LATE SPORTING

Southland Times, Issue 19048, 18 September 1923, Page 5

LATE SPORTING

WHAT THE FILMS DISCLOSE. FIRPO’S BAD TACTICS. (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) NEW YORK, September 16. Newspaper men who saw the Dempsey - Firpo fight in slow motion pictures re-ob-served the details which actually were so swift and furious that it was impossible to grasp them. The pictures showed that Firpo was knocked down seven times in the first round. As he started to rise after the sixth knock-down Dempsey circled cat-like. Firpo tried to face Dempsey as he rose, but Dempsey kept behind. When he saw Firpo’s hands leave the floor he knocked him crashing to the canvas again. The pictures indicate that the eighth blow from Firpo nearly finished Dempsey, Had he allowed Dempsey to drop to the canvas newspaper men believe he might not have got up. When knocked out of the ring Dempsey half crawled back through the ropes, and was pushed the remainder of the way by newspaper men. FIRPO’S FATAL ERROR. JACK JOHNSTON’S OPINION. COMPETENT TRAINING REQUIRED. NEW YORK, September 16. At New Haven, Connecticut, Jack Johnson, former heavyweight champion, declared Firpo’s improper training lost him the title, which was almost thrust upon him on Friday. Firpo made a fatal mistake when he stepped back as Dempsey re-entered the ring after being knocked through the ropes. If Firpo had then advanced, and planted another blow, Dempsey would again have toppled helpless over the ropes. Given another year’s experience under a competent trainer. Firpo will yet defeat Dempsey.