Dempsey's plastered wraps. Dempsey-Willard revisited.

[ShoulderRoll]

The su****ion of Dempsey comes from the Doc Kearns story. But that was proven to be bunk since the method described doesn't work.

Unless someone comes up with actual proof I consider Jack to be innocent and to have beaten Willard fair and square.

[billeau2]

First post here, greetings all from Poland. The mystery of this fight interested me long ago. Now, after a several hours spent on the forum, I think am happy to find a good place to discuss thoughts with true fans and knowledgeable people.

Here is another good article about the issue:

thecruelestsport.com/2013/05/07/hard-times-the-mystery-of-the-jack-dempsey-jess-willard-fight

(I cannot put url so copy and paste it, please)

I personally tend to agree with the author's su****ions that something was wrong there; of course do not believe in plaster or iron rod stories but in special hardening techniques for bandages -- why not ? Dempsey was a great puncher but this was too much IMO. Bone fractures are rare thing.
The problem in all sports is always to jeopardize the position of a well-accepted champion and throwing him/her from a pedestal. I think this is the issue here -- Dempsey could win fair, but he (deliberately or not) chooses a way to be more ensured about the positive outcome against the favourite. Similarily to Ali with the famous ropes tension in the battle against Foreman -- I feel deep inside something was on with that.

Cheers all

They used quite a few substances.....things like wormwood and linseed oil. Resin also. Most of it was probably placebo but whp knows haha.

Welcome aboard!

[mickey malone]

Have'nt read every post, but I know that there's a couple of 'loaded glove' stories that were banded about over the years.. One was about a horseshoe, Willard kept in a draw, and would show people telling them,' that's what beat me'
The other, was a tale about an iron bolt found on the ring apron after the fight had ended... Probably myths, but points of interest nevertheless.

[Dariusz]

Unless someone comes up with actual proof I consider Jack to be innocent and to have beaten Willard fair and square.

Although, as I said, I think Dempsey cheated this way or another -- I agree to your words. In fact, everyone must agree.

[Ivich]

Kearns did not wrap Dempsey's hands , his trainer Jimmy Deforest did.It was witnessed by Nat Fleischer who categorically stated there was nothing illegal about the procedure .

[mickey malone]

[louis54]

on you tube the longer version of the bout is there and you can see dempsey and willard entering the ring with there hands wrapped . then willard goes and shakes hands with dempsey. then you see the gloves being taken out of their boxes to glove up the boxers. it was common practise to enter the ring with wraps, get inspected, and then get gloved so nothing happens. you can see it for willard - johnson, langford - flynn, here and other bouts of that time.
if dempsey had hard tape underneath then willard didnt notice and or care. there is no evidencce to support loaded gloves mainly because it never happened.
watch the film

[jack p]

Dempsey probably wetted the tape as it was a common practice back then
Also Dempsey would keep his fist loose as he was throwing his punch
then right before impact he would tighten his fist so when his punch landed it was like a convulsive snap ...

here he explains it

" But, as the relaxed left hand speeds toward the bag, suddenly close the hand with a convulsive, grabbing snap. Close it with such a terrific
grab that when the second knuckle of the upright fist smashes into the bag, the fist and the arm and the shoulder will be "frozen" steel-hard by
the terrific grabbing tension.
That convulsive, freezing grab is the explosion."

Taken from...Championship Fighting
Explosive Punching
and
Aggressive Defense...by Jack Dempsey
If anyone wants a copy of Dempseys book for free email me

[billeau2]

Dempsey probably wetted the tape as it was a common practice back then
Also Dempsey would keep his fist loose as he was throwing his punch
then right before impact he would tighten his fist so when his punch landed it was like a convulsive snap ...

here he explains it

" But, as the relaxed left hand speeds toward the bag, suddenly close the hand with a convulsive, grabbing snap. Close it with such a terrific
grab that when the second knuckle of the upright fist smashes into the bag, the fist and the arm and the shoulder will be "frozen" steel-hard by
the terrific grabbing tension.
That convulsive, freezing grab is the explosion."

Taken from...Championship Fighting
Explosive Punching
and
Aggressive Defense...by Jack Dempsey
If anyone wants a copy of Dempseys book for free email me

I love this book!