Sport: A Fight

The Ring. In the center of the Polo Grounds, Manhattan, Champion Dempsey forcibly induced ” Bull” Firpo to lie immobile and unconscious for ten consecutive seconds. When the ten seconds were up, Dempsey walked over to Firpo, picked him up, told him he was a brave fellow.

Before being completely persuaded, Firpo was reduced eight times to squatting and sitting positions and he once rebelled so forcibly as to send Dempsey careening dizzily through the loose ropes into the laps of his friends.

The Gate. For three minutes, 57 seconds of his time, Dempsey received $475,000. Firpo’s three minutes, 47 seconds of consciousness netted him a flat $100,000. These generous sums were subscribed by about 80,000 paying guests among the 90,000 persons present. Promoter Rickard and the tax collectors enjoyed the remainder of his $1,082,593 gross receipts.

The Ringside. Gathered around at various ranges of visibility, notables from all walks of life observed. When Dempsey descended into the front row he landed not far from Archie and Kermit Roosevelt, Elihu Root, Mrs. O. H. P. Belmont, Sir Thomas Lipton, ex-heavyweight champion Jim Corbett, John J. McGraw, George M. Cohan. The visiting British polo teams were there, all the Yankee and most of the Chicago White Sox ball players, Lord Birkenhead and his daughter.

Eddie Foy, comedian, was there with his new wife. Harry Wills sat by, in fawn suitings, looking glum. Jack Johnson and Kid Norfolk chatted with Battling Siki, who grinned the while, not understanding much English.