PROFESSIONAL BOXING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18814, 15 September 1924, Page 7

PROFESSIONAL BOXING.

WILLS-FIRPff CONTEST.

DISAPPOINTED SPECTATORS.

A. and N.Z. NEW YORK. Sept. 12. In the match between Harry Wills, the msgro heavy-weight boxer, and Luis Firpo, "the wild bull of the Pampas," tho negro's defence was impenetrable. Ho held off tho Argentinian, who was not the equal of his opponent in any branch of tho business. Ho inflicted heavy punishment on "tho bull." Firpo's blows, even when they landed, seemed to lack, tho steam of those he handed out in the Dempsey fight. In the second round Wills floored Firpo with a hard left to the jaw. This was the only knockdown in the fight. Wills administered heavy punishment to his opponent's body throughout the contest. The men clinched like clams, and the referee spent a good deal of time prising them apart. Wills dominated tho fight from the sound of tho first gong, giving an exhibition of ringcraft which rendered futile Firpo's magnum opus—that famous right. He beat the roan from the Pampas with a relentless, bruising attack to his head and body. Firpo's wonderful gameness alone carried' him through the punishment which tho son of Ham ladled out to him. Tho Argentinian had neither tho skill, the speed, nor the versatility to cope with the resourcefulness of his sable opponent. A crowd which numbered 80,000 witnessed the unequal battle. Although Wills easily outpointed the Argentinian, it is scarcely believed that he endangers Dcmpsey's tenure of the championship. Experts and laymen alike agree that neither has a chanco against Dempsey. Neither showed any improvement in his boxing, despite the glowing reports from the respective training camps. The fight had plenty of action, but there was a sameness throughout the successive rounds which killed the thrill. Tho whole of the spectators were disappointed With the fighters, neither of whom showed in the actual battle the form shown in traujing.