Rex Layne vs Luis Firpo

I think this is an unfair spin against Liebling. What he is saying is that the top contender of 1955 was better than the top contenders of 1923.

I think he is correct, with the proviso that the real top contender of 1923, Harrry Wills, was prevented by the politics of the day from ever challenging the reigning champion.

 

firpo had zero skill and too much is made of him puttin dempsey thru the ropes.

IT WAS CLEARLY A PUSH. WATCH THE FILM !

 

It could very well be correct in that instance but it is not a universal constant which was my point ...

 

I thought it was a trip ...

 

A push after Firpo had already stunned Dempsey with several right hands. Let's just say that Dempsey wouldn't have fallen over so easily if he had not been affected by those punches.

I give Dempsey a lot of credit for taking this one on the chin:

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfOCWEvA_DA[/ame]

2:10

Say what you may about Firpo but that was a massive right hand flush on the jaw, and only moments after he was sprawled out on the canvas.

 

Most people don't note that Dempsey got rocked to his boots by the first punch Firpo threw. The fight film is cut up but Dempsey was knocked down in the first few seconds of the fight. I believe this sent him to a blind rage with all skill and technique thrown out in favour of street brawling.