Where do you guys stand? I have some comments/questions... I understand how Kearns stated he applied Plaster of Paris rather than talcum on the wet wraps, in front of Willard's second. However, would the POP have time to harden? Would it not just shatter on the first connect? Could it not also hurt Dempsey's hands? And would it not be terribly heavy for Dempsey to carry around should the bout have lasted longer? Also, is there any absolutely verified use of this technique? Myself, I think it was sour grapes from an old, broke Kearns who had been in innumerable lawsuits with Dempsey.
Boxing Illustrated tried an experiment with this using Cleveland Willaims as Dempsey the powder refused to harden and crumbled when it met an object ,IT DIDN'T HAPPEN.What may have taken place,is that Dempsey had loaded gloves ,ie adhesive tape as in electricians tape on his wraps ,Gunboat Smith mentions using this ,in Pete Heller's "In this Corner " I have used this ,and beleive me it makes your hand like a brick. It was a common practice in those days [if you could get away with it]and ,may have been used when Fitz met Jeffries the second time.
The man who created plaster of paris actually verified himself that it would be impossible to use like that.
The thing that intrigues me about this story is that while most people use it to discredit Dempsey's power and ability, even if it were true (pretty unlikely), is there a heavyweight in the world who could ahve beaten Dempsey on that day with loaded gloves? Given the damage he did to Willard, would anyone at all have been able to stand up to the loaded Dempsey? Ali? Any of the modern superheavys? Anyone? Personally I doubt it, which means that if the gloves were actually loaded then Jess Willard faced the greatest challenge ever faced by anyone in the ring. Ironically, if they were not loaded, then despite the horrific damages caused by Dempsey and incredibly impressive showing, there is a stronger argument that other fighters might have posed a greater challenge than the Dempsey Willard fought. Thinking logically though, i am not sure with or without the loaded gloves than many (if any) fighters could have stood opposite Dempsey on that night and won.
All we can say, is that if the gloves were loaded, it was almost certainly not using plaster of Paris. Various media have been used over the years including tape and hemp and there has somtimes been a grey area where hand taping is concerned.
Dempsey look amazing vs Willard not because of loaded gloves. They were loaded, with Dempsey's fist of couse lol. But Dempsey mostly fought a inactive, out of shape, 37 plus year old Willard, in a no netrual corner rule. I belive had Louis, Marciano, Tyson ete been in that ring vs Willard, with the same rules and gloves used in that era. They may have done similar damage.
Very interesting thread. I've often wondered about the sheer damage Dempsey inflicted on Willard. Broken orbital bone, broken ribs, teeth knocked out, broken jaw(?)...I don't recall it all...but the list went on and on. Nothing ever occured like this before(?) or after. In that context, it makes you wonder...Willard always swore that he felt something metal. Dempsey stated his bodyweight moved like lightning in his punches, stating he was at his very best.
I understand but if Kearns were to make a true revelation on loaded gloves, you would think it would be a plausible scenario not one that would not function.
The interesting thing is that Doc Kearns didnt start that rumor. Jimmy Deforrest who trained Dempsey for Willard stated after the second Brennan bout that he had taped Dempsey's hands with a special kind of tape that hardened like concrete after it was applied. He said he used this trick for one of his previous fighters (cant remember which one but he was famous). I will also add that the damage supposedly suffered by Willard was greatly exaggerated. Joe Chip who was in Willards corner for the fight gave a very interesting interview to his hometown paper afterwards discussing the training and post fight and states that Willard was swollen and bruised but had no broken bones.
Jess Willard found a metal bolt in the ring and kept it for the rest of his life. Willard suffered a huge amount of damage. I have never seen or read more damage done by boxing gloves. Speculation says Dempsey slipped metal in his gloves. There was also a huge bet for a 1st round KO by Dempsey, and after the 1st round, Dempsey ran out of the ring on his way to his dressing room ( ODD ) , only to be called back in the ring by Keans. Do I know the gloves were loaded? No. Might they have been? I think its possible.
For those interested: http://coxscorner.tripod.com/dempsey_gloves.html This article makes me believe the loaded glove theory is crap.