Dempsey and Firpo

painting by Bellows

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July 20, 2026

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"Dempsey and Firpo" is a painting by American artist George Bellows that depicts a famous boxing match. The painting captures a dramatic moment from the 1923 heavyweight championship bout between Jack Dempsey and Luis Firpo. In the first round, Firpo famously knocked Dempsey out of the ring. Dempsey, however, recovered and went on to win the fight by knockout in the second round. Bellows, known for his dynamic action paintings, created both a painting and a lithograph titled "Dempsey and Firpo," showcasing his interest in prizefighting as a subject matter.123

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Luis Firpo
…Bellows in the painting entitled Dempsey vs. Firpo. Firpo continued boxing until 1936, but the match with Dempsey was his only world title bout. He had 36 recorded bouts, of which he won 29 (25 by knockout).
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…Bellows in the painting entitled Dempsey vs. Firpo. Firpo continued boxing until 1936, but the match with Dempsey was his only world title bout. He had 36 recorded bouts, of which he won 29 (25 by knockout).
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George Wesley Bellows
Among the best known is Dempsey and Firpo (1924; he also produced a painting with this title), a boxing scene that displays the solid modeling of form and geometric approach to design characteristic of Bellows’s later paintings.
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Among the best known is Dempsey and Firpo (1924; he also produced a painting with this title), a boxing scene that displays the solid modeling of form and geometric approach to design characteristic of Bellows’s later paintings.
Read More