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However, the benefits of punching with a vertical fist are neutralized when wearing gloves. The hand is already protected so linear blows may be replaced by more circular blows like the “corkscrew” jab and, of course, the hook. These blows may be thrown with more power because they have the increased energy of momentum behind them, as well as the weight of the gloves themselves, which may weigh anywhere from 8 to 20 ounces. Additionally, because boxers need not worry about breaking their fists, they may throw more powerful punches. Gloves, due to their size, act much like small shields around the hands, and canmaybe used to block incoming blows. Modern boxing guards reflect this, with the hands are held close to the body to easily tuck and cover. Gloves also make getting through a modern guard with linear punches more difficult, which works to the defender’s advantage when blocking shots to the stomach or sides with the elbows, forearms, and biceps.

The older guards, or “attitudes,” were far more extended because the fighters could not rely on the extra protection gloves provide. They needed to block many blows farther away from their bodies. This is particularly true for shots to the head, which could not effectively be blocked with the modern tuck and cover. Combatants needed time to react and parry, having little protection close in. Therefore, the distance in bare-knuckle pugilism was considerably longer than in today’s boxing, being fought just outside the range where each antagonist could hit the other without moving his body or feet.

Increased distance was also significant due to another major difference between modern boxing and bare-knuckle pugilism: grappling.  Grappling was staple of the earlier fighting style and played a major role in ending rounds. Unlike today, rounds were not timed, and lasted until one of the combatants hit the floor (KO’s were not common). One way to drop an opponent was to close, grapple, and throw him – hopefully doing severe damage with the throw. Grappling is difficult to do while wearing gloves. Other techniques included putting an opponent in chancery (a headlock), and landing blows until he yielded.

When the Queensbury rules made wearing the gloves mandatory, they also established timed rounds and disallowed grappling. Therefore, combatants no longer needed to worry about avoiding the throw, and could afford to close to deliver more powerful blows such as the hook and uppercut.

Gloves also made certain disreputable techniques impossible. One such technique was gouging, using one’s fingers to injure the opponent’s eyes. Despite gouging being outlawed even prior to the Queensbury rules, it was still sometimes practiced. Another such move, although perfectly legal up until the Queensbury rules, was that of holding an opponent by the hair and beating him until he could no longer fight, as was the case when Gentleman John Jackson severely punished Daniel Mendoza in their 1795 prizefight. These techniques are not possible while wearing gloves, however, thumbing is still a problem.

Video clip from an early Edison film made June 14, 1894 at the Black Maria studio of a staged six-round fight between Mike Leonard, commonly called the "Beau Brummel" of pugilism, and Jack Cushing.

Video clip of the September 7, 1897 fight James J. Corbett and Peter Courtney.

Boxers have used the corkscrew (twist) punch for years. Norman Selby was born October 13, 1872. By the age of 17 he had become a pro fighter and took the name Charles "Kid" McCoy. In 1897, McCoy won the middleweight boxing title by a knockout over Dan Creedon. He moved into the heavyweight class and was knocked out by Tom Sharkey in 1899. In 1903, a new light heavyweight division was created and McCoy battled Jack Root for the title. He lost and began a downhill slide.

McCoy used a "corkscrew" punch and claimed to have invented it (Fig. 1). Muhammad Ali later used a similar technique and claimed he invented it.

Figure 1. Old Description of the McCoy Corkscrew Punch

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