Sam McVea boxer

Sam McVea boxer
bouts
101
won
75
lost
13
draw
10
Status
inactive
Division
heavyweight
Debut
1902-04-12
Height
5′ 10½″/179cm
Reach
75″/191cm
Age
37
Born
1884-05-17
Death
1921-12-23
Nationality
USA

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, were 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.In 96 documented fights in at least 10 different countries, McVey only lost 16 bouts. His greatest wins include two victories over both Sam Langford and Harry Wills, which won him the World Colored Heavyweight Championship on two occasions, respectively. In his later, years he worked as a trainer and sparring partner for both black and white fighters training for important bouts.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. His first pro fight listed on boxrec took place in 1902 at the age of 18, 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. 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.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. 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.

Date Opponent Last Opponents' Results Place Result
1921-08-02 Jeff Clark LLLWWL Lancaster DRAW
1921-07-07 Jeff Clark LLLLWW Atlantic City WIN
1921-03-21 Jeff Clark WLLLLL Columbus WIN
Points
1921-03-18 Jack Thompson LLDLDW Moose Temple, Detroit NC
No Contest
1920-09-08 Harry Wills WWWWW Ice Palace, Philadelphia NC
No Contest
1920-09-01 Jack Ward LLLL Auditorium, Atlanta WIN
KO
1920-08-14 Sam Langford DWWWWW East Chicago LOST
1920-08-05 Pinky Lewis WDLLL Tulsa LOST
Points
1918-12-15 Clem Johnson WW Plaza de Toros Vista Alegre, Panama City WIN
KO
1918-09-14 Jack Livingstone LLWLLL Broadway Theater, Colon DRAW
Points
1918-06-16 Harry Wills WDWWWW Plaza de Toros Vista Alegre, Panama City LOST
Points
1918-02-17 Harry Wills WWWWDW Plaza de Toros Vista Alegre, Panama City LOST
KO
1917-10-14 Battling Jim Johnson LWLLLW Broadway Theater, Colon WIN
Points
1917-08-12 Battling Jim Johnson WLLWLL Plaza de Toros Vista Alegre, Panama City WIN
Points
1917-07-15 Jeff Clark WWLWWL Plaza de Toros Vista Alegre, Panama City WIN
Technical knockout
1917-05-13 Jeff Clark LWWLWW Plaza de Toros Vista Alegre, Panama City WIN
Points
1917-03-11 Jim Barry DLLLLL Plaza de Toros Vista Alegre, Panama City WIN
Technical knockout
1917-01-27 Jim Briggs WWLLLL Santa Ana Plaza, Panama City WIN
KO
1917-01-14 Jack Livingstone WLLLWL Garden Theater, Colon WIN
KO
1916-09-20 Bob Devere WLLLLD Santiago de Chile WIN
Points
1916-09-03 Bob Devere LWLLLL Santiago de Chile DRAW
Points
1916-08-12 Sam Langford WWWLDW Teatro Roma, Avellaneda DRAW
Points
1916-05-02 Sam Langford WLWWWL East Market St. Rink, Akron DRAW
1916-04-15 Jack Thompson WLLDWW Saint Louis LOST
1916-04-07 Sam Langford WWWLWW Arena, Syracuse LOST
1916-02-17 Sam Langford DWDLLW Madison Square Garden, New York LOST
1915-11-23 Sam Langford WLWDW American A.C., New York DRAW
1915-10-15 Jeff Clark WWDWWW North Side A.C., Kansas City WIN
Points
1915-09-30 Sam Langford WLWLW Stockyards Stadium, Denver DRAW
Points
1915-09-07 Harry Wills WLLWLW Atlas A.A., Boston LOST
Points
1915-08-10 Sandy Ferguson WLWWDL Atlas A.A., Boston WIN
KO
1915-06-29 Sam Langford WWWLW Atlas A.A., Boston WIN
Points
1915-06-09 Battling Jim Johnson LLWDLL Gayety Theatre, Montreal WIN
1915-05-19 Harry Wills WWWLLW St. Nicholas Arena, New York WIN
1915-04-27 Joe Jeannette WWWWWW Atlas A.A., Boston DRAW
Points
1915-02-20 Battling Jim Johnson LLDDLW Havana WIN
Points
1914-12-20 Harry Wills WWWWWL McDonoghville Park, New Orleans WIN
Points
1914-12-10 Battling Jim Johnson LLLLDD Fairmont A.C., Bronx WIN
1914-06-13 Arthur Pelkey DWWLLL Baker's Pavilion, Melbourne WIN
KO
1913-12-27 Colin Bell WWDWW Olympia A.C. Newtown, Sydney WIN
KO
1913-11-06 Professor Stevenson L Rink Hall, Lismore WIN
KO
1913-04-19 Colin Bell LWWWWW National Arena, Adelaide WIN
Technical knockout
1913-03-24 Sam Langford WWWWWW Olympic Stadium, Brisbane DRAW
Points
1912-12-26 Sam Langford WWWWWW Sydney Stadium, Sydney LOST
KO
1912-10-09 Sam Langford LWWWWW Exhibition Stadium, Perth LOST
Technical knockout
1912-08-03 Sam Langford WLWWWW Sydney Stadium, Sydney LOST
Points
1912-04-08 Sam Langford WWWWLW Sydney Stadium, Sydney LOST
Points
1912-03-16 Jim Barry WDWDWL Sydney Stadium, Sydney WIN
Points
1911-12-26 Sam Langford WWWWWW Sydney Stadium, Sydney WIN
Points
1911-12-11 Jack Lester WWWLWL Olympic Stadium, Brisbane WIN
KO
1911-10-28 Bill Lang WLLWWL Sydney Stadium, Sydney WIN
KO
1911-09-30 Jack Lester DWWWLW Sydney Stadium, Sydney WIN
Points
1911-08-03 Alf Langford WWWWWL Sheffield WIN
KO
1911-07-20 George Rodel WWWW Liverpool Stadium, Pudsey Street, Liverpool WIN
KO
1911-05-25 Andrew Dixon WWL Cirque-Théâtre, Angers WIN
KO
1911-04-01 Sam Langford WWWWWW Cirque de Paris, Paris DRAW
Points
1911-02-25 Charley Harris debut Apollo-Cirque, Nancy WIN
KO
1911-01-14 Seaman Fred Parsons LLWWWL Bâtiment Électoral, Geneva WIN
KO
1910-11-19 Battling Jim Johnson WDDWWW Luna Park Skating Rink, Paris WIN
KO
1910-10-22 Corporal Sunshine LLWLWL Hippodrome, Paris WIN
KO
1910-10-16 Young Karel debut Brussels WIN
Technical knockout
1910-08-07 Battling Jim Johnson DDDLWD Neuilly-sur-Seine DRAW
Points
1910-07-22 Peter Rice LLWWWL Salle de la Pépinière, Paris WIN
KO
1910-06-25 Joe Grim DLLLDL Hippodrome, Paris WIN
Technical knockout
1910-04-16 Jim Stewart WWLWDW Cirque de Paris, Paris WIN
Technical knockout
1910-04-13 Arthur Bennett LLLLL Apollo-Cirque, Nancy WIN
KO
1910-03-25 Herbert Sinnott WDDDLD Grand-Théâtre, Saint-Etienne WIN
KO
1910-02-26 Al Kubiak LLWDLW Wonderland, Paris WIN
KO
1910-02-11 Arthur Bennett WLLLL Brussels WIN
KO
1910-01-27 Fred Drummond WWWDLD Le Havre WIN
KO
1909-12-11 Joe Jeannette WLWDWD Cirque d'Hiver, Paris DRAW
Points
1909-07-04 Fred Drummond LLWLLW Praça de Touros do Campo Pequeno, Lisbon WIN
KO
1909-06-26 Jim Barry WLLLDW Cirque de Paris, Paris WIN
1909-05-30 Bill Harris debut Arènes du Rond-Point du Prado, Marseille WIN
KO
1909-04-24 Fred Drummond WDLLW Nouveau Cirque, Orléans WIN
KO
1909-04-17 Joe Jeannette LWWWWL Cirque de Paris, Paris LOST
Corner retirement
1909-04-09 'Cyclone' Billy Warren LL Tivoli Boxing-Hall, Paris WIN
KO
1909-02-20 Joe Jeannette DLWWWW Cirque de Paris, Paris WIN
Points
1909-02-05 Herbert Sinnott LWDLL Salle des Fêtes, Roubaix WIN
KO
1909-01-23 Bill Rickard LW Folies Bergère, Paris WIN
KO
1908-12-18 Fred Drummond LWLLW Théâtre de l'Eldorado, Montpellier DRAW
Points
1908-12-17 Fred Drummond LLWLLW Théâtre de l'Eldorado, Montpellier NC
No Contest
1908-11-18 Camerling debut Brussels WIN
KO
1908-11-14 Herbert Sinnott LLWDL Hippodrome, Paris WIN
KO
1908-10-14 Guionnet debut Bordeaux WIN
Technical knockout
1908-09-19 Harry Shearing WLLLWD Paris WIN
KO
1908-07-11 Charlie Wilson WLWWLW Brussels WIN
KO
1908-07-01 Georges Rampazzi WLLWDL Biarritz WIN
KO
1908-05-23 Jewey Smith WWLWW Porte Maillot, Paris WIN
KO
1908-04-15 Ben Taylor WLWWLL Hippodrome, Paris WIN
KO
1908-02-15 Harry Shearing LWWWLL Neuilly Bowling Palace, Paris WIN
Technical knockout
1907-12-28 Jack Scales WWWDWW Salle Wagram, Paris WIN
KO
1907-10-24 Marc Gaucher WWWW Folies Bergère, Paris WIN
KO
1907-06-03 Ben Taylor WWWLWW National Sporting Club, Covent Garden WIN
KO
1907-04-15 Joe Jeannette WLDDWW Lyric Hall, New York LOST
1907-02-28 Denver Ed Martin LLWLWL Sacramento WIN
KO
1906-11-29 Sailor Matt Turner W Farragut Theater, Vallejo WIN
KO
1906-02-24 Tornado Smith debut Bakersfield WIN
KO
1906-01-25 Denver Ed Martin LLLWLW San Diego WIN
KO
1904-08-12 Denver Ed Martin WWWLLL Hazard's Pavilion, Los Angeles LOST
Points
1904-04-22 Jack Johnson WWWWW Mechanic's Pavilion, San Francisco LOST
KO
1903-10-27 Jack Johnson WWWWWW Hazard's Pavilion, Los Angeles LOST
Points
1903-09-15 Denver Ed Martin WWWWLL Hazard's Pavilion, Los Angeles WIN
KO
1903-05-05 Kid Carter LDLWLW Hazard's Pavilion, Los Angeles WIN
KO
1903-02-26 Jack Johnson WDWWWW Hazard's Pavilion, Los Angeles LOST
Points
1903-01-31 Jack Kid Lavalle WLLLLW Oxnard WIN
KO
1903-01-06 Jim 'Toothpick' Kelly WWW Hazard's Pavilion, Los Angeles WIN
KO
1902-11-01 Fred Russell WWDLLW Auditorium, Oxnard WIN
KO
1902-10-09 Jack Fogarty WWLWLL Oxnard WIN
KO
1902-06-19 Herb McKell debut Pioneer Hall, Oxnard WIN
KO
1902-04-12 George Sullivan W Auditorium, Oxnard WIN
KO