41

Boxing

The Evening World

, New York, May 20, 1902

Norman Selby was born October 13, 1872. By the age of 17 he had

become a pro fighter and took on the name Charles

―

Kid

‖

McCoy.

He invented the

―

corkscrew

‖

punch.

In 1897 McCoy won the middleweight boxing title by a knockout

over Dan Creedon. He moved into the heavyweight class and was

knocked out by Tom Sharkey in 1899.

McCoy not only used his famous

―

corkscrew

‖

in his fights but he

resorted to all kinds of screwy trickery including spreading rumors

that he wasn't training or that he was injured or that he was very

sick. For the latter he sprinkled talcum powder on his face to appear

pale and sickly before one fight. These ploys would change the

betting odds and McCoy would capitalize on them by emerging

victorious in his fights.