Top Boxing Writer Ever?

[The Old LefHook]

Hyperbole is a literary device that works wonderfully in the right hands. Willard's face did not really resemble a slab of hamburger steak painted purple and red and blue and stuck to his cheeks. In the hands of a lesser writer these images might even seem comical, but Rice makes them do their job and work wonderfully, in my opinion. Hyperbole is a necessary and ever-present element in the style of ye Golden Age.

[markusmod]

Correct. Not the need for as many, since people read a lot less and listen a lot more these days. Networks now need blabbers, not writers, and they employ every variety of blabber. The important thing now is not writing style but blabbing style.

ESPN's site has become a joke these days.

[QueensburyRules]

I wasn't thinking the phrase from its contemporary use in marketing the fight, but instead the manner in which the fight ignited the passion of the entire nation.

Our different approach resulting in only one additional fight on my list vs. yours.

Race (JJ-Jeffries), nationalism (Louis-Schmeling II) and the beginning of a culture war (Clay-Frazier) that is still playing itself out today.

- - Nice summary, Pep

Sometimes we gotta swing with gut instinct, but remember that Manny/l'l Floydy was promoted as The Fight of the Century(3rd Millennium Kickoff) that turned out to be stylistically The Flop of the Century(same FTC initials,) but also the Bilking of The Century(BTC) with near half $Billion worth of lawsuits. Seemingly all were dismissed with the fight needing a 2 week backdated TUE and doctoring of the official scorecard to achieve the official preordained result.

Better'n Highway Robbery for the suits that control these things.

[HOUDINI563]

Hyperbole is a literary device that works wonderfully in the right hands. Willard's face did not really resemble a slab of hamburger steak painted purple and red and blue and stuck to his cheeks. In the hands of a lesser writer these images might even seem comical, but Rice makes them do their job and work wonderfully, in my opinion. Hyperbole is a necessary and ever-present element in the style of ye Golden Age.

You know…….If you watch the fight when the sunlight hits Willard’s face on the right side during the third round it appears horribly damaged, misshapen and broken full of welts. Several still photos also show this damage quite distinctly. I do not believe Rices description is far off the mark. The right side of Willard’s face was a cut up, swollen and broken mess unlike anything seen since.

[HOUDINI563]

Zoom in on Willard’s face within the obvious photo in question within this article. Note the many multiple swollen areas especially one that extends under his eye to the bottom of his face. It’s in black and white but CERTAINLY this damage, so excessive was a mass of red and purple areas pretty much as Rice described.

https://www.boxingnewsonline.net/on-this-day-jack-dempsey-savaged-jess-willard-to-lift-the-world-heavyweight-title/

[The Old LefHook]

Didn't Willard always believe that Dempsey fought him with loaded gloves?

[QueensburyRules]

Didn't Willard always believe that Dempsey fought him with loaded gloves?

- - Jess jumped on the idea in shock after being caved in. Point if fact there are pics and vid showing Dempsey wraps in his corner lounging before the gloving. Willard comes over to inspect the wraps.

[Willie Pep 229]

No, not the loaded gloves thing all over again!

The article Houdini posted (incidentally zooming in on that pic of Willard's face is cringe) states that Willard to his dying day claimed Dempsey's gloves were loaded.

Somehow I suspect that is hyperbole . . . first off I doubt there is really a chronology of Willard's life long opinions available that such a conclusion can be drawn, second it seems odd that Willard would approach Dempsey for work when he was down on his luck, and would willingly work as a sales rep for Jack Dempsey Blended Whiskey, if he truly believed he had been cheated.

I'm sure Kearn's claim of loaded gloves may have gotten into his head but that he carried the belief his entire life seems unlikely.

I wonder why people always feel the need to overwrite history. There is more than enough drama in just telling the truth.

[The Old LefHook]

No, not the loaded gloves thing all over again!

The article Houdini posted (incidentally zooming in on that pic of Willard's face is cringe) states that Willard to his dying day claimed Dempsey's gloves were loaded.

Somehow I suspect that is hyperbole . . . first off I doubt there is really a chronology of Willard's life long opinions available that such a conclusion can be drawn, second it seems odd that Willard would approach Dempsey for work when he was down on his luck, and would willingly work as a sales rep for Jack Dempsey Blended Whiskey, if he truly believed he had been cheated.

I'm sure Kearn's claim of loaded gloves may have gotten into his head but that he carried the belief his entire life seems unlikely.

I wonder why people always feel the need to overwrite history. There is more than enough drama in just telling the truth.

You seem to know more about Willard's opinions than Willard himself.

[Willie Pep 229]

You seem to know more about Willard's opinions than Willard himself.

Na! That was a cheap shot . . . My complaint was against a historian making such a life long claim. You just used a cheap ass platitude to discredit me but didn't touch my argument.