BOXING.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 July 1923, Page 3

BOXING.

FIRPO OUTS WILLARD. IN EIGHTH ROUND. AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. NEW YORK. July 12. Lnis Firpo knocked out 'Jess Willard in the eighth round. NEW YORK. July 12. An hour before the fight began the huge wooden bowel where Carpentier and Dempsey fought was virtually full. The crowd is estimated to have been in the vicinity of one hundred thousand, a large proportion of them being women. All the arena, except the ring where the preliminaries were being fought, was in total darkness. The spectators were orderly, and they seemed to (iml the seats without difficulty, despite the darkness. A reporter who made his way to Firpo's room in the hope of obtaining a last-minute statement found tho Argentinian playing cards with triends. He said that he could not he-disturbed, and must win ‘the game before entering the ring. The night, fortunately was cool, though lient recently had been unprecedented. A large number of Spaniards and Argentinians occupied the ringside. They were calling aloud in Spanish for \ their favourite (Firpo's) appearance. j Willard’s weight was announced as 212!bs. and Firpo's at 21-1. Jack Kearns (Dempsey’s manager), appeared and took his place in the New Jersey Governor's box.

In round one, when the men entered tin; ring, Willard looked rather grey under the glaring ring-light. Firpo looked tanned and swarthy. The crowd wore silent when the men squared off. limn apparently "ere nervous, each failing to land with rights and lefts.

Firpo then rushed his opponent, landing a glancing blow to the body. A\ illard now boxed mi the delcnsive. T*irpo drove him to the ropes, landing a right to the body, and a right hook to the face.

Willard seemed fat. and Firpo’s blows crunched as they landed. AA illiii'd. who was attempting to land blows on Firpo's face, missed continually. Firpo resumed his charging tactics, and in the next round he charged like a hull from his corner. Willard meeting him half way. and driving him to the ropes. AVillaid apparently was now instructed to bring the fight to lvis opponent’s quarters. \\ illard s punches, however, fell short.

In round four, both men were breathing heavily when they stepped out of their corners. AVillaid attempted to land a hard uppercut, but he failed, Firpo now began leading with h.is light, and pushing his opponent savagely to the ropes. Suddenly. Firpo landed a right to the jaw, rocking AVillard. Firpo followed this up with five short rights to the head. The crowd here rose, shouting. Willard appeared |,i he trembling, but be smiled game!v, and stood up under the attack. 'Pile Amenenn appeared weaiy when the gong rang.

For tho fifth round of the light. Millard came cnutiou-ly from his corner. The men clinched, alter each missing l.lnivs. Then Willard landed a smash on the face, forcing Firpo to the ropes, out Firpo held his ground, and drove Willard to the other side of the ling. Willard landed a hard right under the eves which seemed to hint Firpo. "ho clinched.

Willard then wildly attempted to follow up ills advantage, but his blows landed short, while Firpo drove a hard right to the head. In the sixth round, both were wary. They spurred c uiefully. clinching several times. Firpo attempted rabbit punches in a din di, but Willard blocked them with bis left. Both men -corned to be tiring and the bell found them clinched.

1,1 the next round they bell, t ipp-.l rad. other feebly, missing continuously I'l.po charged, tint lie met n right to the body, which hurt him. and drove hi,,, to clinch. Willard backed hi, opponent to the ropes, and landed a hard right, causing Firpo's head tolly bad;. Firpo assumed the defensive, and W d|,nd appeared more confident, hut the Argentinian eventually lauded a tempo. right, raising a lump on Willaid's

In the eighth round, tile men spnnetl cautiously, hot It missing blows, when suddenly Eirpo hutched n will, attack, driving Willard into his own corner. Then with a terrific light to the jaw, be knocked Willard down. When the count reached eight, Willard’s seconds yelled to him to get tip. hut he waved hi- arm saying “no", and he was

cotton I out only a fraction uf a sec-

end liefo:e the L. 11 rang ending the found. Thereupon ecnl'u-iou arose as to whether the hell 11atl saved Willard. Firpo seemed teady to resume for the ninth v lien the time-keeper annotimed that the count was over before the hell went, and that the knock-out was definite. llis seconds explained that Willards arm -ulVeled a mishap during training. The doctors were tumble to suengthen

with the possi.de exception of two rounds. Fit pi seemed to he leading throughout though hi- advantage was not apparent till the seventh round. Tli“ t rou-l won- nut sympathetic W illard's t el'il-al to get up after the bueek down. He appeared quite tresli u lien he got tin after the emim.

cantebbuury amateur reps.

CIIRISTCIirEUI, July 13

~ i-esult. of the Canterbury championships, the amateurs to represent CatUe.hu,-V at the South Island Boxing Championships n,xi Wednesday anil Thursday are — Flv-weight.—\ ■ Howell. Bantam. —L. Bbik. Feather.—T. Armstrong. Welter. —A. Thompson. In the preliminaries, the resulrs Flv-weight.—W . Wen* beat J. Johnstone alter an even go : V. Howell 7.7, beat J. Sellars (7.9) being too out and experienced for Sellars, and the I,out being -topped m th» second j round. Bantam. L. Blaeh S.it boat W. Davev (7.11). A persistent straight left was the winner's best er.rd. Feathers. —T. Armstrong <~.13) heat Davev ■9.0) after a close contest. I i-.Jit-weights.—A. Argylo heat jL Fabian : G. Jolmsione beat T. Burns. Welter.—A. Tltowispsr.n (10.1) Unit Batlniityne oSotithbridge), ( 10.2'. The first and second rounds went hv malt margins to Thompson, who knocked out his opponent early in the third round. W. Mel’hail (Ashburton' liUi). lient A. Batclie'ior 10.3). McPhait floored bin man live times in the first round, the last being a knock-out. Meddle. —K. Peacoeke 1 11.2) heat J. Gibson 10.11), the latter lxung disqualified for 1 a’tempting ti throw. Heavies.—l. Green (12.9), heat J. Cooke (Southhridge) (11.4). An ttnseieiitilie bout. Tile winner twice floored iiis man, who retired in the second round.