Sam McVey

Sam McVey or Sam McVea (May 17, 1884 – December 23, 1921) was a Hall of Fame heavyweight boxer who fought during the early 20th century. McVey ranked alongside Jack Johnson, Joe Jeanette, Sam Langford, and Harry Wills as the top black heavyweights of their generation. All of them, except Johnson, was denied a shot at the world heavyweight championship due to the color bar, which ironically was maintained by Johnson when he became the first black fighter to win the world heavyweight title. Despite being denied a title shot, McVea enjoyed a famed career that took him across the globe.

Sam McVey
Passport photo of McVey from 1919
Statistics
Real nameSamuel E. MacVea
Weight(s)Heavyweight
Height5 ft 10.5 in (1.79 m)
Reach75 in (191 cm)
NationalityAmerican
Born(1884-05-17)May 17, 1884
Waelder, Texas
DiedDecember 23, 1921(1921-12-23) (aged 37)
New York City, NY
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights112
Wins78
Wins by KO60
Losses18
Draws13
No contests3

In 96 documented fights in at least 10 different countries, McVey only lost 16 bouts.[1] His greatest wins include two victories over both Sam Langford and Harry Wills, which won him the World Colored Heavyweight Championship on two separate occasions, respectively. BoxRec ranked him among the world's 10 best heavyweights 12 times, and placed him at No.1 at the conclusion of 1914.[2] In his later, years he worked as a trainer and sparring partner for both black and white fighters training for important bouts.

Biography

McVey (left) posing with fellow boxer Al Reich

Fighting out of Oxnard, California, McVey stood 5′10½″ inches tall and fought at a weight of between 205 and 220 lbs. He relied more on brute strength than finesse in the ring.[3] His first pro fight listed on boxrec took place in 1902 at the age of 18,[1] but a newspaper from 1902, on his then-upcoming fight with Jack Fogarty, lists five earlier fights he won in Australia, and a further two that took place in California. [4] However In those days, few mixed-race fights took place, so McVey frequently fought the other top black boxers of his time, including Sam Langford (15 times), Joe Jeanette (5 times), Harry Wills (5 times), and Jack Johnson (3 times). Overall, McVey's boxing record was 65 wins, 16 losses, and 12 draws.[1]

McVey spent much of his prime years fighting overseas. He left for Paris in 1907 and fought there for four years. McVey left Paris in 1911 for Australia. He fought there for three more years before finally returning to the U.S.

On December 31, 1908 in Paris, Sam McVey competed in a mixed style bout against jujutsu expert Tano Matsuda, knocking him out in ten seconds.[5] In the earlier part of this century, such bouts were occasionally held in Japan pitting western boxers against judo or jujutsu fighters.

On April 17, 1909, in Paris, Sam McVey fought Joe Jeanette in a bout considered one of the greatest and certainly one of the longest of the 20th century. The fight went 50 rounds and lasted three and a half hours. McVey was generally agreed to be winning through most of the fight, particularly the 21st and 22nd round, knocking Jeanette down repeatedly. By the 40th round, however, Jeanette had recovered while McVey was lagging and knocked down repeatedly. Ultimately McVey's eyes had swollen shut and he was forced to quit.[6]

In 1912, McVey was one of the contenders for the World Colored Heavyweight Championship fought at various venues across Australia. Sam Langford his opponent, was a Black Canadian popularly known as the Boston Tar Baby and reputedly one of the greatest fighters of all time, beating champions in the lightweight to heavyweight classes. Before the matches, the boxers gave demonstrations of their skill. Before his beating, Sam McVea in the Exhibition Rink Buildings in Perth, Sam Langford stayed at the Nedlands Park Hotel where he:

“gave exhibitions of punching the ball, throwing the medicine bag sparring, etc. His work was a revelation. Langford allowed his sparring partners to hit him just when and where they pleased. After witnessing his exhibition of wonderful foot and head work one could easily understand how the big-little fellow came to lay low the best boxers in the world. Langford is as fast on his feet and as graceful as a ballet-dancer. He carries a punch like unto that of a kick of a mule, and is practically impervious to punishment. Dick Cullen hit him some terrific punches on the chin last Wednesday - punches that would have put the ordinary boxer away for the full count; but the Tar Baby only grinned and shoved out his head for more. He is truly a remarkable fighter.”[7]

McVey contracted pneumonia and died December 23, 1921, in New York City, penniless while still an active fighter. His burial and grave marker was paid for by Jack Johnson.[8]

Legacy & Honors

In 2020 award-winning author Mark Allen Baker published the first comprehensive account of The World Colored Heavyweight Championship, 1876-1937, with McFarland & Company, a leading independent publisher of academic & nonfiction books. This history traces the advent and demise of the Championship, the stories of the talented professional athletes who won it, and the demarcation of the color line both in and out of the ring.

For decades the World Colored Heavyweight Championship was a useful tool to combat racial oppression-the existence of the title a leverage mechanism, or tool, used as a technique to counter a social element, “drawing the color line.”

McVey was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1999.[9]

Professional boxing record

Fight NumberDate of FightOpponentOpponents' WinsOpponents' LossesOpponents' DrawsFight LocationResultDecision
1098/2/1921Jeff Clark922915Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USADNWS
1087/7/1921Jeff Clark922915Atlantic City, New Jersey, USAWNWS
1073/21/1921Jeff Clark902815Columbus, Ohio, USAWPTS
1063/18/1921Jack Thompson1785Moose Temple, Detroit, Michigan, USANNC
1059/8/1920Harry Wills4452Ice Palace, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USANNC
1049/1/1920Jack Ward030Auditorium, Atlanta, Georgia, USAWKO
1038/14/1920Sam Langford1241929East Chicago, Indiana, USALNWS
1028/5/1920Pinky Lewis3146Tulsa, Oklahoma, USALPTS
10112/15/1918Clem Johnson200Vista Allegre Bull Ring, Panama City, PanamaWKO
1009/14/1918Jack Livingstone3131Broadway Theater, Colon, PanamaDPTS
996/16/1918Harry Wills3352Vista Allegre Bull Ring, Panama City, PanamaLPTS
982/17/1918Harry Wills3052Vista Allegre Bull Ring, Panama City, PanamaLKO
9710/14/1917Battling Jim Johnson25147Broadway Theater, Colon, PanamaWPTS
968/12/1917Battling Jim Johnson24137Vista Allegre Bull Ring, Panama City, PanamaWPTS
957/15/1917Jeff Clark86911Vista Allegre Bull Ring, Panama City, PanamaWTKO
945/13/1917Jeff Clark86811Vista Allegre Bull Ring, Panama City, PanamaWPTS
933/11/1917Jim Barry25235Vista Allegre Bull Ring, Panama City, PanamaWTKO
921/27/1917Fitz Breathwaite160Santa Ana Plaza, Panama City, PanamaWKO
911/27/1917Jim Briggs750Santa Ana Plaza, Panama City, PanamaWKO
901/14/1917Jack Livingstone3111Garden Theater, Colon, PanamaWKO
899/20/1916Bob Devere2042Santiago de Chile, ChileWPTS
889/3/1916Bob Devere2041Santiago de Chile, ChileDPTS
878/12/1916Sam Langford1001123Teatro Roma, Avellaneda, Buenos Aires, ArgentinaDPTS
865/2/1916Sam Langford991123East Market St. Rink, Akron, Ohio, USADNWS
854/15/1916Jack Thompson321Saint Louis, Missouri, USALNWS
844/7/1916Sam Langford991123Arena, Syracuse, New York, USALNWS
832/17/1916Sam Langford971123Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, USALNWS
8211/23/1915Sam Langford961023American A.C., New York, New York, USADNWS
8110/15/1915Jeff Clark78310North Side A.C., Kansas City, Missouri, USAWPTS
809/30/1915Sam Langford951022Stockyards Stadium, Denver, Colorado, USADPTS
799/7/1915Harry Wills2332Atlas A.A., Boston, Massachusetts, USALPTS
788/10/1915Sandy Ferguson341715Atlas A.A., Boston, Massachusetts, USAWKO
776/29/1915Sam Langford94922Atlas A.A., Boston, Massachusetts, USAWPTS
766/9/1915Battling Jim Johnson2285Gayety Theatre, Montreal, Quebec, CanadaWNWS
755/19/1915Harry Wills2332St. Nicholas Arena, New York, New York, USAWNWS
744/27/1915Joe Jeannette7497Atlas A.A., Boston, Massachusetts, USADPTS
732/20/1915Battling Jim Johnson2175Havana, CubaWPTS
7212/20/1914Harry Wills2222McDonoghville Park, New Orleans, Louisiana, USAWPTS
7112/10/1914Battling Jim Johnson2075Fairmont A.C., Bronx, New York, USAWNWS
706/13/1914Arthur Pelkey1771Baker's Pavilion, Melbourne, Victoria, AustraliaWKO
6912/27/1913Colin Bell3262Olympia A.C. Newtown, Sydney, New South Wales, AustraliaWKO
6811/6/1913Professor Stevenson010Rink Hall, Lismore, New South Wales, AustraliaWKO
674/19/1913Colin Bell2851National Arena, Adelaide, South Australia, AustraliaWTKO
663/24/1913Sam Langford79719Olympic Stadium, Brisbane, Queensland, AustraliaDPTS
6512/26/1912Sam Langford77719Sydney Stadium, Sydney, New South Wales, AustraliaLKO
6410/9/1912Sam Langford76719Exhibition Stadium, Perth, Western Australia, AustraliaLTKO
638/3/1912Sam Langford75719Sydney Stadium, Sydney, New South Wales, AustraliaLPTS
624/8/1912Sam Langford72719Sydney Stadium, Sydney, New South Wales, AustraliaLPTS
613/16/1912Jim Barry24124Sydney Stadium, Sydney, New South Wales, AustraliaWPTS
6012/26/1911Sam Langford71619Sydney Stadium, Sydney, New South Wales, AustraliaWPTS
5912/11/1911Jack Lester1523Olympic Stadium, Brisbane, Queensland, AustraliaWKO
5810/28/1911Bill Lang2491Sydney Stadium, Sydney, New South Wales, AustraliaWKO
579/30/1911Jack Lester1513Sydney Stadium, Sydney, New South Wales, AustraliaWPTS
568/3/1911Alf Langford600Sheffield, Yorkshire, United KingdomWKO
557/20/1911George Rodel400Liverpool Stadium, Pudsey Street, Liverpool, Merseyside, United KingdomWKO
545/25/1911Andrew Dixon110Cirque-Théâtre, Angers, Maine-et-Loire, FranceWKO
534/1/1911Sam Langford65618Cirque de Paris, Paris, Paris, FranceDPTS
522/25/1911Charley HarrisdebutApollo-Cirque, Nancy, Meurthe-et-Moselle, FranceWKO
511/14/1911Seaman Fred Parsons010Bâtiment Électoral, Geneva, SwitzerlandWKO
5011/19/1910Battling Jim Johnson602Luna Park Skating Rink, Paris, Paris, FranceWKO
4910/22/1910Corporal Sergeant Sunshine450Hippodrome, Paris, Paris, FranceWKO
488/7/1910Battling Jim Johnson301Neuilly-sur-Seine, Hauts-de-Seine, FranceDPTS
477/22/1910Peter RicedebutSalle de la Pépinière, Paris, Paris, FranceWKO
466/25/1910Joe Grim16285Hippodrome, Paris, Paris, FranceWTKO
454/16/1910Jim Stewart1311Cirque de Paris, Paris, Paris, FranceWTKO
444/13/1910Arthur Bennett120Apollo-Cirque, Nancy, Meurthe-et-Moselle, FranceWKO
433/25/1910Herbert Sinnott16167Grand-Théâtre, Saint-Etienne, Loire, FranceWKO
422/26/1910Al Kubiak1321Wonderland, Paris, Paris, FranceWKO
412/11/1910Arthur Bennett110Brussels, Bruxelles-Capitale, BelgiumWKO
401/27/1910Fred Drummond393Le Havre, Seine-Maritime, FranceWKO
3912/11/1909Joe Jeannette2453Cirque d'Hiver, Paris, Paris, FranceDPTS
387/4/1909Fred Drummond271Praça de Touros do Campo Pequeno, Lisbon, PortugalWKO
376/26/1909Jim Barry1462Cirque de Paris, Paris, Paris, FranceWDQ
365/30/1909Bill HarrisdebutArènes du Rond-Point du Prado, Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône, FranceWKO
354/24/1909Fred Drummond251Nouveau Cirque, Orléans, Loiret, FranceWKO
344/17/1909Joe Jeannette1643Cirque de Paris, Paris, Paris, FranceLRTD
334/9/1909'Cyclone' Billy Warren020Tivoli Boxing-Hall, Paris, Paris, FranceWKO
322/20/1909Joe Jeannette1633Cirque de Paris, Paris, Paris, FranceWPTS
312/5/1909Herbert Sinnott15143Salle des Fêtes, Roubaix, Nord, FranceWKO
301/23/1909Bill Rickard110Folies Bergère, Paris, Paris, FranceWKO
2912/18/1908Fred Drummond140Théâtre de l'Eldorado, Montpellier, Hérault, FranceDPTS
2812/17/1908Fred Drummond140Théâtre de l'Eldorado, Montpellier, Hérault, FranceNNC
2711/14/1908Herbert Sinnott15133Hippodrome, Paris, Paris, FranceWKO
269/19/1908Harry Shearing255Paris, Paris, FranceWKO
257/11/1908Charlie Wilson1221Brussels, Bruxelles-Capitale, BelgiumWKO
247/1/1908Georges Rampazzi112Biarritz, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, FranceWKO
235/23/1908Jewey Smith410Porte Maillot, Paris, Paris, FranceWKO
224/15/1908Ben Taylor23123Hippodrome, Paris, Paris, FranceWKO
212/16/1908Harry Shearing244Neuilly Bowling Palace, Paris, Paris, FranceWTKO
2012/28/1907Jack Scales36142Salle Wagram, Paris, Paris, FranceWKO
1910/24/1907Marc Gaucher100Paris, Paris, FranceWKO
186/3/1907Ben Taylor23103National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, London, United KingdomWKO
174/15/1907Joe Jeannette732Lyric Hall, New York, New York, USALNWS
162/28/1907Denver Ed Martin1560Sacramento, California, USAWKO
1511/29/1906Sailor Matt Turner100Farragut Theater, Vallejo, California, USAWKO
142/24/1906Tornado SmithdebutBakersfield, California, USAWKO
131/25/1906Denver Ed Martin1550San Diego, California, USAWKO
128/12/1904Denver Ed Martin1340Hazard's Pavilion, Los Angeles, California, USALPTS
114/22/1904Jack Johnson1636Mechanic's Pavilion, San Francisco, California, USALKO
1010/27/1903Jack Johnson1436Hazard's Pavilion, Los Angeles, California, USALPTS
99/15/1903Denver Ed Martin1330Hazard's Pavilion, Los Angeles, California, USAWKO
85/5/1903Kid Carter36188Hazard's Pavilion, Los Angeles, California, USAWKO
72/26/1903Jack Johnson1136Hazard's Pavilion, Los Angeles, California, USALPTS
61/31/1903Jack Kid Lavalle341Oxnard, California, USAWKO
51/6/1903Jim 'Toothpick' Kelly300Hazard's Pavilion, Los Angeles, California, USAWKO
411/1/1902Fred Russell1573Auditorium, Oxnard, California, USAWKO
310/9/1902Jack Fogarty350Oxnard, California, USAWKO
26/19/1902Herb McKelldebutPioneer Hall, Oxnard, California, USAWKO
14/12/1902George SullivandebutAuditorium, Oxnard, California, USAWKO

References

  1. "Sam McVey – Boxer". BoxRec.com. Retrieved 2010-11-23.
  2. "BoxRec's Annual Ratings: Heavyweight Annuals". BoxRec. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  3. "Sam McVea (Samuel E. MacVea) (Samuel E. McVey)". Cyber Boxing Zone. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
  4. "Oxnard's Coming Mill" Los Angeles Herald 6 October 1902, page 4
  5. Hewitt, Mark (2005). Catch wrestling: a wild and wooly look at the early days of pro wrestling in America. Paladin Press.
  6. "Jeanette Beats McVey" (PDF). The New York Times. 18 April 1909.
  7. The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), Thursday 3 October 1912 pg 4.
  8. "Sam McVey". Find a Grave. Retrieved 2010-11-07.
  9. "Sam McVey". International Boxing Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2010-11-07.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Jack Johnson (Vacated)
World Colored Heavyweight Champion
February 20, 1909 – April 17, 1909
Succeeded by
Larry Gains
Preceded by
Sam Langford
World Colored Heavyweight Champion
December 26, 1911 – April 8, 1912
Succeeded by
Sam Langford
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