DEMPSEY, JACK & JACK BERNSTEIN SPARRING WIRE PHOTO (1923-TRAINING FOR FIRPO)

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Regular price $125.00

Dempsey versus Firpo took place on September 14, 1923, at the Polo Grounds in New York City. Dempsey had been champion since 1919, and Firpo was one of the top heavyweights of the world, nicknamed "El Toro de las Pampas" ("The Bull of the Pampas"). 80,000 fans paid to see the fight live. Firpo displayed his power immediately, when he dropped a lunging Dempsey with a right hand just after the start of the first round. Dempsey landed on one knee, then quickly recovered. Dempsey then rushed onto his rival and proceeded to drop Firpo seven times within a minute and a half. There was no "three knockdown" rule, and Dempsey was permitted to stand over the fallen fighter and immediately knock him down again, as there was yet no rule about going to a neutral corner. But only half a minute later, towards the end of the first round, Firpo struck again. Trapping Dempsey against the ropes, he struck with another right to Dempsey's chin. Dempsey tumbled backwards out of the ring, and a photographer caught him as his legs pointed upwards. Dempsey hit a ringside writing machine during his fall, and he suffered a severe cut to the back of his head. He was helped back into the ring by the writers at ringside. Film of the fight shows the referee had reached the count of fourteen by the time he returned. After that scare, Dempsey recovered, dropping Firpo two more times in the second round, for a knockout victory at the fifty-seven-second mark of that round. Offered here is an original wire photo dated August 24, 1923 depicting Jack Dempsey and sparring partner Jack Bernstein mixing it up at Dempsey's camp in Saratoga, New York as he prepared for his fight with Firpo.
This is an original wire photo with caption on the back. Bold, clear image. Clean with no sparring. Not creased or torn. Minor edge wear. 5 1/4" x 9 1/4."

Size: 5 1/4 x 9 1/4

Condition: excellent