BOXING.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 December 1923, Page 12

BOXING.

ROYAL WELCOME HOME. FOR LUIS FIRJfd Ten million dollars spent in publicity could not have given to the Argentine the advertisement that Firpo, by his fight with Dempsey, has given it. New York, Sept. 24. The Argentine plans a royal welcome for Luis Angel Firpo. And richly does he deserve it. No man in the entire history of South America ever brought to that land below the Equator—and especially to the Argentine—world-wide publicity such as has the brawny giant which the sportive world knows best as The Wild Bull of the Pampas. • They’ve told again and again the story of Luis Firpo; a tale of real life which out-thrills even the most thrilling stories ever penned by the masters of romantic, heroic Action. And so long as pugilism endures they’ll tell it and re-tell it. Perhaps the most singular thing about -the career of Firpo is that in the land where they now hail him as its greatest hero, he once was regarded by the few who knew him, as a youngster gone a bit cuckoo. They thought him “queer” because, in those rare moments when he voiced the feelings within his soul, and the thoughts within his mind, he talked of but one thing: “Some day I shall fight for the world’s championship.” In those days they knew but little concerning the more Or less noble art of self defence and slugology; they knew, in supeiiflcial fashion, that somewhere in the world there was such a sport, where irften fought with their fists for fame and for wealth—but they know little beyond those salient points, and cared less. HIS GENESIS. Ten years ago, when Firpo first began to self-train himself for the prize ring by long jaunts over the hills and down the valleys, and when he slung ponderous fists at a sandbag, those who viewed the strange proceedings did not view for long before they tapped their own heads in significant fashion —and then pointed to the silent, hairy giant before them. Early in -19212 Luis Angel Firpo decided to embark for these shores, and to fight his way up the ladder to the pugilistic heights. A half-dozen folks were at the pier to say good-bye to him, as he sailed away in steerage—and those who wished him God speed and good luck were relatives. For friends were few in those days, and admirers none. What Imppened afterwards is written indelibly in the pages of fistic history.

THE HARD ROAD. Firpo nearly starved before he got his first fight'—and a purse of ISudol. He won, not spectacularly, but in convincing fashion. He fought a tougher foeman next time —and once more his iron fists pounded along to triumph. He fought a third fight, and scored a third knock-out. i By that time the spotting folks in this country began to sit up and take notice of Dead Pan Looie. They wondered whether he was as good - ' as he seemed—or just a lucky false alarm. They wanted him to fight some more — and to fight immediately- But Luis Firpo sailed away for his home land, to be met by a nation of people become almost hysterical in its gladness that a native son had gone to an alien land, fought alien warriors—and won in brilliant fashion. , Firpo came back in 1923. In rapid succession he fought Bill Brennan, Jack McAuliffe, and half a

dozen others. One victory followed another. Then they sent him against the gigantic Jess Willard—and Jess Willard fell, or rather, flopped before the Argentine’s attack. Then came the climax. Firpo was matched with Jack Demp« sey. PUBLICITY FOR ARGENTINE. Folks who probably never knew there was such ii place in the world as the Argentine, suddenly came to realise that it had developed a son «o formidable that he had a chance to whip a world’s fistic champion. Everywhere throughout the world where sports are played they came to know of Luis Angel Firpo —and of the Argentine that produced him. Ten million dollars spent in giving publicity to the Argentine Cbuld not have accomplished wha»t Firpo, through the power of his fists, accomplished for

it. The land that is his basked in the reflected glory of his brilliant ring achievements. The Argentine became famous and glorirfied almost overnight, because of Luis Angel Firpo, son of a poor man, who became the greater figure in South American history. Firpo failed in his striving for the pinnacle of pugilism. But there was glory for him, and honour and wondrous praise even in that failure. For he fought a game, courageous battle against a mighty foeman, and when he went down to defeat it was with colours still flying and with the battle fire not dead within him —simply beaten i»to smoulder. I They’re planning a welcome him for Luia Angel Firpo—a regal Welcome. No matter how royal it may be, no matter how fervent the demonstration, no matter how great the acclaim, it is only what is the right, and the portion of this fighting man from the south land.