Kid McCoy

Charles "'Kid" McCoy, born Norman Selby', was an American boxer and early Hollywood actor. He claimed the vacant world middleweight title when he scored an upset victory over Tommy Ryan by 15th-round knockout.

Overview

Born in Moscow, Rush County, Indiana, McCoy would eventually weigh, stand, and go on to a record 81 wins. McCoy was noted for his "corkscrew punch" – a blow delivered with a twisting of the wrist. According to McCoy, he learned the punch one evening while resting in someone's barn after a day of riding the rails. He was of Scottish and English ancestry. He noticed a cat strike at a ball of string and imitated its actions. Whether true or not, McCoy was known as a fast, "scientific" fighter who would cut his opponents with sharp blows. He reportedly would wrap his knuckles in mounds of friction tape, to better cut his opponents faces. He was listed # 1 Light Heavyweight of all time in Fifty Years At Ringside, published in 1958. He was also regarded as a formidable puncher, and was included in Ring Magazine's list of 100 greatest punchers of all time.

Boxing career

Tommy Ryan was knocked out by Kid McCoy in the 15th round on March 2, 1896. This bout forms part of the lore of the McCoy legend. McCoy served as a sparring partner for Ryan, and absorbed many beatings at the hands of his employer. Ryan was notorious for showing little mercy to his sparring partners.
As a result, McCoy hated Ryan, and sought revenge. It is alleged that McCoy, who appeared thin, pale and frail, persuaded Ryan that he was seriously ill before their fight. McCoy, who was famed as a trickster, purportedly rubbed flour on his face so as to appear deathly ill. Ryan is said to have fallen for the ruse, failed to train properly and was not in top condition for the bout. Whether true or not, McCoy scored an upset win over Ryan in a fight billed for the American and World 154lbs Middleweight Title.
Another one of McCoy's tactics was demonstrated while McCoy was on a tour of Australia and some other Pacific Islands. To supplement his income, he would take on all comers. In one unidentified port, McCoy, who scarcely weighed, agreed to box a huge native reputed to weigh in excess of. McCoy watched him train and noted the man fought in his bare feet. When the fight began, McCoy's corner threw handfuls of tacks into the ring, causing the bare-footed challenger to drop his guard and raise up one foot. As soon as he did so, McCoy lowered the boom on his distracted adversary.
Although slight of build, McCoy captured the world middleweight championship by defeating Dan Creedon. McCoy never defended the title, choosing to abandon the crown to enable him to pursue the world heavyweight championship. Despite his handicap in size, McCoy battled the best heavyweights of his era, and defeated Joe Choynski and Peter Maher. He was defeated by Tom Sharkey and Jim Corbett. The Corbett fight was the subject of controversy, as the ending was suspect and Corbett's estranged wife claimed the bout was fixed. Although, she later recanted her statement.

"The real McCoy"

It has been incorrectly asserted the expression "The Real McCoy" originally referred to Kid McCoy. One origin involves a local tough who bumped into McCoy and laughed when he was told the fellow he was annoying was Kid McCoy. He then challenged McCoy to fight, and upon reviving from being knocked out allegedly remarked "Oh my God, that was the real McCoy".
However, it is believed that the first publication of the phrase with this spelling occurred in James S. Bond's 1881 dime novel, The Rise and Fall of the "Union club": or, Boy life in Canada, wherein a character utters, "By jingo! yes; so it will be It's the 'real McCoy,' as Jim Hicks says." Skeptics point out that Kid McCoy was only nine years old when this was published.

Personal life

McCoy was married ten times, performed in theater, and went west to California during the birth of the movie industry in Los Angeles. He appeared in films, including a scene fighting Wallace Reid in the 1922 film, The World's Champion. McCoy was also friends with several movie stars of the day, including Charles Chaplin and director D. W. Griffith, who directed the 1919 silent film, Broken Blossoms, Selby's second film as actor.

Legal Issues

By the early 1920s McCoy was poor, addicted to alcohol and out of the movie industry. At this time he was involved in a romance with a wealthy married woman, Teresa Mors. Mors's divorce from her husband was acrimonious and dragged on until she was killed by a single gunshot to the head on August 12, 1924, in the apartment she shared with McCoy at 2819 Leeward.
The next morning, a reportedly disheveled McCoy robbed and held several people captive at Mrs. Mors' antique shop, and shot one man in the leg after he tried to escape. He also forced at least six other men to remove their trousers, and took their money. McCoy was apprehended and charged with the murder of Mrs. Mors. His trial took place in downtown Los Angeles. McCoy claimed Mrs. Mors committed suicide, while the prosecution claimed he murdered her for financial gain. The jury was split between first degree murder and acquittal. As a compromise verdict, McCoy was convicted of manslaughter.
McCoy was sent to San Quentin, but was paroled from prison in 1932. Afterwards he worked for Ford Motor Company.

Marriages

Extended family

Norman Selby was one of six siblings and third oldest. One of his four sisters, Grace Esther Selby '' was, from 1901 to 1908, married to Charles Thomas Henshall. Norman was an uncle to their daughter, actress Barbara Jo Allen.

Death and legacy

McCoy took his own life in Detroit on April 18, 1940. Even his death was enigmatic.
He committed suicide at the Hotel Tuller in Detroit by an overdose of sleeping pills, leaving a note behind. It read, among other things
In an apparent last attempt to drop his professional moniker, the note was pointedly signed as, "Norman Selby."
British professional wrestler Mark Boothman adopted the "Kid McCoy" name and won the British Lightweight Championship in 1987, holding it for three years.

Selected filmography and publications

Filmography

1913: The Great Jewel Robbery
1918: The House of Glass
1919: Eyes of Youth
1919: Broken Blossoms
1920: The Fourteenth Man
1920: The Honey Bee
1922: The World's Champion
1922: Oath-Bound
1922: Tom Mix in Arabia
1923: April Showers
1989: Brutal Glory, highly fictionalized film, loosely about Norman Selby
Publications
2002: The Real McCoy, by Darin Strauss; ; ; ; ;
Professional boxing record

All information in this section is derived from BoxRec, unless otherwise stated.

Official record

All newspaper decisions are officially regarded as “no decision” bouts and are not counted in the win/loss/draw column.

No.	Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round	Date	Location	Notes
100	Win		P.O. Matthew Curran	PTS	20	Jan 20, 1912	Palais de la Jetée-Promenade, Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, France
99	Win	73–6–9	George Gunther	PTS	10	Jan 10, 1912	Salle Wagram, Paris, Paris, France
98	Win	72–6–9	Harry Croxon	KO	3	Dec 20, 1911	Salle Wagram, Paris, Paris, France
97	Win	71–6–9	Jim Savage	KO	4	Oct 6, 1911	Brown's Gym A.A., Far Rockaway, Queens, New York City, New York, U.S.
96	Win	70–6–9	Kid Elle	KO	1	Sep 22, 1911	Brown's Gym, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
95	Win	69–6–9	Bob Day	KO	1	Sep 4, 1911	Island Stadium, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
94	Win	68–6–9	Jack Fitzgerald	NWS	6	Mar 20, 1911	American A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
93	Win	68–6–9	Jim Stewart	NWS	6	Oct 16, 1908	National A.C., Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
92	Win	68–6–9	Peter Maher	KO	2	Jul 24, 1908	Sulzer Park, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
91	Win	67–6–9	Jack Crawford	KO	1	Mar 3, 1905	Whittington Park A.C., Hot Springs, Arkansas, U.S.
90	Win	66–6–9	Jack Twin Sullivan	PTS	20	Sep 27, 1904	Hazard's Pavilion, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
89	Draw	65–6–9	Philadelphia Jack O'Brien	NWS	6	May 14, 1904	2nd Regiment Armory, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
88	Win	65–6–9	Henry Placke	TKO	2	Apr 5, 1904	Lenox A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
87	Loss	64–6–9	Jack Root	PTS	10	Apr 22, 1903	Light Guard Armory, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.	For inaugural world light-heavyweight title
86	Win	64–5–9	Jack McCormick	NWS	6	Feb 23, 1903	Washington S.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
85	Loss	64–5–9	Kid Carter	NWS	6	May 19, 1902	Industrial A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
84	Win	64–5–9	Fred Russell	NWS	6	May 2, 1902	Industrial A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
83	Win	64–5–9	David Barry	TKO	2	Dec 2, 1901	Wonderland, Whitechapel Road, Mile End, London, England, United Kingdom
82	Win	63–5–9	Jack Scales	KO	1	Dec 2, 1901	Wonderland, Whitechapel Road, Mile End, London, England, United Kingdom
81	Win	62–5–9	Sandy Ferguson	DQ	4	Dec 2, 1901	Wonderland, Whitechapel Road, Mile End, London, England, United Kingdom
80	Loss	61–5–9	James J. Corbett	KO	5	Aug 30, 1900	Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
79	Win	61–4–9	Jack Bonner	TKO	13	Jun 1, 1900	Broadway A.C., Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.	Retained American and world middleweight titles
78	Draw	60–4–9	Tommy Ryan	PTS	6	May 29, 1900	Tattersall's, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
77	Win	60–4–8	Dan Creedon	TKO	6	May 18, 1900	Broadway A.C., Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
76	Win	59–4–8	Joe Choynski	RTD	4	Jan 12, 1900	Broadway A.C., Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S.
75	Win	58–4–8	Peter Maher	KO	5	Jan 1, 1900	Coney Island Stadium, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S.
74	Win	57–4–8	Jack McDonough	KO	4	Nov 9, 1899	Hawthorne A.C., Buffalo, New York, U.S.
73	Win	56–4–8	Billy Stift	KO	13	Oct 27, 1899	Coliseum, Saint Louis, Minnesota, U.S.
72	Draw	55–4–8	Joe Choynski	PTS	6	Oct 6, 1899	Star Theatre, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
71	Win	55–4–7	Jack McCormick	TKO	8	Sep 27, 1899	Broadway A.C., Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S.
70	Win	54–4–7	Steve O'Donnell	KO	6	Sep 19, 1899	Broadway A.C., Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S.
69	Win	53–4–7	Geoff Thorne	KO	3	Sep 5, 1899	Broadway A.C., Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S.
68	Loss	52–4–7	Jack McCormick	KO	1	Aug 18, 1899	Star Theatre, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
67	Win	52–3–7	Jim Carter	KO	5	Aug 14, 1899	Club Theatre, Joplin, Missouri, U.S.
66	Win	51–3–7	Tom Duggan	TKO	2	Aug 10, 1899	Saengerfest Hall, Davenport, Iowa, U.S.
65	Win	50–3–7	Jack Graham	TKO	4	Aug 10, 1899	Saengerfest Hall, Davenport, Iowa, U.S.
64	Win	49–3–7	Joe Choynski	PTS	20	Mar 24, 1899	Mechanic's Pavilion, San Francisco, California, U.S.
63	Loss	48–3–7	Tom Sharkey	KO	10	Jan 10, 1899	Lenox A.C., Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
62	Win	48–2–7	Joe Goddard	DQ	5	Dec 16, 1898	Arena A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
61	Win	47–2–7	Gus Ruhlin	PTS	20	Mar 20, 1898	Alhambra, Syracuse, New York, U.S.
60	Win	46–2–7	Jim Bates	KO	1	Mar 11, 1898	Princess Rink, Fort Wayne, Indiana, U.S.
59	ND	45–2–7	Vern Hardenbrook	ND	4	Mar 11, 1898	Princess Rink, Fort Wayne, Indiana, U.S.
58	Win	45–2–7	Nick Burley	KO	2	Mar 4, 1898	Whitington Park, Hot Springs, Arkansas, U.S.
57	Win	44–2–7	Dan Creedon	RTD	15	Dec 17, 1897	Long Island City AC Arena, Long Island City, Queens, New York City, New York, U.S.	Retained world middleweight title
56	Win	43–2–7	Australian Billy Smith	TKO	2	Nov 15, 1897	2nd Regiment Armory, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
55	Win	42–2–7	George LaBlanche	KO	1	Nov 12, 1897	Opera House, Dayton, Ohio, U.S.
54	Win	41–2–7	Beech Ruble	TKO	2	Nov 12, 1897	Opera House, Dayton, Ohio, U.S.
53	ND	40–2–7	Jim Hall	NC	5	Oct 18, 1897	Quaker City A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.	This bout was scheduled for six rounds but was such a palpable fake the referee stopped it and declared it a no-contest
52	Draw	40–2–7	Tommy Ryan	PTS	5	Sep 8, 1897	Alhambra, Syracuse, New York, U.S.	Referee George Siler said there was no reason for the police to have intervened in this bout. He ruled the fight a draw
51	Win	40–2–6	Dan Bayliff	KO	3	Aug 13, 1897	Casino Hall, Dayton, Ohio, U.S.
50	Win	39–2–6	Dick Moore	KO	2	Jul 22, 1897	Olympic A.C., Buffalo, New York, U.S.
49	Win	38–2–6	Nick Burley	KO	3	Jul 5, 1897	Manhattan A.C., Troy, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
48	Win	37–2–6	Jack Bonner	NWS	6	May 31, 1897	Quaker City A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
47	Win	37–2–6	Dick O'Brien	TKO	10	May 26, 1897	Palace A.C., Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
46	Win	36–2–6	Mike Creedon	KO	2	May 6, 1897	Bijou Theater, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
45	Win	35–2–6	Mike O`Hara	KO	1	May 6, 1897	Bijou Theater, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
44	Win	34–2–6	Jack Graham	KO	2	Apr 24, 1897	Grand OPera House, Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
43	Win	33–2–6	Bill Doherty	KO	9	Dec 26, 1896	The Amphitheatre, Johannesburg, Gauteng, Cape Colony	Retained world middleweight title; Won South African middleweight title
42	ND	32–2–6	Jimmy Fox	ND	4	Oct 10, 1896	Art A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
41	Win	32–2–6	Dick Moore	PTS	10	May 30, 1896	Empire Theater, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S.
40	Win	31–2–6	Mysterious Billy Smith	DQ	6	May 18, 1896	Newton Street Armory, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.	Retained world middleweight title
39	Win	30–2–6	Jim Daly	TKO	2	May 7, 1896	New Manhattan A.C., Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
38	Win	29–2–6	Frank Bosworth	KO	2	Apr 22, 1896	Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
37	Win	28–2–6	Tommy Ryan	KO	15	Mar 2, 1896	Empire A.C., Maspeth, Queens, New York City, New York, U.S.	Won vacant world middleweight title
36	Win	27–2–6	Tommy West	KO	2	Jan 31, 1896	New Manhattan A.C., Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
35		26–2–6	Charles Johnson	ND	4	Jan 8, 1896	Caledonian A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
34	Loss	26–2–6	Ted White	PTS	10	Nov 25, 1895	National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, London, England, United Kingdom
33	Win	26–1–6	Abe Ullman	TKO	13	Oct 7, 1895	Front Street Theater, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
32	Win	25–1–6	Dick Moore	TKO	6	Sep 2, 1895	Buckingham Theater, Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
31	Draw	24–1–6	Dick O'Brien	PTS	25	May 20, 1895	West Newton Street polo rink, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
30	Win	24–1–5	Jack Wilkes	TKO	2	Apr 19, 1895	West Newton Street polo rink, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
29	Win	23–1–5	Billy Maber	PTS	10	Mar 13, 1895	Pastime A.C., Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
28	Win	22–1–5	Al Roberts	KO	5	Jan 19, 1895	Highland House, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
27	Draw	21–1–5	Al Roberts	PTS	10	Oct 29, 1894	Highland House, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
26	Win	21–1–4	Billy Steffers	PTS	10	Aug 29, 1894	Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
25	Win	20–1–4	Jack Grace	KO	7	Jul 24, 1894	Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
24	Win	19–1–4	Billy Steffers	PTS	10	Jul 17, 1894	Cleveland A.C., Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
23	Win	18–1–4	Harry O`Connor	KO	3	Jul 2, 1894	Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
22	Win	17–1–4	Charles Maxwell	PTS	6	Jun 1, 1894	Akron, Ohio, U.S.
21	Draw	16–1–4	Jim Barron	PTS	10	May 18, 1894	Twin City A.C., Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
20	Loss	16–1–3	Billy Steffers	KO	1	May 10, 1894	Cleveland A.C., Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
19	Win	16–0–3	Jim Scully	KO	7	Mar 16, 1894	New Bedford A.C., New Bedford, Ohio, U.S.
18	Win	15–0–3	Joe Burke	KO	2	Feb 12, 1894	Fall River, Massachusetts, U.S.
17	Win	14–0–3	Pat Hayden	KO	2	Jan 8, 1894	Metropole A.C., Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
16	Win	13–0–3	Deaf Mute	KO	4	Oct 22, 1893	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
15	Win	12–0–3	John Welch	KO	9	Oct 13, 1893	Belmont Park, Wheeling, West Virginia, U.S.
14	Draw	11–0–3	George Bennett	PTS	8	Sep 26, 1893	Akron, Ohio, U.S.
13	Win	11–0–2	Frank Merritt	KO	2	Aug 15, 1893	Parnell Hall, Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
12	Win	10–0–2	Dick Harris	KO	1	Jul 30, 1893	Marion, Indiana, U.S.
11	Draw	9–0–2	Ike Boone	PTS	19	Jul 23, 1893	Muncie, Indiana, U.S.	Some sources reported a draw in 22nd round, but the 19th round ones contain more details
10	Win	9–0–1	Charles Bull McCarthy	KO	3	Jul 6, 1893	Athletic ball park, Muncie, Indiana, U.S.
9	Win	8–0–1	Frank Murray	KO	2	May 4, 1893	Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
8	Win	7–0–1	Frank Lamode	KO	3	Feb 22, 1893	New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
7	Win	6–0–1	Unknown	KO	2	Feb 12, 1893	Milan, Tennessee, U.S.
6	Win	5–0–1	Jim Conners	KO	3	Jan 27, 1893	Hot Springs, Arkansas, U.S.
5	Win	4–0–1	Jim Dickson	KO	5	Jan 11, 1893	Hot Springs, Arkansas, U.S.
4	Draw	3–0–1	Herbert Hale	PTS	8	Nov 12, 1892	Third St. Garden, Columbus, Indiana, U.S.
3	Win	3–0	Bob Lewis	KO	1	Sep 14, 1892	Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
2	Win	2–0	Billy Barlow	PTS	6	Jun 6, 1892	Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
1	Win	1–0	Peter Jenkins	PTS	4	Jun 2, 1891	Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S.