Sport: Words

Harry Wills, "Black Panther," and Luis Angel Firpo, Argentine "Bull Man," continued their exchange of words in adjacent columns of The New York World, preparatory to exchanging blows in the prize ring at Newark on Sept. 11. Wills: "I see that Firpo is bubbling over with confidence. Why pick poor little Harry out as one of his soft victims ? He hasn't broken any man's ribs or jaw around here, has he? Say, I fought little old man Sam Langford* 22 times. I forgot to duck on only two occasions in all that time. I admit I didn't know what hit me or how I fell. . . . Let me tell you that Sam Langford hit harder by accident than most heavyweights hit on purpose. There never lived a hitter like Langford." (Wills' interlocutor asked if Langford could have whipped Champion Dempsey.) "Ho, Ho! Dempsey wouldn't have lasted any time. Made to order for Sam—poor Sam. Ah, gee, what a great fighter Now about . . . Firpo. I'll surely beat him. . . . Just let that bird come and I'll knock him back fast enough. Hitting? Say, I know he can hit. . . . Any clodhopper is likely to beat you. ... I may win in a round." Firpo: "My plan—my big plan—is to attack Wills' body. I do not think the man lives who can stand my blows to heart, ribs and wind."