Common tactic in the late 1800's. LaBlanche beating Dempsey is probably the most famous. Off the top of my head I know Billy McCarthy also did it against Jim Hall.
Lablanche used a back hand pivot blow which was outlawed. Max Baer liked to use it and sometimes got away with it.
I thought it was a spinning forearm blow, but my memory can be a bit jenky, so I'll have a look through the papers.
Not found anything either way yet. Los Angeles daily herald. [microfilm reel], August 28, 1889, Page 5, Image 5 https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/...mpsey&y=0&x=0&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1 "[LaBlanche] whirled around suddenly and caught Dempsey a terrific blow on the jaw" Daily Alta California, Volume 81, Number 59, 28 August 1889 https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=DAC18890828.2.71&srpos=2&e=------188-en--20--1--txt-txIN-dempsey-------1 "the Marine retreated and whirling around suddenly caught Dempsey square on the nose in the same manner Jimmy Carrol caught Blakelock" San Bernardino Daily Courier, Volume 6, Number 120, 28 August 1889 https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SBDC188...-188-en--20--21--txt-txIN-dempsey----1889---1 "the Marine suddenly sprouted and got a blow on Jack's nose" For the Carroll Blakelock reference this one just mentions spinning then landing Daily Alta California, Volume 80, Number 79, 20 March 1889 https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=DAC1889...--188-en--20--1--txt-txIN-carroll----1889---1 Los Angeles daily herald. [microfilm reel], March 20, 1889, Page 5, Image 5 https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/...rroll&y=0&x=0&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1 This calls it a "Carrol" swing Daily Alta California, Volume 81, Number 91, 29 September 1889 https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=DAC1889...88-en--20--1--txt-txIN-la+blanche----1889---1 This says he spun, caught him with the right, then left. The evening world., August 28, 1889, EXTRA, Image 1 https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/...he+&y=10&x=16&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1 This says LaBlanche span and caught him on the jaw Evening star. [volume], August 28, 1889, Image 1 https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/...he+&y=10&x=16&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1 This only says he was KOed by a blow on the nose The Hood River glacier., August 31, 1889, Image 2 https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/...he+&y=10&x=16&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1 This says he span and caught him on the jaw The Jersey City news., August 28, 1889, LAST EDITION, Image 3 https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/...he+&y=10&x=16&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1 This says he whirled completely around and caught him on the neck The morning news., August 28, 1889, Image 1 https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/...he+&y=10&x=16&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1 The morning news., August 28, 1889, Image 1 This says he whirled and caught him on the jaw Delaware gazette and state journal., August 29, 1889, Page 5, Image 5 https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/...he+&y=10&x=16&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1 This just calls it a chance blow The Helena independent., August 29, 1889, Image 2 https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/...he+&y=10&x=16&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1 Says a right handed swing to the nose Helena weekly herald. [volume], September 05, 1889, Page 3, Image 3 https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/...swing&y=0&x=0&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1 Right hand swing to the nose Fort Worth daily gazette., August 29, 1889, Image 1 https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/...nche+&y=0&x=0&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1 Fort Worth daily gazette., August 29, 1889, Image 1
