Was Corbett McCoy on the level?

I doubt anyone ever saw the real McCoy....

 

Everything I have read states that this was a Barney.
The result,prompted the repeal of the Horton Law in New York State, which meant that no decisions could be given in fights.
This was not changed until the Walker Law in 1920.
ps McCoy is credited with being the inventor of the corkscrew punch.

 

Well that's fair comment .
With no prospect of ever viewing the fight ,I tend to go with the actions of the authorities that it was a fix ,but equally it may not have been,it would certainly be no surprise for Corbett to stop MCoy who was not a heavyweight anyway.

 

Also rember if knockdown once in that era, the bout was about over any way with the lack of a netural corner rule.

 

This fight will be discussed in my upcoming In the Ring With James J. Jeffries.

BTW, this fight did not cause the repeal of the Horton law. The repeal of the Horton law was already passed and signed into law before this fight took place. The law by its own terms when passed set a September 1, 1900 date to go into effect, so when Corbett-McCoy took place in late August, boxing was already doomed.

 

Thanks for the correction Adam ,I was cribbing from Gerald Suster's book,
"Champions Of The Ring".

 

McCoy was a convict, a dirty fighter, a trickster in and out of the ring, a very talented boxer / speedy boxer.

The rumor of the fix in the Corbett fight is one of those things that has taken a life of its own on the internet.

News reads suggest the battle was rather sprited. When McCoy went out, he acted a bit. Fighters often act when they are hurt or knocked out. Perhaps this is why some felt it was a fix.

Aside from investing the " cork screw punch ", McCoy allegedly once threw down tacks in the ring between rounds vs a bare footed fighter. He is credited with the " your shoe laces are untied " bit, then would drill the other guy in the face. One of his corner man once splashed a bleach like substance in the others fighters face. Another time he faked a serious illness and begged a fighter for a fight as he needed money, then showed up in top condition.

I would recommend watching Corbett vs McCoy sparring for World War I bonds. The film is up close and clear. Corbett looks very sharp and fast despite being in his late 40's. He must have been something in his prime.

 

The fighter you refer to where McCoy faked a serious illness was Tommy Ryan ,McCoy kod Ryan and claimed his version of the Middleweight title