Manassa Mauler vs The Wild Bull of Pampas

September 14th 1923 at the New York Polo Grounds perhaps the greatest figt ever took place in front of 85 thousand fans.

Heavyweight Champion and the most famous sportsman of the time Jack Dempsey (yes he was bigger than Ruth) was facing Luis "The Wild Bull of Pampas" Firpo for the title.

Even though Dempsey had looked average and gone the distance with Tommy Gibbons Dempsey was a huge favorite over the wild strong right hander Firpo. Dempsey sparred with the best heavyweights. Firpo didnt spar, he fought to spar.

Signing the contract in June, Firpo immediately signed 3 fights to be in July and August. With the last one 2 weeks before Dempsey. Firpo went 3-0 with 2 KOs in these fights and said they made him sharper.

The fight was finally here, the bell rang, Dempsey comes out, engages, and Firpo lands a huge right. Dempsey is down in the first 10 seconds.

Dempsey is up before the ref, Jack Gallagher, cant even start counting and Firpo comes at Dempsey (Dempsey later says he remembers nothing of the fight after this first knockdown) Dempsey lands a left hook flush with Firpo missing a big right and Firpo is down. Dempsey knocks Firpo down again.

He again rises before a count can be issued and Dempsey hits on a break with a left uppercut and knocks Firpo down. For a 9 count AND HERE IS AN IMPORTANT THING NOBODY REMEMBERS the neutral corner rule WAS already under law in New York. The referee, Jack Gallagher, didnt enforce it AT ALL. Dempsey was waiting for Firpo instantly when he stood before a count was even issued. Dempsey instantly tags Firpo again and down goes Firpo.

Gallagher warns Dempsey to go to a neutral corner. Dempsey doesnt he sneaks behind Firpo and when Firpo gets up at a 9 count Dempsey unloads a right onto Firpo who didnt know where the hell Dempsey was. It is the 5th time Firpo has been down.

to put it simply, Firpo got pissed. He bum rushed Dempsey and knocked the Champion down with another right hand. Dempsey gets up before a count can be issued and runs at Firpo and guess what, knocks him down again. Firpo gets up before a count can be issued (I am not making this up!!!!) Defense is OUT THE FUCKING WINDOW, this is a throwback fight to the battle royal days (if you dont know what Im talking about look em up).
Firpo gets up before a count and instantly charges Dempsey to the ropes

He lands a right hand punch/push ON THE COLLAR BONE that sends Dempsey through the ropes in the most famous knockdown in boxing history.

Dempseys legs are tangled in the ropes and he has landed on Jack Lawrences (big NY sports Writer) typewriter,Lawrence shoves Dempsey back into the ring. This should have instantly been a disqualification as nobody is allowed to help a fighter up (even though a referee helped Jeffries up verse Johnson) everyone agrees the strong money on Dempsey influenced the referee, no way was he going to be the guy to DQ Dempsey

This is the turning point in the fight, Dempsey gets into the ring at the count of 9 with 30 seconds left, Firpo has had Dempsey down 3 times, Firpo rushes Dempsey with 3 right hands, Dempsey weaves and answers, the bell rings, Firpo drops his hands, Dempsey lands 3 flush hooks!!!!! To alot of boo's .

Greatest round of Championship history ever probably right there, 10 knockdowns, 3 minutes, 7 Firpo, 3 Dempsey

Dempseys corner later said at the end of the round Dempsey came back and asked, "what round did I get knocked out in?"

THey told him he had just slipped and was fine! Got smelling salts and told him to get ready for the 2nd round

Think about how fucking nuts that is

Dempsey later said he got his second wind before the start of the 2nd in the corner.

Dempsey comes out lands some body punches and then throws Firpo to the canvas, as soon as Firpo gets up Dempsey lands 3 left hooks and knocks Firpo down. Firpo got up tried to land a right got a left hoof to the body and right hook to the jaw and went down for the last time.

3 minutes 57 seconds, 12 knockdowns.

Babe Ruth made 50 grand that year, Dempsey made 500 grand and Firpo made just over 150 grand for this fight.

2nd Million dollar fight, Both envolved Dempsey, he would have 5 million dollar gate fights in his career.

Dempsey was so damn dirty in this fight that you almost wonder if he should have been disqualified, NUMEROUS TIMES.

Pulled alotta shit, one doesnt instantly think Dempsey when thinking dirty fighter. But man he was.

Dempsey says the sportswriters didnt help him up, the sportswriters say he said "help me". Who knows, all I know is this fight was one of the greatest ever.