FIRPO DEFEATED

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 11933, 13 September 1924, Page 8

FIRPO DEFEATED

WILLS WINS EVERY ROUND BITTER FEELING BETWEEN WHITE MAN AND BLACK. FIRPO LOSES TEMPER. Ev Telegraph.—Press Aren.—Copyright Australian and N.Z fnhta ■.n,,,. (Received September 12, 7.40 p.m.) NEW YORK, September 11. At Boyle’s Thirty Acres, in Jersey City, the scene of the Dempsey-Oarpen-tier fight, Harry Wills decisively defeated Luis Firpo in 12 rounds. New Jersey’s laws forbid a referee’s decision, but there is little room for doubt that Wills 'outclassed Firpo. The negro landed -oftener, and his blows were far deadlier. There seemed a distinct under-cur-rent of hatred between the fighters, partly owing to the difference of colour, partly because each had venomously belittled the others ability. Wills’s ring tactics continuously confounded Firpo's lumbering attacks. The negro gamely exposed himself to Firpo’s weak lefts, but promptly clinched whenever the Argentinian endeavoured to shift to his powerful right. Wills invariably laughed when doing this, and enraged the Argentinian, who repatedly lost hia temper, exposing himself to swift attack. The experts generally awarded Wills each of the 12 rounds, because Fimo obviously fought on the defensive throughout. , • FIRPO DOWN FOR FOUR. The early rounds saw cautious. fighting, Firpo hesitated to apply the greatest force to bis. blows, being obviously unwilling to be caught off his balance. Nevertheless sharp blows were constantly exchanged. Wills. in the fourth round, floored Firpo for the count of four. The Argentinian rose unshaken and proceeded methodically, though wearily. In the fifth round, the fighters were near exhaustion, and clinched repeatedly, neither striking a blow in the clinches. WILLS TOO QUICK. Firpo, at close quarters, was unable to escape Wills’s savage rights in the sixth round, and he was swinging, wildiv. In the seventh, Wills staggered Firpo with a rain of blows to his jaw. Firpo, vainly sparring for an opening, ultimately managed a right shift, but Wills danced away. ; Firpo again shifted in the eighth, hut Wills, stepping close, pounded Firpo’s bodv. He mercilessly punished Firpo in the clinches, laughing at the Argentinian’s futile .right swings. During tho remaining rounds Firpo became more erratic, and more defensive, although he vainly sought a chance to deliver a terrific right. DEMPSEY NEXT? Wills has a considerable reputation in the United States, and he has for vears sought a fight with Jack Dempsey, the heavy-weight champion. For many reasons, including, it is believed, the champion’s reluctance, all attempts to arrange the match have failed, 'ibis

year Dempsey is said to he willing to meet the negro, provided he first proves his mettle. But the bitter racial feeling aroused by a ring contest between black and white may make tho promoters hesitate before arranging for Wills to fight the champion. ATTRACTIVE PROGRAMME ON MONDAY. BLAGKBURN-MAY CONTEST. The last oocasion on which a profc» tional championship was contested m Wellington was when I.cs 'Murray wrested tho lightweight title from Frank O’Neill, and which the former has retained ever since. Blackburn had one unsuccessful attempt to oht.a,n possession, and it was then evident that the Aucklander was weak in making the weight to compete for the title. Since then he has wisely competed in tho welterweight class, and Ins recent successes undoubtedly entitle him to be considered as likely to deprive May of the title, which he lias held practically ever since ho joined the professional ranks. As an amateur May was one of the hardest hitters ever seen in the lightweight tla-s and he still retains this characteristic. Against another vigorous type of boxer such os Blackburn is known to be, patrons on Monday may well expect some thrills In addition to the amateur preliminaries patrons are promised some excitement in the ton-round return contest betweer i Clinton and Overehd, two hoys who figured in what was probably the most exciting contest seen in Wellington over many years. They have only to repeat, that performance to stamp thomseives as firm favourites in Wellington. Tho keen interest being taken in tbo tournament is evidenced by tlie keen demand for seat 3, and indications are that seating accommodation will be at a premium, long before proceedings commence. Intending patrons are strongly urged to book their scats or ' avail themselves of tbo system of early door tickets.