1899-10-06 Charles Kid McCoy D-PTS6 Joe Choynski (Ft. Dearborn Athletic Club, Star Theater, Chicago, IL, USA)

1899-10-07 The Chicago Daily Tribune (Chicago, IL) (page 6)

FIGHT RESULTS IN DRAW.

--------

M'COY AND CHOYNSKI HAVE EVEN BATTLE AT THE STAR.

--------

Agree to Divide Honors if Both Are on Their Feet After Six Rounds--Arrangement Disappoints the Crowd--Hoosier Scores Only Knockdown, but No Decided Advantage Over the Californian--Lively Sport in Preliminary Bouts.

--------

Before a crowded and rather disappointed house at the Star Theater "Kid" McCoy and Joe Choynski fought a six-round draw last night. It was a draw because the agreement existed it should be such if both men were on their feet at the finish. Possibly this arrangement saved Referee Hogan from a dilemma, for the fighting was fairly even.

McCoy may have had a shade of advantage on points, but Choynski's friends would have denounced such a decision. There is no question the arragement for a draw if both men were on their feet detracted from the vigor of the contest, for while both men apparently fought earnestly a bout of such limited duration was hardly sufficient for either to emphasize his superiority. It would have been more satisfactory to the sporting crowd had such an arrangement been made public in advance.

Both men did a fair share of the aggressive work, McCoy leading in this particular early in the contest, while the Californian appeared to make earnest efforts in the closing stages. McCoy scored the only knockdown, and in the first three rounds gave the impression he was constantly waiting for the chance to land a knockout blow. Choynski tried hard in the opening rounds to feint his man out, but the imperturbable McCoy refused to be drawn out. McCoy did some clever work in this line himself and once or twice had Choynski guessing.

McCoy's lightning left was often in action, and, although Choynski cleverly blocked some of the leads, many of them landed. Some of them appeared to be delivered while the "Kid" was on his toes. In the clinches McCoy did the better work, being ever ready to whip in left and right jolts. Choynski showed great reluctance at times in breaking.

McCoy Takes His Unlucky Corner.

McCoy was the first to appear, taking the same corner he occupied a few weeks ago on the occasion of his unexpected knockout at the hands of McCormick. He was attended by his brother, Homer Selby, Jack Leonard, and Harry and Sammy Harris. He looked well.

Choynski came in accompanied by two boyish-looking seconds, N. and G. Shrosbee. He looked far better than he did in his battle with Ryan at Dubuque a month ago, having more color and a brighter eye. The men fought straight Queensberry rules.

Little effective work was done in the first round, the men endeavoring to feint each other out. McCoy made several bluff leads, but there was not a good blow struck until the latter part of the round, when McCoy sent his left to the breast.

In the second round McCoy opened with a left lead for the head. Two seconds later they exchanged short arm blows in a clinch, from which McCoy emerged with the bridge of his nose cut and bleeding. Choynski's left lead was cleverly blocked and McCoy jabbed his face three times in quick succession. Several good exchanges took place and Choynski twice backed away from McCoy's onslaughts. The round ended with easy sparring, and the crowd grew a trifle impatient.

Hoosier Scores Knockdown.

In the third round McCoy again did some good work with his left and showed excellent judgment of distance in avoiding Choynski's swings. McCoy forced the fighting in the middle of the round, landing two jabs on the body. Getting Choynski against the ropes he swung his left against the jaw, sending the Californian to the floor and bringing blood from his mouth. Seeing his advantage McCoy followed with two hard lefts on the face. Choynski, however, fought back strongly and finished the round in good shape.

In the fourth round McCoy sent a good left to the jaw and Choynski raised a cheer by countering hard on the face. Choynski followed soon with a good jab on the mouth, McCoy countering on the forehead. Choynski retreated to the ropes as the "Kid" came after him and cleverly evaded a heavy left swing. Towards the end of the round there were several brisk exchanges of an even character. Honors were fairly even in the fifth, in which Choynski appeared to be fighting with great confidence and endeavoring to get in a blow which would bring him the decision. McCoy, however, was wary and frustrated his opponent's attempts by clever footwork and good blocking.

In a clinch at the finish Choynski was wrestled to the floor. There was little variation from the last round, the pace of which was not increased to any great extent, both men probably realizing that much effort would be wasted.

Entertaining Preliminary Bouts.

In the opening bout Lew Mansfield knocked out Jim Falvey in the second round. The latter went down without being hit in the first round, and after getting some punishment was put out for the full count.

Jack Robinson and Billy Kauffman, 140-pounders, fought six even rounds to a draw.

Jack Hudson knocked out Jim Quinn in the fourth round. They met at 138 pounds. After a fairly even break in the first round Hudson's superior hitting ability began to tell. Quinn was sent to the canvas for eight seconds from a left hook on the jaw. He was floored three times in the third round, and fell a like number without being hit. Early in the fourth he was partly wrestled to the floor, and on rising was sent to the canvas for the limit with a stiff left on the chin.

No funnier bout than that between Ed Morris of California and Charles La Grande of New York, two 150-pound colored men, has ever been seen in the city. It was Kirwanesque in the extreme. La Grande, a tall, ever smiling youth, pirouetted around the ring and exhibited every kind of blow known to pugilists, both ancient and modern. Occasionally he drew his head between his shoulder blades turtle fashion. Morris, in the early stages of the contest, swung his right windmill fashion and generally missed. After that he paid attention to his opponent's ribs. Neither seemed able to do any damage, and rounds four and five were decidedly slow. In the last Morris forced the fighting and scored the only knockdown of the contest with a left hook on the jaw. He was given the decision.


1899-10-07 The Chicago Record (Chicago, IL) (page 6)

CROWD HISSES BOUT.

--------

M'COY AND CHOYNSKI DRAW.

--------

Hogan Renders Decision According to an Agreement Made Before Entering the Ring--Tame Boxing Disappoints a Full House.

--------

"Kid" McCoy and Joe Choynski engineered their expected draw in the wind-up bout at the Star theater last night. Amid a din of hisses, groans and calls of "fake" Referee Malachy Hogan made himself heard and gave the decision. He explained--what had previously been concealed from the crowd--that the fighters had agreed before starting that if both men were on their feet at the end a draw must be announced. Hogan added his personal conviction that the men had fought to win. Not all the crowd that packed the building shared this belief, and another blast of groans and jeers stung the fighters' ears as they climbed out of the ring.

The fight was a deadening exhibition of feinting, clinching and occasional lively mix-ups. With the convenient reservation as to a draw, the men fought with considerable earnestness, but neither took great chances to rush matters. The wrath of the crowd was more against the club which permitted the deception of the public than against the fighters.

McCoy Has Slight Advantage.

If a decision had been given it would probably have been in McCoy's favor, though Joe redeemed an early faltering by some sharp fighting near the close. The "Kid" had a shade. He seemed disposed to let his opponent off without severe punishment. At times he rammed his piston-like left into Choynski's face with deadly aim, but for much of the time he was wild. Joe appeared very wary and hesitating in the early rounds, but peppered McCoy with some neat left hooks later on. About the only really savage work the men indulged in was in the clinches. Joe was afraid of a shot to his body, and the "Kid" was always alert to plant a hot one while in a clinch. So the men were close locked most of the time and Hogan had hard work in making them break.

McCoy appeared in prime condition and showed all his customary confidence. Choynski showed up in about as good shape as he has lately, but betrayed in his drawn face his usual overdone training. As a result of the six-round draw last night Choynski expects to get on with the "Kid" for another twenty-round fight.

Choynski Depends on Left Hook.

McCoy fought like an automaton. He seemed fairly to glide along the canvas, feinting his way past Choynski's guard and then dashing in with his left. The "Kid" varied his style of delivery with almost every round. First he would stand up, hold his guard high and depend upon his feet to keep him out of danger. He seemed to be able to draw Choynski's leads any time he wanted, while Joe's efforts at feinting did not seem to annoy his opponent to any extent. Choynski depended upon his old standby, a left hook, to do damage. He landed one of these punches on the bridge of McCoy's nose in the first round and that member began bleeding.

This blow seemed to make McCoy slightly aggressive. He tried again and again by raising his left for the face to make Choynski try to cross with his right, but Joe seemed to understand what McCoy wanted, and every time the "Kid" tried with his left Joe either slipped, his head ducking low, or began a spring around the ring.

McCoy Lags at the Close.

Choynski was very careful of the way he handled himself in the clinches. The minute he felt one of McCoy's arms twining around him the experienced Californian would squirm around like an eel until he had placed his body in a safe position. The third saw a bit of milling. At the tap of the bell McCoy stepped in with a left full on the nose, and before Choynski recovered from the effects of this blow the "Kid" was in again with a punch on the jaw. Choynski attempted to get away and tried to duck under one of McCoy's left hooks, which caught him full on the nose, and Choynski half slipped down, bleeding freshly from the nose. He was up in an instant, however. Choynski then landed a left on McCoy's jaw, and he followed with a sharp right high on the head just as the bell rang for the end of the round.

The fourth saw McCoy lagging. He never used his right except in the clinches, when there seemed a poor chance of execution. McCoy started out fast enough when he heard the jeers of the crowd and cries of "fake," but again slowed up, and the last two rounds were much the same.

The preliminaries were a poor lot and resulted as follows:

Billy Kauffman and Jack Robinson fought a draw.

Lew Mansfield made Jack Murphy quit in one round.

Jack Hudson made Jim Quinn quit in four rounds.

Ed Morris defeated Charles LaGrange in six rounds.


1899-10-07 The Cincinnati Enquirer (Cincinnati, OH) (page 3)

SIX EASY

--------

Rounds Between Kid McCoy and Joe Choynski.

Chicago, October 6.--Kid McCoy and Joe Choynski fought six rounds before the Ft. Dearborn Athletic Club to-night. Both men had agreed to a draw in case they were on their feet at the end of the sixth round, and that was the decision, as both were not only on their feet, but comparatively fresh. McCoy, however, clearly outpointed the Californian, and scored the only knockdown of the fight, putting Joe to the boards with a left hook to the mouth in the third.

The Kid made a careful fight of it. He took no chances whatever, contenting himself as a rule with stabbing Choynski with his left. He used his right but seldom, but it generally counted hard when he did put it in operation. Choynski scored many times, bringing the blood from McCoy's nose in the first round, and once or twice jarring McCoy considerably with his right. Many of his blows, however, fell short.

In the preliminaries Billy Cauffman, of St. Louis, and Jack Robinson, of Chicago, fought a six-round draw. Lew Mansfield, of Chicago, knocked out Jack Falvey, of Chicago, in the first round, and Jack Hudson put Jim Quinn away in four rounds.

The McCoy-Choynski fight by rounds was as follows:

First Round--Both men shaped up well as they came together, and were evidently in good trim. McCoy landed a right on the ribs, and escaped a return. He tried a left for the face, but it was blocked. McCoy tried his left again, and put it hard on the face and a right to the ribs, Choynski countering on the ear. In a clinch McCoy beat a tattoo on Joe's ribs with his right, and brought it up to the ear, Choynski slamming his right to the Kid's ribs. Choynski was cautious and fiddled considerably. McCoy refused to be drawn out, but watched his man like a cat. No particular damage was done.

Second Round--Choynski hooked his left, but missed. In the clinch that followed he landed hard on ribs and ear, but Choynski brought first blood with a short hook on McCoy's nose. Choynski landed a light right on the mouth. McCoy quick as a flash jabbed his left twice to Choynski's nose. McCoy put his right on the ribs, Choynski countering with a left on the face. Joe landed a left on the mouth as the bell rang.

Third Round--McCoy got to work at once, and slammed a hard left to Joe's mouth and a right hook to the ear. Joe put his right on McCoy's ear, the latter coming back with a hard left to the mouth. McCoy repeated the blow, Choynski putting a light left to the chin. McCoy jabbed his left twice to the face and then to the ribs. Then suddenly shifting he tied the Californian up by feinting with his right and sent his left with terrible force to the mouth. Choynski went down like a shot. He got up immediately, but his mouth was bleeding freely. McCoy was on him at once, but Joe fought back hard, putting his left and right to the face, sending McCoy's head back. McCoy put his left straight and hard on the jaw. This was decidedly McCoy's round.

Fourth Round--McCoy put two hard lefts to the face, Choynski countering with a left to the mouth. Choynski swung his left lightly on McCoy's ear. The latter then sent Joe's head back twice with straight lefts. Choynski evened matters with right and left hard to the jaw. McCoy swung left and right to the head. He left an opening and Choynski staggered the Kid a little with a hard right to the neck.

Fifth Round--Choynski blocked a left and sent his left hard to the Kid's eye. McCoy then feinted and put a terrific right over to the ear, staggering Choynski. The latter, who was decidedly aggressive, placed his left on the ear. In a clinch both landed hard rights on the ear. McCoy put a hard left on the neck and Choynski a hard right on McCoy's mouth. McCoy brought his left to the ear and partly wrestled Choynski to the floor as the gong sounded.

Sixth Round--McCoy put his left to Choynski's nose, starting it to bleeding. Choynski missed a left for the chin, and McCoy put his right hard on the kidneys. McCoy reddened Joe's ribs with his right in a clinch, the latter bringing his left over on the neck. Choynski sent his right to the ribs and McCoy countered with a good left hook to the mouth just before the bell rang. Choynski landed a right swing on the jaw, shaking the Kid up a little.

Choynski's lips were somewhat swollen at the finish. Beyond a skinned nose McCoy did not bear a mark.


1899-10-07 The Daily Inter Ocean (Chicago, IL) (page 8)

M'COY AND CHOYNSKI DRAW.

--------

Bout Proved Unsatisfactory from the Start to the Finish.

Kid McCoy and Joe Choynski boxed six rounds to a draw before a North Side club last night. The men fought under straight Queensberry rules, and Malachy Hogan acted as referee.

The affair was unsatisfactory from start to finish. In the first place, it appeared as though McCoy was not trying very hard, and, in the second, the announcement that both men had agreed to call the contest a draw if both were on their feet at the end of the sixth and last round was not made until the contest was at an end. Then Referee Hogan came to the front, declared the bout a draw, and added that both of the principals had agreed to make it a draw if the bout went the limit. The crowd was plainly disgusted and testified its dislike of the proceedings by shrill cat-calls and numerous cries of "Fake!"

McCoy seemed to be far the cleverer of the two. His superb foot work carried him out of danger of Choynski's rushes, and his long, dangerous left was always in evidence, shooting to the face and wind with marvelous celerity.

When the men squared off for the first round McCoy led a straight left for the face, which was neatly ducked, Choynski countering with a light left on the chest. Choynski tried a left swing for the head and McCoy blocked it. Choynski missed a left hook for the wind, McCoy rushing him to the ropes. A mix-up ensued, with honors even, all the exchanges seeming to lack steam. Choynski tried a left swing for the head again, missed, and McCoy sent a left uppercut to the face, which caused Choynski to clinch and hang on. Both men fiddled to the end of the round. There were murmurs of disapprobation from the crowd as they went to their corners.

Choynski opened up the second with a left swing for the jaw. McCoy got out of the way and pushed his left squarely on the face. A mix-up followed, and when the men broke away McCoy's nose was bleeding from the effects of a left hook which grazed his face. McCoy kept jabbing, and the round closed with a clinch.

In the third McCoy used a one-two-straight left on the face, and an occasional left to the wind which made Choynski grunt. McCoy caught Choynski off his balance, sent a left to the nose, and Joe slipped down, but was up in an instant. The exchanges were light, McCoy having the best of matters.

The last three rounds were all of the same order.

Referee Hogan declared the bout a draw.

1902-05-02 Charles Kid McCoy ND6 Fred Russell [Industrial Athletic Club, Philadelphia, PA, USA]

1902-05-03 The Evening World (New York, NY) (page 4)

M'COY NOT GREAT FIGHTER HE WAS A FEW YEARS AGO.
--------
Defeated Russell, but Didn't Show Much of His Old Form.
--------

PHILADELPHIA, May 3.--"Kid" McCoy made his reappearance in the prize ring, after an absence of three years, at the Industrial Club last night, where he met Fred Russell, of Milwaukee. Although the latter had all the advantage of the "Kid," both in height and reach, he was outclassed.

McCoy was in poor condition. He was fat and failed to show his old-time form. Flashes of his former cleverness were displayed at time, but his showing on the whole was disappointing.

For the first three rounds Russell had little difficulty in reaching McCoy's face and stomach and the latter was apparently worried. He was breathing hard. His face showed the effects of the frequent visitations of Russell's padded mits.

Early in the fourth round, McCoy found a couple of openings and used his right and left on Russell's jaw. He sent Russell to the floor with a hard right swing, but the Milwaukee fighter got on his feet quickly and received a couple of uppercuts which shook him up considerably.

Russell went after McCoy in the fifth, but was met with a couple of jolts which set him thinking and caused him to slow down somewhat. The "Kid" tried to end the bout a couple of times, but could not land the blow soporific.

While not in a physical condition to do himself justice, McCoy's showing was far from championship form. He was slow and his blows lacked steam. There was an absence of that shiftiness which made him one of the best men in the business.

His footwork lacked the springiness for which he became famous and on the form he displayed last night he would be an easy mark for Corbett, Fitzsimmons or any of the big clever heavy-weights.


1902-05-03 The Morning Telegraph (New York, NY) (page 12)

M'COY WINS FROM FRED RUSSELL WITH EASE.
--------

(Special Despatch to The Morning Herald.)

PHILADELPHIA, May 2.--Just how easily a clever, scientific boxer can handle a burly, aggressive fighter was demonstrated here to-night at the Industrial Athletic Club when "Kid" McCoy bested Fred Russell, of Chicago, in six fast rounds.

Russell towered several inches above McCoy and had the advantage of weight by thirty pounds. Both of these advantages, however, were discounted by McCoy's cleverness and good ring generalship. The Chicago heavyweight bothered his clever opponent for the first four rounds. Although he was unable to catch the latter on the lead, his exchanges and infighting were vicious, and several times McCoy narrowly escaped a knockout blow.

In the fifth and sixth rounds McCoy had taken his opponent's measure, and time and again caught him with double left hand blows. Twice in the fifth he landed with swinging right hand leads.

In the sixth round McCoy made it so interesting for Russell that the latter became very tired and was continually forced to save himself from being knocked out.

McCoy was not in good physical condition, while Russell appeared to be trained to the minute. Russell impressed every one as being a good, strong heavyweight, fast on his feet, and with a dangerous left hand swing.

His judgment of distance was poor, and McCoy had no difficulty in ducking, slipping and sidestepping his leads. The main bout was preceded by three minor contests which were of little interest to the 1,500 spectators.


1902-05-03 The Denver Post (Denver, CO) (page 7)

BIG FRED RUSSELL TO GO UP AGAINST M'COY
------

Philadelphia, May 3.--Julian has signed McCoy for three straight battles in this city, each successive one, however, conditional upon his showing in its predecessor. "Kid" Carter was to have been McCoy's first opponent, but Carter's fight with Marvin Hart at Louisville tonight prevents his appearance in this city. It was then that Julian obtained Fred Russell, the big fellow from Denver, to take McCoy on at Industrial hall.

Russell is no unknown quantity in pugilism. He is a comer, with an opportunity to reach the top at an age some years younger than most of the champions have been when they stood on the top round. He stands 6 feet 4 inches, and weighs 226 pounds. He put Joe Choynski away in four rounds, and it wasn't the human wreck of a great fighter either, but the Choynski of three years ago. He boxed Tom Sharkey such a hot four rounds in Denver a year ago that the police stepped in and put an end to further business between them. His last fight was with Joe Walcott at Chicago a month ago.


1902-05-03 The Patriot (Harrisburg, PA) (page 5)

M'COY BEATS RUSSELL
--------
"Kid" Was Trifle Fat But Was Too Much for Chicago Man in Six Round Go.

Philadelphia, May 2.--Kid McCoy and Charlie Russell, of Chicago, fought six rounds to-night at the Industrial athletic club, in which McCoy had the better of the contest.

Russell was in superb condition, while McCoy was a little fat. Russell put up a very fast fight for a big man and during the first four rounds kept McCoy guessing. The latter fought cautiously and it was not until the fifth round that he cut loose.

From that to the finish the fight was all in McCoy's favor. He went at Russell hammer and tongs and in the latter part of the sixth and last round had Russell going. Neither was badly punished but Russell was very tired when the fight ended.


1902-05-03 The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, PA) (page 6)

M'COY BESTS RUSSELL
--------
The Latter a Big, Strong, Rugged Fellow, and That's All

Obviously out of condition, weighing probably twenty pounds more than he ever did, Kid McCoy easily outpointed Fred Russell, of Chicago, at Industrial Hall last night. The fact that the Kid outpointed this Western giant, however, is not an achievement of which he can boast in the future. Russell is a big, strong, rugged chap, but that lets him out. He has no business going up against a boxer of McCoy's class, particularly has he no business of trying to "fight clever," as he did last night. At the same time, he showed that he possessed a wallop which would be dangerous if it landed, but the elusive McCoy was never there to receive it. He did land a couple of punches on McCoy's generous abdomen in the first two rounds, but abandoned that style of attack later on. Russell was very tired at the finish, while McCoy was pretty well winded through his own exertions.

In the fifth round of his bout with Willie Mack, Denny Hall slipped and fell, striking his head heavily on the floor. He was taken to the dressing room, where he speedily recovered. Kid Mooney had a shade on Kid O'Donnell and Kid Williams and John Locksley boxed a fast six round draw.


1902-05-03 The Philadelphia Record (Philadelphia, PA (page 14)

M'COY DEFEATS RUSSELL
--------
But Fails to Stop the Big Western Boxer in Six Fast Rounds.
--------
BUT ONE KNOCK DOWN SCORED
--------
That Was Not Damaging Since Russell Was Caught Off His Balance. Strauss Loses on Foul to Miller.
--------

"Kid" McCoy bested Fred Russell, the big Western fighter, in six rounds at Industrial Hall last evening, but failed to stop his man. Russell did better with the elusive "Kid" than his best friends had dared hope, and yet the big fellow was holding for dear life at the end of the sixth round. There was but one knockdown, and that was not a damaging one, McCoy catching Russell off his balance in the fourth and sending him sprawling on his face. In the second round McCoy found himself cornered, and to get out went to his hands and knees. McCoy landed some hard blows on Russell's face, but none of them were quite in the right place. Had they been the big Westerner would have been knocked out. Russell did some hitting, too, but missed many more times than he landed. After he found that his only show was to get close to McCoy he tried holding with one hand and punching with the other. In this way he managed to find the feeling of the "Kid's" face.

Neither man did any body fighting, which looked odd, considering the fact that McCoy's stomach rounded out temptingly. The famous Hoosier boxer looked bigger and stronger than ever before, and yet showed that he has lost none of his cleverness. But for that terrible black eye he gave himself by laying down to Jim Corbett he would probably be the most popular fighter in the country, and he certainly would have drawn a better crowd than he did last evening. The hall was only about half filled.

Russell loomed up nearly a head taller than McCoy, and looked in good condition. He got a left in the face and right on the ear while he was sizing up his agile opponent's peculiar position, and after each blow went to a clinch. Then Russell landed a glancing blow with his left and got two or three lefts in return. On the next clinch Russell held McCoy with his right and punched him with his left. McCoy did a lot of feinting, and just before the end of the round caught Russell coming in with a hard straight left in the face.

Russell went after McCoy in the second round, and had no difficulty in finding him, McCoy's right coming hard to the face. Russell let go with two fast lefts, and both landed on McCoy, driving him into a corner. To get out McCoy went to his hands and knees, but was up like a flash. Toward the end of the round McCoy set himself in one of his peculiar positions, with his face apparently unguarded, and when Russell tried to punch him he got two left-hand smashes in the face that would have put him out of business had they landed on the jaw.

Russell tried rushing McCoy in the third round, and for a time got along very well, landing quite a number of glancing blows, but about the time the big fellow was ready to congratulate himself he would get a left or right on the nose that would take all the conceit out of him.

The fourth round was a good one, and was much in McCoy's favor. Russell was knocked down once and jarred a number of times with right uppercuts. McCoy was rushed to the ropes a number of times and made to duck repeatedly to avoid Russell's wicked swings.

In the fifth round McCoy did Russell considerable damage with right and left and barely missed taking a fierce right in the face from the big man. It came inside his guard and was an imitation of what McCoy had just done to Russell.

Russell did a lot of holding in the sixth round and McCoy uppercut him frequently, besides landing many clean lefts in the face.

Willie Mack, the ex-amateur light-weight champion, and Denny Hall met in the semi-wind-up. Up to the middle of the fifth round it was anybody's contest, when Mack forced Hall through the ropes, the latter falling to the floor, injuring himself so badly that he had to be carried to his dressing room.

In the preliminaries "Kid" O'Donnell received a severe drubbing from Billy Mooney in six rounds. "Kid" Williams and Johnny Loxley went the limit to a draw.


1902-05-03 The Pittsburgh Gazette (Pittsburgh, PA) (page 8)

LASTED THE LIMIT.
------
Kid McCoy Failed to Put Fred Russell Out in Six Rounds.

PHILADELPHIA, May 2.--(Special.)--Kid McCoy made his first appearance in the ring since his return from Europe at Martin Julian's club here tonight. His opponent was Fred Russell of Denver, who managed to remain through the six rounds. McCoy was woefully out of condition when he appeared, but despite his extra pounds of flesh looked to be a feather-weight alongside of the giant from Colorado. The bout attracted only a few hundred people, all of whom expected the "Kid" to land the knock out punch in short order. McCoy had the better of the set-to and would probably have knocked Russell out in a couple of more rounds, for the latter was very tired at the close.

The opening round was tame, McCoy dancing around the big fellow and appearing to be trying him out, while he easily kept away from Fred's rushes. The Kid became more aggressive in the second. After getting Russell to make several wild swings, McCoy sent a right hand swing to the neck which shook the Denverite up.

The Kid followed this up with a few left jabs to the face, Russell becoming so wild in his eagerness to get back that he nearly fell through the ropes. Russell put a worried look on McCoy's face in the third when he twice sent his left hard to the mouth. The Kid got back, however, in good style and his left jabs did considerable damage.

McCoy kept up his pretty defensive work in the fourth. After making a few feints with his left he suddenly whipped over his right and it landed squarely on Russell's jaw. The latter dropped to the floor, but was on his feet in an instant and the men mixed it up in savage fashion. The men took it easy in the fifth. In the sixth McCoy sailed into his opponent for keeps. He jabbed with his left for the face and used his right on the body. His rapid work had Russell completely bewildered, Fred scarcely landing a blow, while the Kid put in telling punches on all parts of his opponent, failing only in his swings for the jaw. Russell was groggy toward the close, but managed to last the limit.

1900-06-01 Charles Kid McCoy W-TKO13 Jack Bonner [Broadway Athletic Club, New York, NY, USA]

1900-06-02 The Brooklyn Daily Eagle (Brooklyn, NY) (page 14)

Kid McCoy Disposes of Bonner in Thirteen Rounds.
--------

Kid McCoy won at the Broadway Athletic Club last evening, but not with the same ease with which he has been putting them away during the past few months. His opponent last evening was Jack Bonner of Summit, Pa., and was considered to be one of the easiest that the Kid has had to contend with in some time. They were announced to box twenty-five rounds at 158 pounds, but it was evident when they stripped for action that neither was anywhere near that weight. Bonner was heavier than McCoy by more than ten pounds and could not have been less than 175 pounds. The Kid looked to be in superb shape when he danced about Bonner in the opening round, seemingly content with blocking Bonner's leads--without a punch. The crowd thought that he was simply waiting to get an opening and win with a punch. It was soon seen, however, that the Kid had more than a little fear of the Pennsylvanian, notwithstanding the smile on his face. He would not take a chance and fought cautiously. His judgment of distance when he did try was bad and as the bout progressed he held but little more than his own.

Bonner cut both his eyes early in the bout and in the eighth round scored a clean knock down with a right on the jaw. The Kid was up immediately. He lost his head and rushed at Bonner, butting him in the face, for which he was cautioned. From here on Bonner lost steam, and although he landed many a blow the Kid forged ahead and used both hands on face and body, cutting Bonner's face badly. He uppercut, jabbed and crossed Bonner until the crowd, out of pity, called for Bonner to be taken off.

Bonner stuck to it gamely, but weakened fast, and in the last couple of rounds fell to the floor several times from body blows. In the thirteenth, shortly after the bell rang, he went down with another right on the body and was so far gone that his seconds threw up the sponge to save a knockout. McCoy was declared the winner.

The preliminary was an exceptionally clever exhibition between Alf Levy of New York and Danny Smith of Brooklyn, for twelve rounds at 110 pounds. The bout pleased the crowd immensely, and the referee at the end decided that Levy had won.


1900-06-02 The New York Times (New York, NY) (page 11)

Another Victory for McCoy.

Kid McCoy added another to his long list of fistic victories at the Broadway Athletic Club last night, when he forced Jack Bonner of Summit, Penn., to give up in thirteen rounds. Bonner's seconds were forced to throw up the sponge in order to save their man from being knocked out.

Bonner proved to be game to the core, and it took all of McCoy's cleverness and hard-hitting capabilities to bring the big miner down. It was a fast and clever boxing exhibition, and the loser deserves much praise, for he put up a splendid fight.

1896-03-02 Charles Kid McCoy W-KO15 Tommy Ryan [Empire Athletic Club, Maspeth, NY, USA]

1896-03-03 The Brooklyn Daily Eagle (Brooklyn, NY) (page 10)

MC COY'S CLEVER VICTORY.
--------
HE LOOKED LIKE A BEATEN MAN EARLY IN THE FIGHT.
--------
Ryan Was Unmercifully Pounded Toward the Close, but Was Game to the Last--A Knockout in the Fifteenth Round at Maspeth.
--------

Tommy Ryan was defeated at Maspeth in 15 rounds last night by Kid McCoy and the battle will go down in fistic history as one of the most remarkable ever witnessed. To begin with, McCoy, although half a head taller than Ryan, and big in proportion, was uneasy and uncertain of himself from the moment that he clambered through the ropes, while Ryan threw off his wraps with an air of jaunty confidence that provoked an enthusiastic devotee of the sport in the gallery to shout: "What a beautiful cinch he's got."

Ryan's magnificent record made him easily the favorite. Lots of his friends' money went begging at rates varying from 10 to 7 to 2 to 1. And it looked at the start as if the knowing ones had fathomed the whole thing. He simply played with McCoy and when the round ended many of the spectators began to pick up their snow shoes and their overcoats in order to escape the rush of the battle to get out of the building. Then came the sensational point of the encounter.

McCoy began to find his man and he assumed some confidence. A few minutes later he opened Ryan's nose. Then he persisted in jabbing Tommy on the jaw with his long left and every tap that he gave brought the blood, until Ryan was bleeding like a stuck pig and had more trouble in getting rid of the blood that choked him and blinded him that he had in warding McCoy's blows. Ryan was knocked down three times in the fatal fifteenth round and he showed once and for all that he was game to the backbone. It took him fifteen minutes to recover and when he tottered from the ring he would have dropped if the arms of his seconds had not been around him.

All the sports for miles around were at the ringside, including Tom O'Rourke, Sam Fitzpatrick, Arthur Lumley, M. Giubal, Macon McCormick, Maxey More, P. T. Powers, Fred Peffer, Billy Crowley, Martin Dowling and hundreds of others.

Jack Downey of Brooklyn and Larry Burns of Cohoes warmed up the 3,000 spectators in an eight round bout at 125 pounds. Everybody knew Downey and picked him out as a winner, while Burns was an unknown quantity. He had a big, hearty contingent of friends with him though and they rooted while he fought till the building rang again. They began to fight at 9 o'clock sharp. Downey was handled by Tommy Butler, Pete Farrell and Joe Martin, while Burns was looked after by John McTiernan, Tommy Hunt and George Davis. Tim Hurst in his familiar navy blue sweater was the referee, as usual.

In the opening rounds Burns was slow and appeared to be somewhat afraid of Downey. Jack forced the fighting and when the third round opened there were repeated offers of 50 to 40 on his chances. It was in the fifth round that the stranger, smiling and confident, began to assert himself. At close quarters he had all the advantage. Toward the close of the sixth round he might have disposed of the popular Brooklynite, but he was slow and content to wait. Burns forced the fighting after that and the backers of Downey began to quake when he held the gloves over his face to protect himself and made no effort at attack. There were some hot exchanges in the last round. Here again Burns had a beautiful chance for a knockout but he was slow and cautious. When he did attempt to finish the job Downey's clever head averted a catastrophe. The bout ended with hot in fighting in which Downey figured to advantage. He cut open his opponent's left eye. The referee called the bout a draw and everybody applauded the verdict.

The clock pointed to 10 o'clock as Tom Ryan pushed his way into the ring, smiling and confident. He was pioneered by Charley White, Tom Cawley, Kid Lavigne and Sam Fitzpatrick. The cheers that greeted the young fellow, who had claimed the middleweight championship of the world, had scarcely died away when Kid McCoy was seen struggling through the enthusiastic crowd, surrounded by Steve O'Donnell, Maurice Hagstrom and Brooklyn Jimmy Carroll.

Presently the memorable battle began. McCoy appeared to be feverishly anxious to find out what there was in Ryan that had given him his reputation and he tried to hit him on the face. Several of his leads went harmlessly over his head. Once, in ducking, though, the big kid caught Ryan a clip on the jaw and his friends cheered enthusiastically. Then Ryan let himself loose. He smashed McCoy on the face and body with right and left, cleverly kept his head out of the kid's attempted returns and there were frequent clinches, and when the round ended the betting was 100 to 50 on Ryan. There was a slightly different color given to the affair in the next round. McCoy was a trifle more confident and Ryan began to sprint. The kid smashed Tommy viciously over the heart. Then they clinched and McCoy emerged smilingly with the honors of the encounter. Ryan began to fight in the third round. He landed cleverly a couple of times on McCoy's jaw and then he ran round the ring. The kid followed him, and as Tommy tried to duck he gave him a left hand punch on the jaw. Ryan turned upon his man after that. He was nettled at having been caught so easily and in some fierce infighting he had all the better of it. Ryan planted two heavy body blows in the fourth round but had to take two vicious right hand hooks on the jaw in return. Ryan swung his right heavily on the big kid's jaw and McCoy tottered. If the round had lasted half a minute longer Tommy Ryan would to-day be the middle weight champion of the world. McCoy was very weak about the legs. He pushed his gloves weakly in Ryan's face, and, obeying the instructions of his seconds, clung round Ryan's neck as long as he dared. Ryan forced the fighting in the fifth round again and his vicious pokes on the body and his swings on the jaw soon had McCoy staggering and dazed. The kid, however, continued to slip in a pretty left hand upper cut. Ryan sprinted again, but was caught with another clip behind the ear from the force of which he went down. No damage was done, however, and it was still Ryan's fight. The battle was fast and furious in the seventh, with the honors fairly even. McCoy poked his left four times savagely into Ryan's ribs. Ryan looked a bit worried. He feinted and then he flung out his right. It caught the Kid squarely over the heart and twisted him round as if he had been working on a pivot. It seemed again as if another punch would dismiss McCoy, but he was in rare fettle and kept himself as cool as a cucumber. He jabbed Ryan repeatedly on the face with his left, brought the blood freely and finally gave Tommy a punch that knocked him down. The fight was now a guessing match. McCoy surprised every man in the building by his coolness, his cleverness, his swiftness and his terrific hitting powers. It was in the ninth round that Ryan's star began to wane. He sprinted. McCoy ran after him and, catching up on his man, smashed him from behind with his right and left. Ryan then mixed it up hotly and got in several heavy body blows. McCoy flung out his long left repeatedly, jabbed Ryan on the nose, cut it open and closed up an eye. McCoy continued to jab in the next round, the tenth. Ryan was bleeding, profusely cut, lips swollen, eyes swelled, and was a beaten man but he was as game still as a fighting cock. He was a perfect glutton for punishment and he got it. McCoy, just as the round ended, got his man against the ropes. He held Tommy out with his long left arm and brought his right viciously over his helpless opponent's jaw.

The fight still went on, although Ryan was a badly beaten man. McCoy was as quick and as strong as he had been at the beginning. He punched Ryan at will, jabbed him at will on the face and body and again opened up the damaged nose and the abnormally swollen lips. Ryan stood up to his punishment like a man till he was knocked squarely off his feet with a savage right hand uppercut. This was in the twelfth round. Ryan tried to get a few minutes' breathing space in the thirteenth round, but McCoy kept at him and floored him twice. In the next Ryan stepped up to the kid stronger and fresher than in the preceding half dozen rounds and his clever and effective work began to impress his friends with the idea that he still had a fighting chance. But McCoy's pitiless jabs were thrown without cessation into his face.

The end came in the fifteenth round. Ryan was very weak, but still able to run. He did try to sprint out of the way of McCoy's wicked jabs, but the kid followed him up closer and gave him a left hand punch on the jaw, flooring Tommy. The latter struggled to his feet before he had been counted out with the blood streaming from his face. McCoy was waiting for him, and gave him a thump with his right on the jaw that knocked Tommy down again. All this was against the ropes. Ryan staggered to his feet again as Tim Hurst stood over him and, willing as ever, held his hands out blindly as he stumbled to the middle of the ring. There again McCoy was waiting for him with his pitiless right ready. Everybody was glad when he shot it out and brought Ryan down for the third time with a clip in the ear. Ryan had been hopelessly beaten long before and the spectators simply waited to see a satisfactory finish. They got it. When Ryan fell on his back he was senseless and a quarter of an hour passed before he was able to leave the ring with the arms of his seconds around him.


1896-03-03 The New York Herald (New York, NY) (page 10)

ANOTHER CHAMPION KNOCKED OUT.
--------
This Time "Kid" McCoy Puts "Tommy" Ryan to Sleep in Fifteen Rounds.
--------
FIERCE AND BRUTAL FIGHT.
--------
The Syracuse Welter Weight Was Game, but the Astoria Pugilist Cut His Face to Pieces.
--------
A BIG CROWD AT MASPETH
--------

Tommy Ryan, of Syracuse, N. Y., the welter weight champion of the world, met his Waterloo last evening at the hands of "Kid" McCoy, of Astoria, L. I., in the arena of the Empire Athletic Club, at Maspeth, L. I., after fifteen rounds of terrific fighting. McCoy's cleverness was a revelation to the spectators, and to none more than Ryan, who in the early part of the fight seemed to think he would win easily.

McCoy gave Ryan a terrific thumping, cutting the champion's face and closing his eye. Ryan fought back pluckily, but the "Kid" had the better of the contest from the start. After being knocked down about a dozen times in the course of the fight Ryan was finally put to sleep, after one minute and fifty-four seconds of fighting, in the fifteenth round.

McCoy had scarcely a mark on him. Ryan's corner was bathed in blood. Before the battle the betting was 2 to 1 on Ryan, with few takers. The house was crowded and until the men began fighting was cold enough to freeze the most hardened sport.

Both Ryan and McCoy looked to be trained to the hour, and each weighed under 154 rounds. Ryan was seconded by "Charley" White, "Kid" Lavigne and "Sam" Fitzpatrick. McCoy's advisers were "Steve" O'Donnell, Maurice Hagerstrom and Jimmy Carroll. McCoy is the taller and has a much longer reach. They were scheduled to battle twenty rounds.

THE FIGHT.

Round 1.--Ryan led off with a left lead for the body, but fell short, and McCoy countered hard on the jaw with the left. After several harmless exchanges, McCoy succeeded in again planting his left hard on Ryan's jaw. The blow excited Ryan's anger, and he made a vicious swing at the Long Islander, but failed to score, and received a stiff right hander upper cut. McCoy showed to very good advantage his cleverness, causing considerable surprise.

Round 2.--McCoy was on the offensive, and chased Ryan around the ring, finally succeeding in landing a left on the shoulder. When they squared off again Ryan rushed, but failed to land, and McCoy promptly smashed him on the jaw with the right. Both then landed left on the body. Ryan followed with a left on the face. The round ended with Ryan on the run.

Round 3.--Both men swung. Then Ryan landed twice with the left on the body, and got a smart left in return. Ryan then rushed McCoy to the ropes, and got home several hot body blows with the right. When the referee separated them McCoy smashed the Syracuse man with the left on the chest and with the right on the neck. He quickly followed this with three left handers on the jaw. As the bell rang McCoy was chasing Ryan around the ring.

HONORS EVEN.

Round 4.--Ryan appeared anxious and willing. He rushed viciously at the Astoria man, trying hard to land a knockout blow, and missed. McCoy said to Ryan, "You wasted that, Tommy," and smiled. The Long Islander was as cool as the ice in Newtown Creek. Ryan tried again to land the right on the jaw, but missed, and got a hard left on the jaw in return. The Syracuse boxer was more successful on his next essay, knocking McCoy to the ropes with a right on the jaw. Honors even.

Round 5.--Ryan appeared slightly distressed. The Syracuse man was nevertheless very aggressive and he immediately forced McCoy in the ropes, but only succeeded in landing his left mildly on the body. In a rally at close quarters McCoy uppercut Ryan hard, and Ryan said. "That was a good one." Mac replied, "Here's a better one," and he smashed Ryan hard on the face with left. In trying to deliver another left McCoy slipped, but was on his feet in an instant. Ryan caught the "Kid" off his guard, and promptly smashed him with the left under the right promptly smashed him with the left under the right eye, raising a big black lump. He repeated this twice and also scored heavily on the jaw with the right. McCoy was very tired when the bell rang.

Round 6.--In a mix up both landed on the jaw. They fiddled about, and then McCoy landed on the jaw twice with the right. Ryan then planted his left on the "Kid's" chest and sprinted away. The "Kid" followed him and landed a hard left on the mouth. McCoy was doing all the fighting. Both were distressed at the end.

FOUGHT TO THE FLOOR.

Round 7.--Ryan was the aggressor and led off with the left for the body and scored lightly. McCoy tried to counter but fell short and received a hard right hander over the heart. Both landed with left on the jaw. Ryan then rushed McCoy to the ropes and the latter slipped. The "Kid" remained down eight seconds. Ryan's body blows appeared to have hurt Mac, for he clinched repeatedly.

Round 8.--McCoy came out of his corner on the run, and scored with the left mildly on the mouth. Ryan countered with the right on the jaw. McCoy then landed four blows on the body, escaping on each occasion without a return. Ryan followed with a vicious rush, landing hard with the right over the heart. The "Kid" retaliated with a right on the jaw, flooring Ryan. The latter, who was very groggy, arose before the ten seconds expired, and immediately clinched. The call of time saved the champion from a knockout.

Round 9.--Ryan was very groggy, while McCoy was fresh and strong. McCoy rushed right at his opponent, hitting him right and left. Ryan tried to land, but could not, and was finally floored with a right on the jaw. The Syracuse man was down nine seconds. When he arose the "Kid" smashed him hard on the jaw. Ryan only scored twice with the right on the body. Ryan was bleeding and groggy when the bell rang.

Round 10.--Ryan's seconds did heroic work for him during the minute's rest, and he toed the mark considerably refreshed. McCoy went right at him and landed his left hard on the jaw. Ryan scored several times on the body, but his blows lacked steam. The "kid" finally cornered the champion and smashed him right and left. The fighting was terrific, McCoy having all the better of it. Ryan's face was bruised and bleeding when the round closed. As they walked to their corners McCoy laughed at Ryan.

RYAN VERY TIRED, BUT GAME.

Round 11.--Ryan was still very weary and tired, while McCoy appeared to be quite fresh. The "Kid" was again the aggressor. He led off with a hard right hand swing on the jaw, and quickly followed it with a terrific left swing on the mouth, again making the blood flow. Ryan made a desperate attempt to land his left, but missed and landed his right on the "Kid's" right eye, closing that member. Ryan was bleeding badly. He took an awful punching in this round.

Round 12.--Ryan came out of his corner weak and bloody. McCoy was chipper and fresh. Ryan led off, landing the left lightly on the body, and receiving a left swing on the jaw for his pains. For a time McCoy knocked his man all around the ring, pounding Ryan unmercifully. The latter got in two blows but they were mild. A moment before the bell rang McCoy again measured Ryan's length on the floor.

Round 13.--Ryan was still in distress, but as plucky as ever. McCoy forced the issue and landed on the jaw with the right and received a left counter on the mouth. McCoy gradually backed Ryan to the ropes, where he up cut him twice with fearful force. Ryan fell twice from weakness. The Syracuse boxer's face presented a revolting appearance. It was covered with blood, and looked like raw beef.

NEAR THE END.

Round 14.--Despite his poor condition, Ryan took the initiative in this round and landed his left on the mouth mildly, receiving a hard right swing in return. Ryan again scored, landing the right over the heart. Just as the bell sounded Ryan landed heavily over the kidneys, with the right and got two hard left swings in the mouth in return.

Round 15.--Ryan made quite a spurt for a moment, but it was a dying man's effort. McCoy feinted Ryan into a terrific left on the jaw. The blow sent Ryan to the floor. He arose after an effort, which must have caused him great pain, only to be knocked down and out. Time of round, 1m. 15s.

FOUGHT TO A DRAW.

The Ryan-McCoy fight was preceded by an encounter between "Jack" Downey, of Brooklyn, and "Larry" Burns, of Cohoes. The bout was announced for eight rounds. On points Downey had the better of it up to the third round. In the fourth round Burns held the other safe, while in the fifth round the Cohoes man knocked the Brooklynite down and almost put him to sleep. Honors were even in the sixth round. Burns was clearly the better in the seventh round, landing four blows to Downey's one. The eighth and last round was comparatively mild, with honors even. The referee declared the contest a draw.


1896-03-03 The New York Times (New York, NY) (page 6)

RYAN KNOCKED OUT.
------
"Kid" McCoy Did It in Fifteen Rounds at Maspeth.

The boxing bout between "Tommy" Ryan and "Kid" McCoy attracted a big crowd to the Empire Athletic Club at Maspeth last evening. When the boxers entered the ring there were fully 2,000 persons in the building. "Tim" Hurst was referee, and Frank Freeman timekeeper.

The contestants received quite an ovation when they entered the ring. "Charley" White, "Tommy" Cawley, "Kid" Lavigne, and "Sam" Fitzpatrick looked after Ryan, and "Steve" O'Donnell, Maurice Hagerstron, and "Jimmy" Carroll were in McCoy's corner. Ryan weighed 148 pounds and McCoy 155 pounds.

The contest began at 10 o'clock. Ryan started in well and landed several times on McCoy in the first two rounds. McCoy, however, showed remarkable cleverness, and in the third round landed twice on Ryan. From that round McCoy gradually got the best of the contest. In the fifth and sixth rounds he punished Ryan severely.

Ryan did better in the seventh round, playing for his opponent's "wind," and his body blows told. In the eighth round, McCoy knocked Ryan down, and again in the ninth round Ryan went down. McCoy kept on punishing Ryan, and in the fifteenth round knocked him out.

"Jack" Downey of Brooklyn and "Larry" Burns of Cohoes, boxed eight rounds, and the contest was declared a draw.




1896-03-03 The Sun (New York, NY) (page 4)

CLEVER WIN FOR M'COY.
--------
THE WESTERN BOXER KNOCKS OUT TOMMY RYAN AT MASPETH.
--------
Layers of Odds Lose Their Money--The Syracuse Man Holds His Own at First, but Succumbs to Heavy Punishment--Burns and Downey Fight to a Draw.

MASPETH, March 2.--Charles, better known as "Kid" McCoy, the Western middle weight, knocked out Tommy Ryan, who has held the welter-weight championship for some years, in the fifteenth round, at the Empire A. C. to-night. It was one of the biggest surprises in prize ring history, as Ryan was looked upon as a sure winner, and carried the money at odds of 4 to 1.

McCoy was wonderfully clever and a great hitter, and escaped without a mark. Ryan was fearfully punished, and from the eighth round he was staggering around the ring, trying to save himself. McCoy's fighting powers were offset by Ryan's gameness, and the victim didn't lose many friends by his exhibition. When he had been knocked down twice in the fifteenth round he was so weak that when he got to his feet he was unable to stand, and a hard push was sufficient to make him tumble down a third time to be counted out.

McCoy was elated over his victory and was pronounced a wonder by the talent.

It was evident by the jam on the first train leaving Long Island City at 8:50 o'clock that there would be a big crowd at the ring side. The cars were packed, and those sports that came late were forced to endure the icy blasts while hanging on to the railings of the platforms. The second train was also overloaded so that long before the sport was ready to begin all of the choice seats had been snapped up and the bleachers which sloped toward the roof were filled.

The event of the night was a twenty-round contest between Tommy Ryan of Syracuse and Charles "Kid" McCoy. Ryan was well known to the short-haired fraternity, as he has taken part in a number of battles in local clubs. His science and hitting powers were not disputed, and with the "Fancy" he was a general favorite. McCoy, however, was not without supporters. His reputation had made him famous, and his friends expected him to win. It was conceded that while a hard hitter, he was not so skilful with his hands as Ryan, and that his chief strength lay in his ability to land a heavy chance blow. When the sports began to take their rolls out, it was found that the prevailing odds were 4 to 1 on the Syracuse man, with considerable coin placed on the short end.

The preliminary "go" was an eight-round affair, at 126 pounds, between Jack Downey, a local boxer, and Larry Burns of Cohoes. Downey has always been a pretty tough customer, but in Burns it was predicted that he would meet his master, and Larry's adherents claimed that the bout wouldn't last over five rounds. Delegations of enthusiasts from Syracuse and Cohoes were on hand to root for Ryan and Burns, respectively, and they backed their favorites freely.

The little fellows were ready to go on at 9 o'clock. Tim Hurst, as usual, was the referee, Frank Freeman the timer, and Charley Harvey the master of ceremonies. There were about 3,000 spectators present when the men shook hands.

FIRST ROUND.--Downey led, but fell short. He swung a right that was wild and got a left in the mouth. Burns shot his left to the ear and a clinch followed. Downey then landed a left on the head and got a right counter on the neck. They exchanged lefts and Downey landed a good right on the body. Burns ran into a clinch and on the break he swung a right onto the ear, evening up the score.

SECOND ROUND.--Burns led with a left on the breast, which was followed by a rapid exchange of swings at close quarters. Burns got in a heavy left straight on the mouth, and drove his right to the ribs. Jack then came up with two straight lefts in the face and ran away from a heavy right. He also ducked away from a hard swing and laughed.

THIRD ROUND.--Downey landed a left on the face. He rushed, but Burns got away nicely. Jack came on again and received a hot jab in the mouth. Again he rushed, and this time landed his right on the heart. Downey tried a right swing, but it was very wild, and Burns cracked him in the eye with a hot left. This was Downey's round.

FOURTH ROUND.--Downey's lead was well stopped. So was a fierce rush. Downey landed a hard right on the head and got a good left in the mouth. Burns rushed and a fierce exchange of swings followed. Downey got in a corking left on the throat and Burns's left went too high. Burns had Downey on the ropes when the bell rang.

FIFTH ROUND.--Downey's left found the neck. It also landed on the mouth, and Burns sent his right to the heart. They got to close quarters, and Burns had the better of the mix up. Burns cut loose, and with a heavy right on the neck he knocked Downey to the floor. Jack got up and by clinching and hugging stayed out the round.

SIXTH ROUND.--Burns put a right over the heart. They indulged in give-and-take slugging until Downey clinched. Downey swung a right on the neck and got a terrific punch in the ribs that made him grunt. Jack was still in it, however, for he fought back with all the strength in his body. Burns gave him a warm argument and had the round well in hand.

SEVENTH ROUND.--Downey led and landed his left. Burns cut loose, and with some great blows on the head he drove Downey to the ropes. Jack came back in good style and landed his left heavily on the neck. Burns then got into a mix-up, and with a hard right staggered his opponent, who quickly clinched. They got closer, and Burns hammered his man for keeps until the bell rang.

EIGHTH ROUND.--They shook hands in a friendly way. Downey led, and they began slugging right and left. Downey piled his left on the face until a right-hander on the neck made him clinch. Burns's rushes were for the most part stopped by clever ducking. Burns finally landed a heavy right on the neck, and Downey staggered. He recovered in a second and went at it hammer-and-tongs. They were clinched at the bell.

The referee decided the bout a draw, which was satisfactory to the crowd.

Everybody was on tiptoe now for the big battle. The building was so cold that black bottles were at a premium while the sports waited.

Both fighters were well cared for. Ryan was in the hands of Charley White, Tom Cawley, Kid Lavigne, and Sam Fitzpatrick. McCoy's esquires were Steve O'Donnell, Maurice Hagerstrom, and Brooklyn Jimmy Carroll. Ryan said he weighed 148 pounds, and McCoy tipped the beam at 155. Ryan was the first to enter the ring, followed closely by his opponent. They were ready to begin at 10 o'clock.

FIRST ROUND.--Ryan led with a left on the breast, and McCoy put both hands on the head. Ryan rushed, landing his right well on the neck, but McCoy got away cleverly from the blows that followed. McCoy tried for the wind and fell short. They exchanged lefts, and Ryan got in a right on the body. Ryan rushed, and McCoy nailed him on the ear with a great right, forcing him to clinch. It was a beautiful bit of sparring.

SECOND ROUND.--Ryan's left fell short. Tommy avoided a rush in superb style, and the crowd roared with delight. Light sparring was followed by a great right, that landed on Ryan's body. McCoy then landed a straight left on the jaw and swung his right to the ear with great force. Ryan rushed into a left that sent his head back, and then clinched. McCoy's cleverness was a surprise, and he was loudly applauded as he sat down. It was his round.

THIRD ROUND.--Ryan got in a light left on the mouth and ran half way around the ring to avoid the Kid's rush. Tommy came closer then and sent in left and right to the face and neck until the referee had to break the boxers. McCoy drove his right cleanly to the face, and Ryan then mixed it up with honors about even. Ryan avoided two hot rushes most cleverly, and then drove a hard right to the ribs. McCoy sent in a rib-roaster just as the bell rang.

FOURTH ROUND.--Ryan rushed in to a clinch. Then McCoy did the same. Ryan put his right over the heart, and the Kid smashed his man on the ear. Ryan put in both hands on the face and McCoy swung hard for the jaw, but missed. Ryan rushed his man to the ropes and crossed McCoy on the jaw with his right. McCoy's left sent Ryan's head back and drew blood from the lips.

FIFTH ROUND.--Ryan rushed fiercely and McCoy clinched at once. McCoy sent in a right upper cut on the jaw and Tommy's teeth chattered. Ryan put his right over the heart and got a heavy counter on the nose. McCoy then landed a great right on the neck and sent in two terrific swings on the jaw that almost knocked Ryan down. Ryan made up for this with a punch on the jaw that made McCoy see stars. It was a hot fight.

SIXTH ROUND.--Ryan fell down while avoiding a rush. When he got up he sent his left flush into the mouth and received two heavy swings on the head. McCoy jabbed his left into the face, and Ryan came to close quarters. McCoy's blows were so hot, however, that Ryan ran away and was chased around the ring. Ryan tried the wind, but McCoy showed a clever defence and was smiling when he took his corner.

SEVENTH ROUND.--Ryan got in a great body punch and made McCoy wince. Ryan then rushed his man to the ropes and landed left and right on the body. McCoy did not like this and clinched. hard. Ryan rushed with both gloves, landing on the neck, but McCoy sent back his left hard on the mouth. Ryan shot in a left on the jaw and McCoy slipped down. He took a couple of seconds to get up and then clinched. He was not groggy, but far from strong. The body blows were telling.

EIGHTH ROUND.--McCoy's rush was neatly stopped. Then Ryan got in a terrific right on the cheek an inch above the jaw. McCoy sent in his right to the stomach and then rushed, but Ryan ran away. Ryan staggered McCoy with a left on the jaw, but the Kid came back with a heavy one on the mouth which made Tommy see stars. McCoy then caught Ryan on the jaw with a right and knocked him flat. He got up within the limit and the bell saved him.

NINTH ROUND.--McCoy sailed in and landed a tremendous left on the jaw. Ryan came back and got a right in the body, his own left finding the neck. McCoy rushed again and with two fearful rights on the jaw he knocked Ryan down. Tommy got up in eight seconds and fought like a madman. But he got some terrible blows and was groggy when the bell rang.

TENTH ROUND.--Ryan rushed his man to the ropes. McCoy, however, got in a left uppercut on the throat, and banged Ryan all around the ring. Tommy rushed, but McCoy gave him a left under the ear and sent his right across until Ryan was so dazed that he didn't know where he was. McCoy came again, and slugged his opponent until Tommy's face was covered with blood, but Ryan was as game as a pebble.

ELEVENTH ROUND.--McCoy's rush was blocked, but after the break he drove his left straight to the mouth and drew a fresh supply of blood. Ryan worked at the body well and hit McCoy on the head, but the Kid only laughed. Ryan rushed in to two swings, and his face was a sight. McCoy didn't have a mark. Ryan was still strong on his legs and game to the core. He was taking an awful punishing.

TWELFTH ROUND.--McCoy landed a hot right on the ear, cutting it open. Then he drove his left to the neck and stopped Ryan's left. Ryan was desperate, but he was evidently up against it. McCoy slugged him again on the jaw, and the Syracuse man was all but out. McCoy rushed him to the ropes and sent him down with a left hook on the point of the jaw, but Ryan got up and was ready to continue when the bell rang.

THIRTEENTH ROUND.--Ryan ran away when McCoy rushed. Then he landed a good right on the head. He tried it again, and got a right on the head from McCoy that made him real. McCoy also sent in a heavy right over the heart, and Tommy ran away. Ryan stopped a moment and McCoy caught him on the jaw with a right, but still Ryan was on his feet. McCoy rushed once more, and Ryan ran until he slipped to the floor. He was trying to stay the twenty rounds.

FOURTEENTH ROUND.--Ryan's left eye was closed and his mouth was twice its natural size. McCoy opened with a right on the ribs, and then banged the jaw with a left. McCoy drove his left into the stomach at least a half a dozen times, and Ryan could not return the compliment. McCoy came to close quarters, and they exchanged short arm punches on the head. McCoy knocked Ryan against the ropes just as the time was up.

FIFTEENTH ROUND.--McCoy's left found the stomach. Ryan's left fell short. Then he landed it on the neck, but too low. McCoy drove a heavy left to the jaw and right to the eye, and Ryan fell down, almost out. He got up inside of the limit, and McCoy caught him with a right on the jaw and knocked him down again. Ryan got up once more, but was so weak that when he came in contact with McCoy's gloves he fell down for the last time and was counted out.

The referee gave the fight to McCoy amid great cheering.


1896-03-03 The World (New York, NY) (page 10)

M'COY WAS A SURPRISE.
--------
He Knocked Out Ryan in Fifteen Rounds in the Empire Arena.
--------
BEATEN MAN THE BETTOR'S CHOICE.
--------
From the Start the Memphis Boxer Took the Lead, and Several Times the Gong Saved the Syracuse Man.
--------
DOWNEY AND BURNS FOUGHT A DRAW.
--------
The Attendance Not Large, but the Crowd Was Furnished with Some Very Lively Work.
--------

To the profound surprise of all the gentlemen who go down into the wilds of Long Island to see men fight at the Empire Athletic Club, Mr. "Kid" McCoy knocked out Mr. Thomas Ryan last night with great thoroughness, after fifteen fierce rounds.

It was generally believed that Mr. McCoy, who comes from Memphis, Tenn., would prove an interesting mark for Mr. Ryan, and the little betting that went on was 2 to 1 in Ryan's favor.

The Tennessean was a revelation, however, and during the fifteen rounds set a swift pace for his adversary. In the tenth round Ryan was only saved by the gong. He was finally finished by a right and left punch in the jaw.

Ryan was the first to show up. He jumped into the ring at 9.55, accompanied by Charley White, "Kid" Lavigne, Sam Fitzpatrick and Tom Cawley, of Syracuse. McCoy followed thirty seconds afterwards, accompanied by Steve O'Donnell, Maurice Hagerstrom and "Brooklyn" Jimmy Carroll.

The betting was pretty brisk and all in Ryan's favor. Several bets were made at odds of $200 to $100 and $75 to $100. There was plenty of money on both sides, and each seemed to be confident. The men weighed 154 pounds each. They shook hands at 10.05 o'clock.

Round One--Ryan led off with a left tap on the face. After sparring for half a minute, McCoy landed left on face. In a rally McCoy put his right on the face. Ryan rushed McCoy in the latter's corner, and McCoy again got his right to the face.

Round Two--Ryan led off with left very light on body. McCoy sent in a very hot right on body after a lot of fiddling and then landed right and left on face. McCoy followed up with his right on neck and left on face. Ryan sent his right to the body, and McCoy was chasing him round the ring when the gong stopped the race.

Round Three--Ryan put his left on body. In a hot rally Ryan got in right and left on McCoy's face, putting him to the ropes. McCoy put his right on the body and left on the face. Infighting followed, but no damage was done. McCoy chased Ryan twice around the ring and landed three times with right on back of Ryan's head. He then put a stiff one on the body, and at the end of round Ryan got his right in on wind.

Round Four--Ryan led right on body. McCoy countered with right on face. Ryan landed right on body and McCoy crossed right on side of head. McCoy landed right on body; both countered on body and face. Ryan led left for body and McCoy countered left on neck.

Round Five--At the opening both rushed matters, landing rights and lefts on body and face. Ryan sent his left to the wind and McCoy sent his right back on body. McCoy landed left on face and right on body. Ryan swung right for head but McCoy ducked cleverly. Ryan landed right on body. Ryan ran around the ring, with McCoy hitting him with right and left until Ryan fell. They were in a hot rally when time was called.

Round Six--Ryan began by running around, and fell down. McCoy fell on top of him. Ryan led left for body, and fell short. McCoy put left on neck; then he landed right and left on face, and the crowd cheered. Ryan rushed at McCoy, who met him with a left-hand jab in the neck. Ryan then ran into a straight left, on the face, and the bell ended the round.

Round Seven--In a rally, both landed rights and lefts on body. Ryan once more pushed his face into McCoy's left-hand jabs. McCoy hit him twice more on the face with the left. Ryan landed right and left on body. McCoy slipped to one knee and took his time in getting up. The men were clinched when the gong sounded.

Round Eight--Ryan led left on face, and McCoy sent a good left back on the same place. McCoy put in four straight lefts on Ryan's body. Ryan got his right on the wind. McCoy got his right and left to the neck in a mix up and then sent his left on the jaw. McCoy sent his left hard to the chin and Ryan went to his knees. He took his full time in getting up and gong sounded after he got up. The crowd cheered loudly for McCoy.

Round Nine--Ryan rushed and McCoy hit him flush on the face twice. McCoy landed right and left on face and fought Ryan all over the ring. Ryan fell from the effects of a right hand blow on the head. McCoy rushed and tried to land a knock-out. McCoy punched Ryan right and left on face and body and had him bleeding from the mouth and ear at the end of the round.

Round Ten--McCoy began by jabbing his left twice in the face and then punched Ryan right and left on face and neck. Ryan then received some fearful blows right and left on the face and jaw. It looked as if McCoy would put Ryan out with a right and left hand smash, but the gong still found Ryan on his feet.

Round Eleven--McCoy kept up his right and left hand jabs. Ryan's face was puffed up and his mouth was bleeding profusely. McCoy was as clean as when he began, and there was not a mark on his face or body. Ryan managed to get in a right on the neck, but McCoy had it all his own way.

Round Twelve--McCoy led off with right and left on head and then sent his left twice very quickly on the neck and his right on face. Right and left hand swings from McCoy on Ryan's face made the Syracuse man groggy. McCoy knocked him down with a right-hand upper-cut. Ryan stayed down nine seconds. He hugged McCoy until the end of the round.

Round Thirteen--McCoy landed a right-hand upper-cut on neck and put his left on side of head. McCoy kept chasing Ryan around the ring and hit him on the head and neck repeatedly. McCoy was still without a scratch.

Round Fourteen--Ryan landed left on body and McCoy did the same. McCoy jabbed his left twice on body and right on jaw. Ryan ran away once more, but McCoy cornered him. McCoy sent his left twice to the wind and right and left on neck twice over.

Round Fifteen--McCoy jabbed his left three times on the wind and swung his right on head, and after this it was all over. He landed a left on the jaw, and Ryan went down at the ropes. He got up as the referee counted ten, but it was his last attempt, as McCoy sent right and left on face and jaw, putting him down and out. He tried to get up, but he was done for, and the referee counted him out.

Ryan was carried back to his corner in a badly battered condition and had to be helped out of the ring.

Referee Hurst declared McCoy the winner. Time of last round, 1 minute 54 seconds. McCoy, when he returned to his dressing-room, did not show a mark on any part of his body.

Sporting men as a rule will brave all sorts of discomforts and dangers to see a good fight. There was almost a blizzard on Long Island last night, but even this circumstance did not seriously interfere with the attendance. The Syracuse men were Ryan badges, while the Troy delegation had on strips of blue ribbon, upon which the words "True Blue is Larry Burns" were printed.

Larry Burns's opponent in the first bout, Jack Downey, of Brooklyn, appeared to have few admirers. The boxers were very polite to each other. Burns by accident drove his elbow into the other fellow's eye during the first round. It was not until the third round that the young men warmed up. This was most natural, since it was exceedingly cold in the arena. Downey had an advantage up to the beginning of the fifth round, when Burns was instructed to cut loose. Politeness gave way to slugging, and Referee Tim Hurst had a hard job keeping the boxers apart. Burns scored one clean knockdown and was otherwise rude. Downey was full of fight in the sixth round, and he made a good impression. Burns did some effective work with his right hand in the seventh round. He might have left the other one at home for all the damage it did.

There was plenty of excitement during the concluding round, the eighth, and the contest was declared a draw. The up-the-State celebrity was rather fortunate, everything considered, for Downey did nearly all of the leading and certainly had a shade the better of the affair.

1904-05-14 Charles (Kid) McCoy ND6 Philadelphia Jack O'Brien (Philadelphia, PA, USA)

1904-05-15 The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, PA) (page 14)

M'COY AND O'BRIEN PUT UP A FAKE
----------
TWO PAST MASTERS OF THE FIGHTING GAME HAND OUT REAL COLD THING---FOR SIX ROUNDS THEY TRY TO ENTERTAIN A CROWD WITH THEIR CUTE STUNTS
----------

Kid McCoy and Jack O'Brien handed the public a raw fake at the Second Regiment Armory last night. In the afternoon the principals had a squabble over the referee. O'Brien said that he would have H. C. Crowhurst or no one would.

Mr. McCoy said nay, nay; that if there was to be anything doing, a New York man would have to referee. Mr. O'Brien got back just as stoutly that unless one of three gentlemen refereed--Wm. H. Rocap, Ernest H. Crowhurst or H. C. Crowhurst--he would not permit the doors of the armory to be opened, and that the purchasers of the tickets would be refunded their money.

That ought to hold you awhile, shouldn't it--particularly if you weren't on to the merry boxing game. Now, as a matter of fact, this was that much guff, given out for chump consumption.

That part of the spectacular demonstration being over, there was nothing to do but to await the arrival of the suckers at the armory. After the preliminaries had been disposed of a number of distinguished fistic lights introduced, and a thousand dollar bank roll appertaining to Hereford had been flashed, everything was in readiness for the barney. But the principals came not.

In order to carry out the fake which began at the Scott House in the afternoon, some one caused it to be bruited about that they were still clashing over the referee proposition.

Did anyone ever hear of a championship fight being pulled off without the referee being named until the very hour set for the contestants to appear in the ring?

The names of Billy Rocap and Lew Bailey were mentioned--that was done to carry out the idea that there was a real clash between the principals. Finally, however, Mr. Bert Crowhurst entered the ring, and the stars began the work of adjusting their gloves. Even here the farce was not stopped. O'Brien yelled over to Billy McCarney, "Watch him, Billy." Whether Jack thought Norman would surreptitiously slide a few horse shoes in his gloves was not revealed. Anyhow, it sounded well, and might have fooled a few farmers.

Then the referee announced the conditions under which the gents were to go through their stunts, coupled with the statement that he had been requested to take no notice of sponges or towels, or any other foreign article of commerce that might be injected into the ring.

The name of the gentleman who suggested this was not revealed, but there are good and substantial reasons for believing that his initials are "K. McC."

Then they were off to the rawest barney ever perpetrated in this town, barring the affair in which Peter Maher and Tom Sharkey were mixed up in at Industrial Hall. But as Peter and Thomas had a chance to go to jail had they resorted to strenuous tactics, they cane be let out personally.

There was a lively exhibition of footwork and there was a lovely exhibition of not trying to hit. There were clinches galore, and there was hugging galore. The punches that never landed would have worn out a cash register had there been any attempt to count them. There were lovely little conversations in the middle of the ring; there was, in fact, a little bit of everything except simon-pure, honest, on-the-level boxing. The spectators took things good-naturedly until the middle of the third round. Then they commenced a little good-natured peering. They knew what they were getting, but they did not want to really admit that they were kicking over it, although they couldn't honestly confess that they liked it.

Beginning with the fourth, however, they had to admit that their stomachs were rebelling, and from that on to the finish there was a continuous but dignified round of disapproval. As soon as the sixth round started, and there being no signs of improvement on the part of the stars, many of the spectators started for the door.

And another boxing barney had passed into history.

Under the conditions of the agreement made between Messrs. Le Cato and McCoy, the latter was to receive a guarantee of $2000, with the privilege of thirty-five per cent. of the receipts. Outside of the fact that he agreed to weigh not more than 158 pounds at three o'clock on the afternoon of the contest there were no other stipulations.

Just Before the Fight

In the preliminary bouts Kid Gilbert and Joe Smith opened the milling with a fairly fast go. Gilbert was too big for his opponent, and had all the better of the milling. In the other bout Fred McFadden and Fred Nanauch went the limit in six rather tame rounds.

There were the inevitable presentations. Jimmy Britt, who obtained a decision over Young Corbett, was the first to the effect that he had defeated Corbett on the level, and that if given the opportunity he would win so decisively that there would be no chance for two opinions. To make good what he said he declared that he would meet no one until after he had settled his difference with Corbett.

Then Eddie Hanlon was introduced as a young gentleman who was anxious to meet Corbett, McGovern or Britt. Then Mr. Schlichter, on behalf of Al Hereford, projected himself into prominence, swinging $1000 in real money to bind a match with Britt for the lightweight championship at 133 pounds, weigh in at the ringside. This brought forth the answer from Britt that he was a featherweight, not a lightweight. Al Hereford, who was in bad voice, observed that Britt had been perfectly willing to meet Gans in California under the same conditions.

Marvin Hart was introduced as a heavy weight willing to meet any one in his class. Genial Sam Harris, introduced by the equally genial Lew Bailey as "Sammy Harris," did not have much to say, but it was to the point. He was prepared to match Terry against Britt, Hanlon or Corbett under any conditions that either of those gents might suggest, and as an inducement to anyone of them who thought he had a cinch he (Harris) would bet anyone or all of them to a standstill on the result.