Home > Luis Firpo

In 1917, Firpo began his professional boxing career by beating Frank Hagney by a decision in six in Buenos Aires. Originally declared a no decision, the bout's result was later changed to a win for Firpo.

For his second bout, he travelled, on January 1918, to Montevideo, Uruguay, where he suffered his first defeat, a first round knockout at the hands of Angel Rodriguez . He put a string of six wins in a row after that, and so on November 1 of 1919Events January January 1 Edsel Ford succeeds his father as head of the Ford Motor Company January 5 Spartacist uprising Socialist demonstrations in Berlin turn into attempted communist revolution with Spartacist League in the forefront January 9 Spartacus, he found himself challenging Dave Mills in Santiago , for the South AmericanSouth America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. South America is situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean. It became attached to North America only recently, geologically speaking, wi Heavyweight title. He lost on that occasion by a decision in 15 rounds, but then came back with a win over Andres Balsa by a knockout in round six.

On April 20April 20 is the 110th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (111th in leap years). There are 255 days remaining. Events 636 Battle of Yarmuk: Arabs take control of Syria and Palestine away from the Byzantine Empire. 1653 Oliver Cromwell disbands Parli of 19201920 is a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar) Events January January 7 Forces of Russian White admiral Kolchak surrender in Krasnoyarsk. January 9 Britain announces it will build 100,000 homes for war veterans. January 10 Leagu, he and Mills had a rematch and Firpo won the title with a first round knockout. After one more win, he and Mills faced each other in a rubber match, and the result was the same as that of their second bout: Firpo the winner by a knockout in the first. In 1921Events January 2 The first religious radio broadcast ( KDKA AM in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) January 2 Spanish liner Santa Isabel sinks off Villa Garcia 244 dead January 2 DeYoung Museum in Golden Gate Park San Francisco opens. January 20 Republic of Turke, Firpo had a raise in quality of opposition, when he defeated fringe contender Gumboat Smith twice, the first by decision in 12 and the second by knockout, also in 12.

In 1922Events January 7 Dali Eireann ratifies the Anglo-Irish Treaty by 64-57 votes. January 10 Arthur Griffith is elected President of Dail Eireann January 11 First successful insulin treatment of diabetes. January 12 British government releases Irish prisoners, he continued his raise in the Heavyweight rankings by winning all four of his fights by a knockout.

Firpo began 1923Centuries: 19th century 20th century 21st century Decades: 1870s 1880s 1890s 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s Years: 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 Events January 1 Grouping of all UK railway companies into four larg by knocking out former title challenger Bill Brennan in the 12th round. He followed that with seven more wins in a row, including wins over Jack McAuliffe and former world champion Jess Willard. After a win against Charlie Weinert , Firpo challenged world Heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey, at New York on September 14. Firpo became the first hispanic in history to challenge for the world's Heavyweight championship when he met Dempsey. Firpo was floored seven times before he trapped Dempsey against the ropes and launched a combination that sent Dempsey out of the ring in round one. Dempsey hit his head against a writer's typing machine, and for one moment, it looked as if Firpo would become the first hispanic in history to become world Heavyweight champion. But Dempsey got up at the count of nine, and proceeded to knock Firpo out in round two. This fight has been called by critics and experts as one of the greatest fights in history. Despite losing, Firpo gained substantial fame all over Latin America after this bout, as many people on different parts of that region spoke about his feat of dropping Dempsey.

In 1924, Firpo won his first three fights by knockout, but then lost his last two by decision, the last of which was to legendary Black challenger Harry Wills .

He retired for a short period, but came back in 1926 to beat Erminio Spalla by a decision in ten. Then, he kept away from the fight game for nine years, but he attempted another comeback in 1936, winning two fights before being beaten by a knockout in three by future Joe Louis challenger Arturo Godoy .

Firpo's popularity around Latin America could not be measured until years later, when a professional football team in El Salvador, a Latin American country that is thousands of miles away from Firpo's Argentina, was named after him. In addition, various schools, streets and avenues across Latin America have been named after him.

Firpo had a record of 32 wins and 6 losses in 38 fights, with 26 wins by knockout.

Afterwards, he became a car-dealer and a rancher.

On his passing in 1960, Luis Firpo was buried in La Recoleta Cemetery in Buenos Aires.