Kid McCoy
Join Mike Goodpaster as he tells the story of Kid McCoy, who led a crazy life in and out of the ring!
TGT Podcast: Boxing History 101 The Crazy Life of Kid McCoy – The Grueling Truth The Grueling Truth Radio
Charles (Kid) McCoy was an innovative fighter at the turn of the 20th century. He is widely recognized for inventing the corkscrew punch, which involved rotating one’s fist as it was delivered.
As many believe, McCoy may have contributed to the origins of “The Real McCoy” being part of English lexicon. To gain a psychological advantage over his opponents, he would feign illness before fights or dissemble about training sessions in front of reporters – only for him to show up at fight night, usually fit and ready to fight – leaving reporters asking themselves, “Is This the Real McCoy?” Reporters would often ask.
McCoy earned the title by defeating Tommy Ryan by knockout, on disqualification, at welterweight. Later that same year, he won Mysterious Billy Smith’s former title via disqualification. By 1897 McCoy also captured Bob Fitzsimmons’ vacant middleweight championship by knocking out Dan Creedon during 15 rounds to take it away from Fitzsimmons and secure his victory as middleweight champion.
McCoy often defeated heavyweights such as Joe Choynski and Peter Maher, yet in 1900 was knocked out in five rounds by former heavyweight champion James J. Corbett; later that same year, he challenged for light heavyweight title but lost to champion Jack Root.
After he retired from boxing, McCoy attempted acting with limited success before dating Theresa Mors, an antique dealer married at the time but attracted to McCoy through divorce proceedings. Mors eventually fell for McCoy, and divorce proceedings began. Mors was shot dead while living with McCoy on August 12, 1924, at their apartment; charges against McCoy for murdering Theresa were laid, and they were found guilty of manslaughter resulting in 10 years imprisonment; three years after getting out of jail McCoy committed suicide by taking an overdose of sleeping pills resulting in death.
