I know this is kind of a random question but does anyone know when boxers started wearing handwraps under their gloves? I found a few references to “bandages” being worn in the era of Fitzsimmons, Jeffries, Corbett, etc but wasn’t exactly sure what was meant by bandages.
Didn’t they use handwraps with stuff in them meant to injure their opponent, such as shards of glass? I seem to remember reading that one time.
I ran across something I found interesting on the emergence of mouthpieces/gumshields and how they evolved in fit/design) a while back. Never looked into wraps.
I think they became pretty standard during the 1900s. Quite a bit of wrangling about it early on because Jeffries didn't wear them but some of his challengers - Fitzsimmons, Corbett, and I think Tom Sharkey - insisted on being allowed to. Naturally enough, when you're up against such a tough opponent you're going to want to be able to throw your hardest shots without breaking your hands on his head.