Famous Ring Wars: Dempsey vs. Firpo

Discussion in 'Boxing' started by truebluefan, Sep 26, 2011.

  1. truebluefan

    truebluefan Administrator Staff Member Administrator

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    It has been eighty eight years since ring great heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey and challenger Luis Angel Firpo clashed in their historic and memorable fight. The fight took place before 80,000 paying customers at the Polo Grounds in New York City on September 14, 1923.

    Dempsey had achieved the impossible dream when he destroyed the “Pottawatomie Giant” Jess Willard in the 3rd round in Toledo, Ohio on July 4, 1919. Willard was 6’6”, weighed 245 pounds and was thought to be unbeatable. Willard’s main claim to fame was that he was “The Great White Hope” who finally ended the title reign of heavyweight champion Jack Johnson. Willard wore Johnson down with his great strength and KO’d “Lil Artha” in the 26th round.

    Dempsey’s total destruction of Willard to this day is considered to be the most brutal beating ever administered in a boxing ring since the end of the bare knuckle era. Dempsey fought during what was referred to as “The Golden Age of Sports”. Boxing was very popular in the United States in the 1920’s and the “Manassa Mauler” as we was known to boxing fans, was even more popular than his good buddy Babe Ruth. It was said of Dempsey that he “put the roar in the roaring 20’s”.

    Luis Angel Firpo “El Toro Del Las Pampas” (Wild Bull of the Pampas) at 6’3” and 216 pounds was a real bear of a man and enormously strong. He hailed from Argentina and in fact was the first Argentinean to challenge for the heavyweight championship of the world. He took the match with Dempsey seriously and in his heart thought he would win.
    Firpo was known to be a tremendous puncher and intended to use his great strength to overwhelm his foe.

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    Read more: http://www.boxingnews24.com/2011/09/famous-ring-wars-dempsey-vs-firpo/#more-81486
     

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