a light hearted question about the "horse shoe in the glove"

I think its just a metaphor that goes way back. Cartoons have kept it alive in the modern era.

Horseshoes are meant to be lucky, right? And weighted or tampered with gloves have been an issue in boxing over the years.

So if a fighter lands an unexpected KO punch you can say he had a horseshoe in his glove because a) it looked like such a lucky shot and b) the punch was so devastating.

 

I think the Idea may of evolved from some comedy scene in an old Chaplin, Keaton, Three Stooges type of film, In real life the reward to risk factor would be too great realistically to even remotely consider it ! the risk not so much being injury to your hand, or indeed gravely to your opponent, but that you and your corner being found out and ending up in the Zebra shadow of a small rooms small window for a number of years.

However, I think a Certain Mr Willard may of contended that holding a Bolt in a glove
much more effective and concealable. Mr Willard could of course of been deemed to be a very (Very Very) sore Loser.

 

Just re read my post.

I should make it clear I am almost certain that no one has ever literally hidden an actual horse shoe in thier glove. It really is just a metaphor.

I'm sure that in the old black and white movie days boxing gloves were tampered with or weighted in all kinds of ways and even today we have Margarito! However you'd never get away with a horseshoe and it would be too dificult to punch properly.

I have not looked into this, but I'd be suprised if I'm wrong.

Anyone know the worst recorded case of glove tampering that comes close to a literal horse shoe? I'd love to know about it...

 

I guess the closest thing towards a horseshoe, is that Jack Dempsey carried a railroad spike in his hand when he brutalized Jess Willard. There was even photographic 'evidence' of it.

AFAIK it is a myth though.

 

Some fighters in the bareknuckle era are aledged to have cheated by holding bullets in their fists.

 

I once had a discussion with Monte Cox about jack Dempsey’s use with the part of his glove between the index knuckle and thumb. In the film he appears to slam jess with this part of the glove as if he were stabbing him. Monte said it was a lethal punch used with the "fore knuckle" a punch which im convinced is no more effective. I know jack wasn’t holding anything since Dempsey opens and closes his gloves and nothing drops out. just an unusual technique.

 

Any specific names ever come up in reference to that?