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For Num. 2, I don't have the original article. But why would there be two different sources saying the same exact thing? Take a look at the NYT article:
So this was from Joe Vila's daily column called, "Setting the Pace." It wasn't even focusing on the wraps, as mentioned. The focus was on Dempsey's future. I would implore you to look up Joe Vila, and also look up the author of the article, Arthur Daley. These are well respected journalists.
Joe Vila-- "Vila has been regarded as one of the most influential sportswriters during the first third of the 20th century, while setting fundamental changes in sports coverage during the decades to come."
Arthur Daley— Pulitzer Prize winner for reporting and commentary--outstanding coverage and commentary on the world of sports; The National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association "Sportswriter of the Year."
When you look at what was said in the article and what Nat Fleischer said he heard directly from Jimmy Deforests mouth at a press conference with other reporters... it's identical.
So is there some kind of conspiracy going on by these trusted reporters? It's highly unlikely.
For Num. 3, as Deforest said, it wasn't strictly speaking illegal. But it's not like it wasn't considered a dirty trick that could be used. Remember, Deforest said he did the same with Kid McCoy's wraps. Here is an article about McCoy's wraps, and they refer to it as a "trick of the trade."
San Francisco Call, Volume 107, Number 117, 27 March 1910 -- TRICKS OF THE TRADE OF PRIZE FIGHTERS
Same process described by DeForest, who was McCoy's trainer apparently.
There are plenty of writers who agree that this is likely what happened.
Paul Beston—Author of The Boxing Kings: When American Heavyweights Ruled the Ring.
Paul Beston Again:
Carlos Acevedo—Boxing Writers Association of America/Intenational Boxing Research Organization.
Randy Warren Roberts — “Nearly 40 years later, Roberts’s biography remains the best book written about Jack Dempsey, and it’s not even close.”
I seriously doubt all of these writers engaged in a plot to besmirch Dempsey. It was a "trick" that Deforest used to give Dempsey an edge. A trick that could be used right in front of everyone's eyes, as it's mentioned by Deforest and some of the writers above that Willard inspected the wraps. Seems like the trick worked quite well.
The thing I don't like about this being done is Willard protested A LOT about guys wrapping their hands in such a fashion that their hands were like iron before the fight. He made a huge fuss over it, and yet they did it anyway.
So this was from Joe Vila's daily column called, "Setting the Pace." It wasn't even focusing on the wraps, as mentioned. The focus was on Dempsey's future. I would implore you to look up Joe Vila, and also look up the author of the article, Arthur Daley. These are well respected journalists.
Joe Vila-- "Vila has been regarded as one of the most influential sportswriters during the first third of the 20th century, while setting fundamental changes in sports coverage during the decades to come."
Arthur Daley— Pulitzer Prize winner for reporting and commentary--outstanding coverage and commentary on the world of sports; The National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association "Sportswriter of the Year."
When you look at what was said in the article and what Nat Fleischer said he heard directly from Jimmy Deforests mouth at a press conference with other reporters... it's identical.
So is there some kind of conspiracy going on by these trusted reporters? It's highly unlikely.
For Num. 3, as Deforest said, it wasn't strictly speaking illegal. But it's not like it wasn't considered a dirty trick that could be used. Remember, Deforest said he did the same with Kid McCoy's wraps. Here is an article about McCoy's wraps, and they refer to it as a "trick of the trade."
San Francisco Call, Volume 107, Number 117, 27 March 1910 -- TRICKS OF THE TRADE OF PRIZE FIGHTERS
Same process described by DeForest, who was McCoy's trainer apparently.
There are plenty of writers who agree that this is likely what happened.
Paul Beston—Author of The Boxing Kings: When American Heavyweights Ruled the Ring.
Paul Beston Again:
Carlos Acevedo—Boxing Writers Association of America/Intenational Boxing Research Organization.
Randy Warren Roberts — “Nearly 40 years later, Roberts’s biography remains the best book written about Jack Dempsey, and it’s not even close.”
I seriously doubt all of these writers engaged in a plot to besmirch Dempsey. It was a "trick" that Deforest used to give Dempsey an edge. A trick that could be used right in front of everyone's eyes, as it's mentioned by Deforest and some of the writers above that Willard inspected the wraps. Seems like the trick worked quite well.
The thing I don't like about this being done is Willard protested A LOT about guys wrapping their hands in such a fashion that their hands were like iron before the fight. He made a huge fuss over it, and yet they did it anyway.
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