It was September 14, 1923, when more than 80,000 people left the Polo Grounds in New York feeling like they had just witnessed an unforgettable spectacle. The legendary Jack Dempsey had just defended his World Heavyweight Title for the fifth time, and it only took him four minutes to do so. However, for many of the spectators who left the arena, stunned and excited, those were the most spectacular and shocking four minutes they had ever experienced near a boxing ring. The Argentine challenger Luis Angel Firpo had been tamed, but not before delivering a wild fight full of knockdowns, twists, and even a fall out of the ring, making it one of the most violent fights in boxing history.
The Wild Bull of the Pampas
Today, the name Luis Angel Firpo may not enjoy much recognition in Europe and the United States, but in South America, the exploits of this terrifying Argentine puncher remain etched in history. Immortalized in statues and paintings, Firpo even lent his name to a Salvadoran soccer team, Club Deportivo Luis Angel Firpo, founded just three days after the historic fight against Dempsey. It’s a classic case in the history of sports where a defeat brings more glory than a thousand victories. The career of the “Wild Bull of the Pampas,” despite that wild night, was respectable but not extraordinary, filled with spectacular KOs but lacking prestigious victories.
Another “Goliath” for “David” Dempsey
Jack Dempsey had already proven to the world that he could take on and destroy larger opponents when he claimed the world title from Jess Willard, to whom he “gave up” about 15 centimeters and 26 kilograms. It was no surprise, then, that Dempsey, the “small” fighter, was favored by bookmakers against the powerful Firpo, who was slightly taller but significantly more muscular and heavier. Nevertheless, the atmosphere at the arena that night was electric. The “Manassa Mauler” was set to defend his title against an authentic freight train—a fierce, powerful challenger many believed would at least make it a thrilling contest.
Shock Blow and Brutal Revenge
To understand the emotional rollercoaster that the lucky spectators experienced that night, consider that in 1950, a poll of 374 qualified journalists named the Dempsey-Firpo fight the most dramatic sporting event of the first half of the 20th century.
No sooner had the sound of the first bell rung than the champion charged full force at the challenger. Attacking him with unprecedented violence from the start, Dempsey hoped to unsettle Firpo by forcing him onto the back foot, based on the well-known principle that a boxer accustomed to taking the initiative feels uncomfortable when forced to retreat. But such a tactical move against a deadly puncher was a gamble, and the champion nearly paid for it: a sudden right hand hit him square on the chin, dropping him to one knee. The first twist had arrived!
Dempsey’s anger at the blow proved unstoppable. After seeing his rival rise with a determined look, Firpo became the target of a barrage: he was knocked down five times and got back up five times. Dempsey’s devastating uppercuts from close range did most of the damage, and Firpo was unable to defend himself.
The Dramatic Fall and the Arms of Salvation
Just when the fight seemed destined to end, Firpo, fueled by desperation, incredibly landed the right hand needed to reopen the fight. Dempsey was shaken, and more loaded rights followed, pushing him back to the ropes. A final punch sent Dempsey crashing out of the ring as the crowd gasped in disbelief. At that dramatic moment, help came from an unexpected source: the arms of journalists sitting ringside broke Dempsey’s fall, preventing him from hitting the ground hard and helping him back toward the ring.
The American champion took full advantage of this prohibited assistance, managing to survive Firpo’s last furious assault and using the break between rounds to recover. Firpo’s missed opportunity drained his energy and enthusiasm. In the second round, he was knocked down twice in quick succession, leading to the final KO.
A Grueling War That Left Its Mark
Everything we’ve described happened in just four minutes, but the physical and emotional intensity of the battle drained both fighters, setting them on the path to decline. Dempsey stayed away from the ring for three years before losing the world title to the talented Gene Tunney. Firpo returned to Argentina, lost his vigor and athletic condition, and never again displayed the boxing skills that had made him famous. Those four minutes exhausted their psychophysical energies but also made them immortal.