Jack Dempsey and the loaded gloves, what are your thoughts on it?

It's hard to say, there are a lot of factors to consider. One was that the two of them were at the opposite ends of the fitness and fighting shape spectrum. Jack was a full time fighter, an athlete in his absolute physical and career prime. Willard by then hardly a part time boxer at best. He had won the title from an old man years ago. If Willard had not have held a title and he was simply a comeback contender he still would be a bad choice of an opponent for jack Dempsey. Just the shock of ring action could very well have been enough. Remember Tyson v Holmes? Larry was about the same condition. Yet later when he took a run of build up fights, became active he was better versus Holyfield at an even more advanced age than he had been for Tyson.

Another factor is the size difference. Willard was a weight class bigger and such a strong man. He withstood extra damage because his opponent was so much smaller. Dempsey could break his face without knocking him completely unconscious.

Thirdly. The gloves and the way jack used them. Gunboat Smith talked of old gloves. The tape that could not be used today that was used then. It was hard adhesive vinyl tape. The gloves were 4oz. With 2oz in the wrist cuffs. Very little padding over the knuckles because you could manipulate the stuffing into the bottom of the mitt since it was horsehair rather than rubber foam. So you could have nothing but a thin layer of leather between the hard tape and Willards face.

 

Lets look at the facts:
1. They used 4 oz gloves with shitty padding over the knuckles, it was practically just hand wraps.
2. Jack was probably the hungriest contender in the history of boxing at that point. (Opinion)
3. He ripped through every contender in a couple of rds up to the Willard fight.
4. Practically every punch landed for the rest of the rd that he threw after the initial onslaught began about 1 minute into the fight. Imagine, being Dempsey's punching bag for 2 minutes straight. It would probably kill most people.

 

In regards to the allegation that Jack Dempsey had loaded gloves in his bout with Jess Willard, I don't believe it. Jack Kearns, Dempsey's manager at the time, stated in his autobiography that plaster of Paris was put on Dempsey's fists, but Kearns had quite a reputation for being less than truthful. Besides having plenty of punching power, Dempsey was far quicker, much younger and in far better condition and had more relatively recent bouts than Willard, who didn't have a bout for three years at the time he faced Dempsey.

I have a number of biographies and three different autobiographies of Dempsey. In my opinion, one should wary about depending on such books about Dempsey for accurate information. Of course, that can also be said about other books on the subject of boxing.

- Chuck Johnston

 

Ready to do some reading:
http://www.thesweetscience.com/articles/17690-the-saga-of-jack-dempseys-loaded-gloves-part-1
http://www.thesweetscience.com/feature-articles/17683-the-saga-of-jack-dempseys-loaded-gloves-part-2
http://coxscorner.tripod.com/dempsey_gloves.html
http://thecruelestsport.com/2015/06...stery-of-the-jack-dempsey-jess-willard-fight/
http://www.boxing.com/the_horror_jess_willards_toledo_injuries.html

enjoy, let us know what you think after reading these articles.

 

Although Willard hadn't fought in three years, he was still staying active in exhibitions and charity bouts.

He was set to fight Fulton in 1917, but the public turned on Jess after they read about his $100,000 purse demands right when Influenza hit. There was even a popular political cartoon at the time depicting Willard and Fulton stealing money from the American people. So that fight was canceled.

Soon after, America entered WW1, leaving a championship boxing match even further out of the question.

I believe it's important that people know that Willard wasn't just lounging around his farm, but actively tried defending the title since 1917.

Also, he said that he had still been excercising every day during his layoff. But that his body started gaining weight faster than normal.

 

No the damage was done. It shows clearly on the fight footage.
Idk how badly he hurt other opponents because we have no film on his prior fights. Against his prior opponents he had them out of there in a rd. Willard stayed in for a couple extra rds which definitely caused him to suffer more damage. His chin was obviously very good.

There were no loaded gloves.

 

They said Joe Louis had loaded gloves for the Schmeling rematch.

 

I'm not denying he didn't do that damage to other opponents. In fact I fully support that he didn't.

Willard was practically a punching bag for the last 2 minutes of the first rd and took a lot of punishment in the second and third rds. There is no doubt that Dempsey could inflict that kind of damage with only his fists.

 

I would say most on here would agree with what the articles had to say. Whatever suits you best.