Jack Dempsey 192 lbs beat Luis Angel Firpo 216 lbs by KO at 0:57 in round 2 of 15
Date: 1923-09-14
Location: Polo Grounds, New York, New York, USA
Referee: Johnny Gallagher
Judge: Billy 'Kid' McPartland
Judge: George Patrick
World Heavyweight Championship (5th defense by Dempsey)

Dempsey and Firpo before the start of fight
Over 80,000 fans produced a gate of $1.25 million.
Dempsey's purse was $468,750, and Firpo's was $156,250.
Firpo was down seven times in the first round and Dempsey was down twice. Firpo went down twice in the second before being counted out.
Long Island City promoter Simon Flaherty offered Dempsey a huge purse to defend the title against African-American contender Harry Wills, but Dempsey's manager, Jack Kearns, turned it down.
The March 2001 issue of The Ring named Dempsey vs. Firpo the second most exciting round in boxing history.

Firpo Felled Ten Times; Champion Downed Twice and Punched Through Ropes at Outset
The New York Times, September 5, 1923

In the shortest and fiercest battle ever fought between heavyweights, Jack Dempsey knocked out Luis Firpo at the Polo Grounds. But no champion ever had a closer call.

In the first round, after Firpo had gone down seven times, one of his long smashing rights caught Dempsey fairly and knocked him clear through the ropes. The champion's head disappeared over the edge of the ring, his white-clad legs shot up in the air, and it seemed a new world champion was about to enter into his glory. On the count of nine, Dempsey managed to stagger back into the ring, but the end of the round found him obviously badly shaken, and staggering as he had never been staggered before.

In the second round Firpo's right was too slow to reach the champion, who was striking in with all his power. He caught Firpo with a right and put him down. Two seconds later the challenger was up but a moment more and he was down again for a count of five. Once more Firpo staggered to his feet, Dempsey was on him instantly, caught him with a left to the jaw and then toppled him with a right as he sank. Bleeding slightly at the mouth, Firpo turned slowly over, striving vainly to rise as the referee's pumping arm reached the counts of eight and nine, and stiffened helplessly as the tenth count ended his championship hopes for the time.

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