Luis Firpo

Luis Firpo was billed as "The Wild Bull of the Pampas." A giant of a man, with enormous fists, Firpo became the South American Heavyweight Champion with a first-round knockout over David Mills in Santiago, Chile, in South America on April 30, 1920. Living his native Argentina in 1922, Firpo embarked on a barnstorming career in the United Sates. He won 13 straight fights in 17 months to earn a crack at the World Heavyweight Boxing Championship. Firpo wild-brawl with champion Jack Dempsey is rated the most exciting in Boxing history. Firpo not only knocked the champion down twice, but he even knocked Dempsey out of the ring. Firpo, in turn, was knocked down no less than 7 times before being knocked cold in the second round. Firpo retired from boxing in 1926 and went back to Argentina to live a comfortable life on his ranch. However, as in the case of most boxers, Firpo launched a comeback at the age of 42. In his first fight in 10 years, he knocked out Saverio Grizzo in one round, and 16 days later, knocked out Siska Haharta in a 3-round slugfest. Realizing that he was too old to continue, the Wild Bull of the Pampas retired; forever a legend in boxing history.