
tendance records. the crowd. which
Promoter Tex Rickard estimated at
10000, appeared from the ringside to
fill every nook and corner of the big
bowl. 1t included a host of celebri-
ties, with Jack Dempsey heading an
array of ring notables, but conspicu-
ously absent was the Prince of Wales,
for whose reception at the ringside
elaborate preparations had been
made. But for reasons best known
to himself. the British heir cancelled
tend the bout, although a consider
able proportion of his associates were
on hand.
Receipts Close to 100000
No definite figures on the receipts
were available early today, but Rick
ard placed the amount close to $780,
900, which sets a new high mark in
financial returns for a non-champion-
ship bout.
OF this amount, Firpo will receive
much more, in spite of defeat, than
Wills in victory. The Argentine was
understood to have been guaranteed
close to $250,000, while Wills share
was placed at 100000.
i. TAKES TROTTING PRIZE.
SYRACUSE, N. Y, September IL
1SillSy 10 Ton,y,,v M,,pnbv,. e~neo