This is a really cool Swedish cartoon portraying Luis Firpo as Julius Caesar with Harry Wills in the middle and Jack Dempsey on the right. I'm not exactly sure what the message of the cartoon is, but if I had to guess, I would say it has something to do with a shot at Dempsey's heavyweight title.
Let's look at a few Luis Firpo trading cards. This is one of my favorite and I actually own one of these, 1926-28 W511 Strip Cards - Purple Variations #92 L. A. Firpo, and at the top is the photo of Firpo that was used for the image on the card. My copy of this card is not the Purple variation, I haven't looked at it in a while but I believe my copy is the Black letters variation. This card is ridiculously and I mean ridiculously difficult to find. I love the image of Firpo eating Pasta.
1924 Willards Chocolate Luis Firpo. A legendary multi-sport set that features a few boxers. Check this out, this is absolutely fascinating, I also found the photo that was used for the image of Firpo on the card, but it's interesting that Willards Chocolate actually flipped the image around for some reason. The scan I posted on the very top is the way he was supposed to be facing.
1940 Kemmel Les Vedettes Sportive Louis Firpo. For some reason, his first name is often spelled "Louis" instead of "Luis", I honestly don't know which is correct but I tend to think it is "Luis." I also included the photo that was used for the image on the card.
This photo of Luis Firpo was used for the image on three trading cards, the 1926 San Fernando Chocolates Luis Angel Firpo, the 1920s Chocolate Angelical card and the 1920s Chocolates Lloveras card.
1923 German Transfers Luis Firpo.
The 1923 German Transfers series is a rare 25-subject set of multi-sport, water-applied stamps ("transfers") featuring prominent boxers and baseball players. Luis Firpo, is included in this set alongside Jack Dempsey, Babe Ruth, and Ty Cobb. The stamps are marked "Made in Germany" but feature American subjects
Here is what a full, uncut sheet of the 1923 German Transfers look like.
1923 German Transfers uncut set of (25) boxing & baseball player stamps including Babe Ruth. Uncut sheet includes Ray Schalk, George Burns, Georges Carpentier, Jack Dempsey, Lew Tendler, Red Faber, Zack Wheat, Benny Leonard, Dave Bancroft, Harry Wills, Tommy Gibbons, Luis Firpo, Everett Scott, Tris Speaker, Grover Alexander, Casey Stengel, Arthur Nehf, Battling Siki, Babe Ruth, Floyd Johnson, Ty Cobb, and Bob Shawkey.
Music break. 50 Cent was shot nine times at close range in May 2000 during an ambush in Queens, New York. The bullets struck his hand, arm, hip, legs, chest, and face, leaving him with a lasting injury to his jaw. He survived the attempted murder and used the experience to help define his rap career. This is my favorite 50 song, this track is a raw reflection on survival, betrayal, and paranoia following his 2000 shooting.
1928 Tabacalera La Morena Luis Firpo. The Tabacalera La Morena is an absolutely awesome set, and extremely rare. The images of the athletes on the cards are stunningly beautiful, the colors and the images themselves are really cool looking. This is a South American issued set that included boxers, baseball players, and track and field athletes, among others. The Babe Ruth card in this set fetches big-time money. This Luis Firpo card is so rare that this is the only scan I can find of it, in a lot with other cards from the set that popped up at auction a while back, and it's insane that there were actually two of them in the lot. He actually has a 1929 Tabacalera La Morena card as well but it's so rare that I can't find any scans of it.
This is a photo sequence of Luis Firpo at the Argentine Embassy on July 25th, 1924. Firpo was and still is a legend down in Argentina, I can't count how many streets the guy has named after him, he's like Elvis down there. The man with the mustache that Firpo is shaking hands with is the Governor of Buenos Aires Honorio Pueyrredon, and Firpo is also pictured with the Governor's daughter Julia Pueyrredon and Romana LeFevre.
These next few images of Luis Firpo are from "El Grafico" magazine, a legendary Argentine sports magazine that began publication in 1918 and ceased its regular print publication in January 2018 after 99 years, ending its run as a monthly magazine. While it no longer publishes physical issues, it continues to exist as an online platform and its legacy endures through archival, digital content.
Comments
This is a really cool Swedish cartoon portraying Luis Firpo as Julius Caesar with Harry Wills in the middle and Jack Dempsey on the right. I'm not exactly sure what the message of the cartoon is, but if I had to guess, I would say it has something to do with a shot at Dempsey's heavyweight title.
A program from the Luis Firpo vs Harry Wills fight.
Harry Wills and Luis Firpo at the weigh-in before their bout.
Luis Firpo and Harry Wills standing in the ring before the start of their bout.
Photos from the Luis Firpo-Harry Wills bout.
Let's look at a few Luis Firpo trading cards. This is one of my favorite and I actually own one of these, 1926-28 W511 Strip Cards - Purple Variations #92 L. A. Firpo, and at the top is the photo of Firpo that was used for the image on the card. My copy of this card is not the Purple variation, I haven't looked at it in a while but I believe my copy is the Black letters variation. This card is ridiculously and I mean ridiculously difficult to find. I love the image of Firpo eating Pasta.
This is by far his best card, it's just a beautiful card with the colors and the cool fight pose, the 1951 Topps Ringside Luis Firpo.
1924 Willards Chocolate Luis Firpo. A legendary multi-sport set that features a few boxers. Check this out, this is absolutely fascinating, I also found the photo that was used for the image of Firpo on the card, but it's interesting that Willards Chocolate actually flipped the image around for some reason. The scan I posted on the very top is the way he was supposed to be facing.
1929 Godfrey Phillips Sporting Champions Luis Angel Firpo.
1940 Kemmel Les Vedettes Sportive Louis Firpo. For some reason, his first name is often spelled "Louis" instead of "Luis", I honestly don't know which is correct but I tend to think it is "Luis." I also included the photo that was used for the image on the card.
This photo of Luis Firpo was used for the image on three trading cards, the 1926 San Fernando Chocolates Luis Angel Firpo, the 1920s Chocolate Angelical card and the 1920s Chocolates Lloveras card.
1920s Coleccion Boxeadores Luis Firpo.
1920s Alicante Chocolates Luis Firpo.
I'm not sure who issued this Luis Firpo card, but it's really cool.
1923 German Transfers Luis Firpo.
The 1923 German Transfers series is a rare 25-subject set of multi-sport, water-applied stamps ("transfers") featuring prominent boxers and baseball players. Luis Firpo, is included in this set alongside Jack Dempsey, Babe Ruth, and Ty Cobb. The stamps are marked "Made in Germany" but feature American subjects
Here is what a full, uncut sheet of the 1923 German Transfers look like.
1923 German Transfers uncut set of (25) boxing & baseball player stamps including Babe Ruth. Uncut sheet includes Ray Schalk, George Burns, Georges Carpentier, Jack Dempsey, Lew Tendler, Red Faber, Zack Wheat, Benny Leonard, Dave Bancroft, Harry Wills, Tommy Gibbons, Luis Firpo, Everett Scott, Tris Speaker, Grover Alexander, Casey Stengel, Arthur Nehf, Battling Siki, Babe Ruth, Floyd Johnson, Ty Cobb, and Bob Shawkey.
Check it out, that SGC graded uncut sheet of 1923 German Transfers is on eBay right now and the price tag ain't no joke.
This is what the 1923 German Transfers look like with their original store display attached.
1925-31 W590 Luis Firpo, hand cut from a strip.
Music break. 50 Cent was shot nine times at close range in May 2000 during an ambush in Queens, New York. The bullets struck his hand, arm, hip, legs, chest, and face, leaving him with a lasting injury to his jaw. He survived the attempted murder and used the experience to help define his rap career. This is my favorite 50 song, this track is a raw reflection on survival, betrayal, and paranoia following his 2000 shooting.
1928 Tabacalera La Morena Luis Firpo. The Tabacalera La Morena is an absolutely awesome set, and extremely rare. The images of the athletes on the cards are stunningly beautiful, the colors and the images themselves are really cool looking. This is a South American issued set that included boxers, baseball players, and track and field athletes, among others. The Babe Ruth card in this set fetches big-time money. This Luis Firpo card is so rare that this is the only scan I can find of it, in a lot with other cards from the set that popped up at auction a while back, and it's insane that there were actually two of them in the lot. He actually has a 1929 Tabacalera La Morena card as well but it's so rare that I can't find any scans of it.
Let's look at some photos of Luis Firpo from his legendary career. Nice sequence right here.
Absolutely wicked image of Luis Firpo sitting in his corner with his team, this is one of my favorite photos of him.
Luis Firpo spars with a Kangaroo.
Great photo showing the size of Luis Firpo.
Luis Firpo skips rope while training for Dempsey in 1923.
Luis Firpo picks up his sparring partner after flooring him.
These two are actually from the same photo shoot.
Luis Firpo getting into his car in the 1920s, sweet ride.
Firpo glances at the press from his car.
Luis Firpo and a sparring partner.
Luis Firpo with a sparring partner that has to be every bit of 6"5'.
Luis Firpo squaring off the Charlie Weinart before their bout on August 18,1923. Firpo would win the bout by KO in the 2nd round.
Luis Firpo relaxes on a bridge.
Awesome Luis Firpo sequence.
Phenomenal image of Luis Firpo.
This is a photo sequence of Luis Firpo at the Argentine Embassy on July 25th, 1924. Firpo was and still is a legend down in Argentina, I can't count how many streets the guy has named after him, he's like Elvis down there. The man with the mustache that Firpo is shaking hands with is the Governor of Buenos Aires Honorio Pueyrredon, and Firpo is also pictured with the Governor's daughter Julia Pueyrredon and Romana LeFevre.
A couple more photos of Luis Firpo training and sparring. This is a great shot of Firpo training with Texas heavyweight Joe Boykin in 1922.
This is just an awesome image of Luis Firpo sparring aboard the H.M.S. Benbow ship in 1925.
Luis Firpo working on the heavy bag while his trainers watch.
Luis Firpo poses during a training session.
Luis Firpo and his trainer Jimmy DeForest.
Love this image of Luis Firpo and his trainer Jimmy DeForest.
Luis Firpo takes a break from training to pose for the camera.
Luis Firpo in a leaning fight pose.
Music break, what a beautiful voice and a beautiful song.
Luis Firpo and Jack McAuliffe II before their bout at Yankee Stadium in 1923.
Awesome up-close shot of Luis Firpo.
Another cool Luis Firpo card I forgot to post earlier, 1923 W580 strip card, hand cut, and the photo that was used for the image on the card.
These next few images of Luis Firpo are from "El Grafico" magazine, a legendary Argentine sports magazine that began publication in 1918 and ceased its regular print publication in January 2018 after 99 years, ending its run as a monthly magazine. While it no longer publishes physical issues, it continues to exist as an online platform and its legacy endures through archival, digital content.