43

On August 26, 1902 a columnist previewed a fight between

Jack Munroe and Jim Jeffries in

The Evening World

. The

article was accompanied by several drawings one of which

depicted the corkscrew punch.

Here's how Kid McCoy delivered the punch:

Stand in ordinary boxing position, left foot forward, left fist

ready to lead, palm upward. Shoot your fist out, over or under your opponent's guard,

and turn your fist with a sudden snap so that your palm is downward just as you land

on your opponent's chin.

As in making any left hand punch, you step forward with your left foot as you start the

punch, completing the step just as your blow lands. Also, your arm should be

straightened out at the instant of impact.

Put your body into the punch, bringing your left shoulder forward and turning the

body toward the right.

It is the sudden snap of the

―

Corkscrew

‖

as you turn your fist that puts kick into it,

besides deceiving your opponent. Also, the turning motion of the fist as it lands twists

and lacerates your opponents skin. Kid McCoy used to cut his opponents to ribbons

and the

―

Corkscrew

‖

was one of his favorite devices.

The Real McCoy

The term

―

The Real McCoy

‖

is often used in

reference to a genuine article. The term has been

attributed by some to Kid McCoy.

Wikipedia

notes

―

A

boxer, Norman Selby, known as Kid McCoy,

American welterweight champion from 1898

–

1900.

There are apocryphal tales to the effect that he had

many imitators and had to adopt the term to

distinguish himself. Others say that during one

match, he pretended to be dazed and weak after

being hit in order to trick his opponent into attacking

him. But then he came back and surprised his

opponent with an attack, and the announcer said

'which is the real McCoy?'

―

McCoy on trial for murder

of Therese Mors