Polo Grounds Memorializes Century-Old Dempsey vs. Firpo Title Bout 

One hundred years ago, a boxing match of historic proportions took place at what is now the site of NYCHA’s Polo Grounds Towers.  

In September 1923, heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey battled Argentinian challenger Luis Ángel Firpo for the world title before more than 88,000 paid spectators at the Polo Grounds. It marked the first time that a Latin American boxer challenged for the world heavyweight championship, and it drew the largest crowd to attend a boxing match in the history of New York State at the time.  

In what was dubbed a fight of the ages, Dempsey was ultimately victorious with a knockout in the second round, but not without being knocked down himself in a fall through the ropes – a dramatic scene that was captured in the famous painting Dempsey and Firpo by George W. Bellows.   

Now, a century later, NYCHA and the World Boxing Council (WBC) are paying tribute to the legendary bout at the place where boxing history was made. On November 1, residents of Polo Grounds Towers joined representatives of NYCHA, the WBC, and the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development as they installed a plaque at the former site of Dempsey versus Firpo to memorialize the event in perpetuity. A world championship belt was also presented during the centennial anniversary ceremony at the Polo Grounds Community Center, which included professional boxers, elected officials, and the Consulate General of Argentina.    

“Let no legend or historic event be forgotten,” WBC President Mauricio Sulaimán stated. “The site where the Polo Grounds Towers stands is iconic and its history continues to bring pride to the city of New York and the sports world.” 

The former Polo Grounds in Upper Manhattan was a hallowed spot for American sports from the late 1800s through the early 1960s, with stadiums hosting 16 baseball World Series, including the New York Yankees’ first championship, two Negro League World Series games, and five National Football League championships, as well as being the birthplace of football’s New York Giants and baseball’s New York Mets. In addition to Dempsey’s victory over Firpo and fights featuring dozens of boxing Hall of Famers, other notable events at Polo Grounds included Willie Mays’ legendary “The Catch” in the 1954 World Series.  

“Like any longstanding New York City staple, history is an important aspect of NYCHA,” NYCHA CEO Lisa Bova-Hiatt said. “In the case of Polo Grounds Towers, the residents of this development walk in the same footsteps as sports legends every day, including those of Jack Dempsey and Luis Ángel Firpo, whose match still reverberates with the boxing community today, 100 years later.”  

The NYCHA community celebrates the centennial anniversary of Jack Dempsey vs. Luis Ángel Firpo with a plaque dedication at the Polo Grounds Community Center in commemoration of the legendary boxing match.

Polo Grounds Towers Resident Association President Serena Chandler said she only recently learned of the Dempsey-Firpo match’s connection to the neighborhood, but she noted that along with a host of baseball milestones, the century-old boxing duel adds to a “long history of sports” at Polo Grounds. A memorial plaque was previously placed at the development to mark the approximate location of home plate on the old Giants field.  

“We should celebrate some of those great sporting events that happened here,” Ms. Chandler said. “This is one more feather in the cap of my beloved Polo Grounds Towers and I think it’s great.” 

With Firpo’s place as the first Latin American to fight for a world boxing crown, the bout is also regarded for its cultural significance. Firpo’s legacy includes inspiring thousands of Latin American boxers, while streets and schools in South America and a football team in El Salvador have been named in his honor.  

NYCHA’s Executive Vice President for Resident Services, Partnerships, and Initiatives Ukah Busgith said Polo Grounds Towers’ rich athletic history is a “great source of pride for residents,” including the historic moment the first Latin American boxer challenged for the world heavyweight title. Polo Grounds Towers is home to more than 3,700 residents, including a large population with Latin American ancestry. 

“At NYCHA, we embrace each development’s unique sense of identity,” Ms. Busgith said.   

Jill Diamond, Global Chair of the nonprofit WBC Cares, described the Dempsey-Firpo championship match as a “groundbreaking event not only in sports but in solidarity and diversity.”  

“The Polo Grounds still resonates with the pride this battle represented,” she noted. “One hundred years later and still so many warriors come from this community. We are privileged to be a part of the celebration.”