Editing Luis Ángel Firpo (section)

==Boxing career==
In 1922 he arrived in the United States.<ref>{{cite news |title=South American Heavyweight Is Here on Trail of Dempsey |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/99678342 |access-date=5 October 2023 |publisher=The New York Times |date=25 January 1922}}</ref> He rose quickly in the Heavyweight rankings by winning all four of his fights that year by knockout. The first three in the United States made him a national hero in Argentina.<ref>{{cite news |title=Firpo's Success Here Makes Him Argentine Boxing Idol |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/98862523 |access-date=5 October 2023 |publisher=The New York Times |date=7 April 1922}}</ref> He returned to his home town Buenos Aires to fight Jim Tracey in front of 20,000 spectators. Firpo won by knockout in the 4th round.<ref>{{cite news |title=Firpo Knocks Out Tracey in The Fourth at Buenos Aires |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/100151174/62D37BEE8F44FC2PQ |access-date=5 October 2023 |publisher=The New York Times |date=9 October 1922}}</ref>

[[File:Luis Firpo, G. Widmer, A. Mayer, J. DeForest (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|Firpo and his handlers]]
Firpo began 1923 at [[Madison Square Garden (1925)|Madison Square Garden]] knocking out former title challenger [[Bill Brennan (boxer)|Bill Brennan]] in the 12th round with a right. Brennan had to be taken to the hospital afterwards for a concussion. "Dempsey never hit me any harder than this fellow," said Brennan. Adding that he couldn't wear his old hat because his head was too swollen.<ref>{{cite news |title=BRENNAN SUFFERS BRAIN CONCUSSION: Taken to Hospital Following Knockout by Firpo -- "Rabbit Punch" Is Blamed. HIS CONDITION NOT SERIOUS Blow Which Caused Injury Was a Sledgehammer Right Be- hind the Left Ear. TOOK AN AWFUL BEATING" Physician Says Boxer Shows Signs of Battering -- Firpo Hits Hard as Dempsey, Asserts Victim. |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/103219066 |access-date=5 October 2023 |publisher=The New York Times |date=15 March 1923}}</ref>

He followed that with seven more wins in a row, including a win over former world champion [[Jess Willard]]. Willard was 41 at the time, and his age forced the bout to be moved from New York to New Jersey.<ref>{{cite news |title=WILLARD TOO OLD, SAYS BOXING BOARD: Jess Exceeds Age Limit and Bout With Firpo Is Banned in This State. FIGHT SLATED FOR JERSEY Rickard Known to Be Making Plans to Hold Contest in Boyle's Thirty Acres June 30. |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/103118794 |access-date=6 October 2023 |publisher=The New York Times |date=19 May 1923}}</ref> The event drew enormous interest, as 100,000 fight fans crowded the event  with an estimated 25,000 more turned away, an attendance which set a world record for boxing at the time.<ref>{{cite news |title=CROWD AT FIGHT A WORLD RECORD: Richard's Arena Is Jammed to Capacity to Witness "Second Battle of the Century." MANY NOTABLES PRESENT Governors Senators Society Lead- ers and 2,000 Women Mingle With Other Fans. |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/100186792 |access-date=6 October 2023 |publisher=The New York Times |date=13 July 1923}}</ref> After a win against [[Charley Weinert]], Luis Firpo was scheduled for a heavyweight title shot against [[Jack Dempsey]].

Firpo was the first [[Latin Americans|Latin American]] in history to challenge for the world heavyweight title. In anticipation for the Dempsey-Firpo bout, a Firpo sparring session drew a crowd of 12,000.<ref>{{cite news |title=FIRPO DRAWS 12,000 TO SEASIDE CAMP: Big Holiday Crowd Watches Luis in Six Rounds of Lively Sparring. LEFT HAND STILL USELESS Right His Only Effective Weapon, as Before, and With It He Bursts Punching Bag In One Swing. |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/103115533 |access-date=6 October 2023 |publisher=The New York Times |date=4 September 1923}}</ref> The match was at the [[Polo Grounds]], normal capacity 55,000, but an additional 20,000 seats were constructed bringing the total to 75,000 for the fight,<ref>{{cite news |title=BOXING LOOMS UP AS BIG BUSINESS: QUICK WAY TO GET RICH $500,000 to Dempsey for His Match With Firpo FEW DOLLARS ONCE A PURSE $10,000,000 Estimated Receipts This Year in New York State Alone Sets High Mark. |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/103113687 |access-date=6 October 2023 |publisher=The New York Times |date=9 September 1923}}</ref> later expanded to 83,000. The police estimated that 150,000 people showed up, including a mass extending a quarter mile in every direction around the arena.<ref>{{cite news |title=MOB FIGHTS FOR TICKETS: Crowd Seeking $3.30 Admissions Sweep Police Aside in Rush WOMEN HURT IN CRUSH Many Injuries Reported in Ef- fort to Restore Order Outside the Polo Grounds. FANS BAIT SPECULATORS Police Arrest Twelve Men Charged With Profiteering in Tickets. MOB FIGHTS FOR TICKETS |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/103162846 |access-date=6 October 2023 |publisher=The New York Times |date=15 September 1923}}</ref>

[[file:Bellows George Dempsey and Firpo 1924.jpg|thumb|Firpo sending Dempsey outside the ring; ''[[Dempsey and Firpo]]'', 1923 painting by [[George Bellows]]]]
Firpo was floored seven times in the first round of [[Jack Dempsey versus Luis Firpo|the bout]], before he trapped Dempsey against the ropes and launched a combination that sent the champion out of the ring. Dempsey was helped into the ring at the count of nine (in spite of having been seventeen seconds outside the ring; fighters are given a twenty-second count when they are knocked through the ropes). After getting back in the ring Dempsey took 13 consecutive shots from Firpo.<ref>{{cite news |title=FIRPO FELLED TEN TIMES: Champion Downed Twice and Punched Through Ropes at Outset. |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/103177868 |access-date=6 October 2023 |publisher=The New York Times |date=15 September 1923}}</ref> In the second round Dempsey rallied and knocked out Firpo. It was named ''[[The Ring (magazine)|Ring Magazine]]'' [[Ring Magazine fights of the year|Fight of the Year]] for 1923.

He returned to Argentina for a period, fighting only 3 official bouts while he planned another return to the United States. Originally planned as a 10 match tour.<ref>{{cite news |title=FIRPO STARTS TRAINING.: Preparing for Bouts Against Spalla and Lodge Next Month. |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/103404293 |access-date=6 October 2023 |publisher=The New York Times |date=14 January 1924}}</ref> 80,000 attended his fight against [[Harry Wills]],<ref>{{cite news |last1=Davis |first1=Elmer |title=80,000 SEE WILLS OUTBOX FIRPO IN ALL OF TWELVE ROUNDS: Negro Floors the Argentine Fighter for Count of Five in the Second Round. $800,000 IN PAID ADMISSIONS Wills's Blows Often Stagger Firpo, but He Is Unable to Land a Knockout. |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/103331895 |access-date=6 October 2023 |publisher=The New York Times |date=12 September 1924}}</ref> however he was defeated. He followed that with a loss against Charley Weinert, who Firpo had previously beaten. Both were by [[newspaper decision]].