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Wikipedia / Sam McVey

Samuel E. MacVea (May 17, 1884 – December 23, 1921), better known as Sam McVey, was an American Hall of Fame heavyweight boxer during the early 20th century. Famously known as the "Oxnard Cyclone", he ranked alongside Jack Johnson, Joe Jeanette, Sam Langford, and Harry Wills, some of the best heavyweights of their time. All of them, except Johnson, were denied a shot at the world heavyweight championship due to the color bar, which was ironically maintained by Johnson when he became the first black to win the world heavyweight in spotlight. Despite being denied a title shot, Sam enjoyed the 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.

Biography

Fighting out of Oxnard, California, McVey stood 5′10½″ inches tall and fought at a weight of between 205 and 220lbs. 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.

In 1912, McVey was one of the contenders for the World Colored Heavyweight Championship fought at various venues across Australia. His opponent Sam Langford 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.

McVey contracted pneumonia and died December 23, 1921, in New York City, penniless while still an active fighter. His burial was paid for by Jack Johnson. His headstone was paid by Ben Hawes. A special ceremony was conducted by Daryl George at Mt. Olivet cemetery in Queens, NY.

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.

Professional boxing record

All information in this section is derived from BoxRec, unless otherwise stated.

Official record

All newspaper decisions are officially regarded as “no decision” bouts and are not counted to the win/loss/draw column.

Result

Record

Opponent

Type

Round, time

Date

Location

Notes

112

Draw

74–14–10

Jeff Clark

NWS

10

Aug 1, 1921

111

Win

74–14–10

Jeff Clark

NWS

10

Jul 7, 1921

110

Win

74–14–10

Jeff Clark

PTS

12

Mar 21, 1921

109

NC

73–14–10

Jack Thompson

NC

6 (10)

Mar 18, 1921

108

NC

73–14–10

Harry Wills

NC

6 (8)

Sep 8, 1920

107

Win

73–14–10

Jack Ward

KO

2 (10)

Sep 1, 1920

106

Loss

72–14–10

Sam Langford

NWS

10

Aug 14, 1920

105

Loss

72–14–10

Pinky Lewis

PTS

10

Aug 5, 1920

104

Win

72–13–10

Clem Johnson

KO

4 (15)

Dec 15, 1918

103

Draw

71–13–10

Jack Livingstone

PTS

10

Sep 14, 1918

102

Loss

71–13–9

Harry Wills

PTS

20

Jun 16, 1918

101

Loss

71–12–9

Harry Wills

KO

5 (20)

Feb 17, 1918

100

Win

71–11–9

Battling Jim Johnson

PTS

25

Oct 14, 1917

99

Win

70–11–9

Battling Jim Johnson

PTS

20

Aug 12, 1917

98

Win

69–11–9

Jeff Clark

TKO

15 (20)

Jul 15, 1917

97

Win

68–11–9

Jeff Clark

PTS

20

May 13, 1917

96

Win

67–11–9

Jim Barry

TKO

7 (20)

Mar 11, 1917

95

Win

66–11–9

Jim Briggs

KO

2 (10)

Jan 27, 1917

94

Win

65–11–9

Fitz Brathwaite

KO

1 (10)

Jan 27, 1917

93

Win

64–11–9

Jack Livingstone

KO

5 (15)

Jan 14, 1917

92

Win

63–11–9

Bob Devere

PTS

10

Sep 20, 1916

91

Draw

62–11–9

Bob Devere

PTS

20

Sep 3, 1916

90

Draw

62–11–8

Sam Langford

PTS

20

Aug 12, 1916

89

Draw

62–11–7

Sam Langford

NWS

12

May 2, 1916

88

Loss

62–11–7

Jack Thompson

PTS

8

Apr 14, 1916

87

Loss

62–10–7

Sam Langford

NWS

10

Apr 7, 1916

86

Loss

62–10–7

Sam Langford

NWS

10

Feb 17, 1916

85

Draw

62–10–7

Sam Langford

NWS

10

Oct 23, 1915

84

Win

62–10–7

Jeff Clark

PTS

10

Oct 15, 1915

83

Draw

61–10–7

Sam Langford

PTS

20

Sep 30, 1915

82

Loss

61–10–6

Harry Wills

PTS

12

Sep 7, 1915

81

Win

61–9–6

Sandy Ferguson

KO

8 (12)

Aug 10, 1915

80

Win

60–9–6

Sam Langford

PTS

12

Jun 29, 1915

79

Win

59–9–6

Battling Jim Johnson

NWS

10

Jun 9, 1915

78

Win

59–9–6

Harry Wills

NWS

10

May 19, 1915

77

Draw

59–9–6

Joe Jennette

PTS

12

Apr 27, 1915

76

Win

59–9–5

Battling Jim Johnson

PTS

20

Feb 20, 1915

75

Win

58–9–5

Harry Wills

PTS

20

Dec 20, 1914

74

Win

57–9–5

Battling Jim Johnson

NWS

10

Dec 10, 1914

73

Win

57–9–5

Arthur Pelkey

KO

4 (20)

Jun 13, 1914

72

Win

56–9–5

Colin Bell

KO

2 (20)

Dec 27, 1913

71

Win

55–9–5

Professor Stevenson

KO

5 (10)

Nov 6, 1913

70

Win

54–9–5

Colin Bell

TKO

16 (20)

Apr 19, 1913

69

Draw

53–9–5

Sam Langford

PTS

20

Mar 24, 1913

68

Loss

53–9–4

Sam Langford

KO

13 (20)

Dec 26, 1912

67

Loss

53–8–4

Sam Langford

TKO

11 (20)

Oct 9, 1912

66

Loss

53–7–4

Sam Langford

PTS

20

Aug 3, 1912

65

Loss

53–6–4

Sam Langford

PTS

20

Apr 8, 1912

64

Win

53–5–4

Jim Barry

PTS

20

Mar 16, 1912

63

Win

52–5–4

Sam Langford

PTS

20

Dec 26, 1911

62

Win

51–5–4

Jack Lester

TKO

8 (20)

Dec 11, 1911

61

Win

50–5–4

Bill Lang

KO

2 (20)

Oct 28, 1911

60

Win

49–5–4

Jack Lester

PTS

20

Sep 30, 1911

59

Win

48–5–4

Alf Langford

KO

9 (15)

Aug 3, 1911

58

Win

47–5–4

George Rodel

KO

1 (20)

Jul 20, 1911

57

Win

46–5–4

Andrew Dixon

KO

4 (20)

May 25, 1911

56

Draw

45–5–4

Sam Langford

PTS

20

Apr 1, 1911

55

Win

45–5–3

Charley Harris

KO

3 (?)

Feb 25, 1911

54

Win

44–5–3

Seaman Fred Parsons

KO

1 (15)

Jan 14, 1911

53

Win

43–5–3

Battling Jim Johnson

KO

21 (25)

Nov 19, 1910

52

Win

42–5–3

Sergeant Sunshine

KO

1 (?)

Oct 22, 1910

51

Win

41–5–3

Peter Rice

TKO

3 (?)

Oct 17, 1910

50

Draw

40–5–3

Battling Jim Johnson

PTS

15

Aug 7, 1910

49

Win

40–5–2

Peter Rice

KO

4 (?)

Jul 22, 1910

48

Win

39–5–2

Joe Grim

TKO

13 (20)

Jun 25, 1910

47

Win

38–5–2

Jim Stewart

TKO

6 (25)

Apr 16, 1910

46

Win

37–5–2

Arthur Bennett

KO

4 (25)

Apr 13, 1910

45

Win

36–5–2

Herbert Sinnott

KO

5

Mar 25, 1910

44

Win

35–5–2

Al Kubiak

KO

10 (20)

Feb 26, 1910

43

Win

34–5–2

Fred Drummond

KO

5 (?)

Jan 27, 1910

42

Draw

33–5–2

Joe Jennette

PTS

30

Dec 11, 1909

41

Win

33–5–1

Fred Drummond

KO

7 (20)

Jul 4, 1909

40

Win

32–5–1

Jim Barry

DQ

15 (20)

Jun 26, 1909

39

Win

31–5–1

Bill Harris

KO

5

May 30, 1909

38

Win

30–5–1

Fred Drummond

KO

5 (20)

Apr 24, 1909

37

Loss

29–5–1

Joe Jennette

RTD

49 (?)

Apr 17, 1909

36

Win

29–4–1

'Cyclone' Billy Warren

KO

2 (?)

Apr 9, 1909

35

Win

28–4–1

Joe Jennette

PTS

20

Feb 20, 1909

34

Win

27–4–1

Herbert Sinnott

KO

5 (15)

Feb 5, 1909

33

Win

26–4–1

Bill Rickard

KO

1 (?),

Jan 23, 1909

32

Draw

25–4–1

Fred Drummond

PTS

?

Dec 18, 1908

31

25–4

Fred Drummond

NC

? (?)

Dec 17, 1908

30

Win

25–4

Camerlings

TKO

1 (?)

Nov 18, 1908

29

Win

24–4

Herbert Sinnott

KO

5 (20)

Nov 14, 1908

28

Win

23–4

Guionnet

TKO

3 (?)

Oct 14, 1908

27

Win

22–4

Harry Shearing

KO

1 (?)

Sep 19, 1908

26

Win

21–4

Fred Drummond

KO

4 (15)

Jul 18, 1908

25

Win

20–4

Charlie Wilson

KO

3 (20)

Jul 12, 1908

24

Win

19–4

Georges Rampazzi

KO

3 (?)

Jul 1, 1908

23

Win

18–4

Jewey Smith

KO

3 (20)

May 23, 1908

22

Win

17–4

Ben Taylor

KO

11 (15)

Apr 15, 1908

21

Win

16–4

Harry Shearing

TKO

5 (?)

Feb 15, 1908

20

Win

15–4

Jack Scales

KO

2 (15)

Dec 28, 1907

19

Win

14–4

Marc Gaucher

KO

4 (?)

Oct 24, 1907

18

Win

13–4

Ben Taylor

KO

3 (10)

Jun 3, 1907

17

Loss

12–4

Joe Jennette

NWS

10

Apr 15, 1907

16

Win

12–4

Denver Ed Martin

KO

16 (20)

Feb 28, 1907

15

Win

11–4

Sailor Matt Turner

KO

2 (20),

Nov 29, 1906

14

Win

10–4

Tornado Smith

KO

1 (?)

Feb 24, 1906

13

Win

9–4

Denver Ed Martin

KO

4 (20)

Jan 25, 1906

12

Loss

8–4

Denver Ed Martin

PTS

10

Aug 12, 1904

11

Loss

8–3

Jack Johnson

KO

20 (20)

Apr 22, 1904

10

Loss

8–2

Jack Johnson

PTS

20

Oct 27, 1903

9

Win

8–1

Denver Ed Martin

KO

1 (20),

Sep 15, 1903

8

Win

7–1

Kid Carter

KO

11 (20)

May 5, 1903

7

Loss

6–1

Jack Johnson

PTS

20

Feb 26, 1903

6

Win

6–0

Jack Kid Lavalle

KO

1 (10),

Jan 31, 1903

5

Win

5–0

Jim 'Toothpick' Kelly

KO

4 (?)

Jan 6, 1903

4

Win

4–0

Fred Russell

KO

5 (20)

Nov 1, 1902

3

Win

3–0

Jack Fogarty

KO

5 (?)

Oct 9, 1902

2

Win

2–0

Herb McKell

KO

3 (?)

Jun 19, 1902

1

Win

1–0

George Sullivan

KO

6 (20)

Apr 12, 1902

Unofficial record

Record with the inclusion of newspaper decisions to the win/loss/draw column.

Result

Record

Opponent

Type

Round

Date

Location

Notes

112

Draw

78–18–13

Jeff Clark

NWS

10

Aug 1, 1921

111

Win

78–18–12

Jeff Clark

NWS

10

Jul 7, 1921

110

Win

77–18–12

Jeff Clark

PTS

12

Mar 21, 1921

109

NC

76–18–12

Jack Thompson

NC

6 (10)

Mar 18, 1921

108

NC

76–18–12

Harry Wills

NC

6 (8)

Sep 8, 1920

107

Win

76–18–12

Jack Ward

KO

2 (10)

Sep 1, 1920

106

Loss

75–18–12

Sam Langford

NWS

10

Aug 14, 1920

105

Loss

75–17–12

Pinky Lewis

PTS

10

Aug 5, 1920

104

Win

75–16–12

Clem Johnson

KO

4 (15)

Dec 15, 1918

103

Draw

74–16–12

Jack Livingstone

PTS

10

Sep 14, 1918

102

Loss

74–16–11

Harry Wills

PTS

20

Jun 16, 1918

101

Loss

74–15–11

Harry Wills

KO

5 (20)

Feb 17, 1918

100

Win

74–14–11

Battling Jim Johnson

PTS

25

Oct 14, 1917

99

Win

73–14–11

Battling Jim Johnson

PTS

20

Aug 12, 1917

98

Win

72–14–11

Jeff Clark

TKO

15 (20)

Jul 15, 1917

97

Win

71–14–11

Jeff Clark

PTS

20

May 13, 1917

96

Win

70–14–11

Jim Barry

TKO

7 (20)

Mar 11, 1917

95

Win

69–14–11

Jim Briggs

KO

2 (10)

Jan 27, 1917

94

Win

68–14–11

Fitz Brathwaite

KO

1 (10)

Jan 27, 1917

93

Win

67–14–11

Jack Livingstone

KO

5 (15)

Jan 14, 1917

92

Win

66–14–11

Bob Devere

PTS

10

Sep 20, 1916

91

Draw

65–14–11

Bob Devere

PTS

20

Sep 3, 1916

90

Draw

65–14–10

Sam Langford

PTS

20

Aug 12, 1916

89

Draw

65–14–9

Sam Langford

NWS

12

May 2, 1916

88

Loss

65–14–8

Jack Thompson

PTS

8

Apr 14, 1916

87

Loss

65–13–8

Sam Langford

NWS

10

Apr 7, 1916

86

Loss

65–12–8

Sam Langford

NWS

10

Feb 17, 1916

85

Draw

65–11–8

Sam Langford

NWS

10

Oct 23, 1915

84

Win

65–11–7

Jeff Clark

PTS

10

Oct 15, 1915

83

Draw

64–11–7

Sam Langford

PTS

20

Sep 30, 1915

82

Loss

64–11–6

Harry Wills

PTS

12

Sep 7, 1915

81

Win

64–10–6

Sam Langford

KO

8 (12)

Aug 10, 1915

80

Win

63–10–6

Sam Langford

PTS

12

Jun 29, 1915

79

Win

62–10–6

Battling Jim Johnson

NWS

10

Jun 9, 1915

78

Win

61–10–6

Harry Wills

NWS

10

May 19, 1915

77

Draw

60–10–6

Joe Jennette

PTS

12

Apr 27, 1915

76

Win

60–10–5

Battling Jim Johnson

PTS

20

Feb 20, 1915

75

Win

59–10–5

Harry Wills

PTS

20

Dec 20, 1914

74

Win

58–10–5

Battling Jim Johnson

NWS

10

Dec 10, 1914

73

Win

57–10–5

Arthur Pelkey

KO

4 (20)

Jun 13, 1914

72

Win

56–10–5

Colin Bell

KO

2 (20)

Dec 27, 1913

71

Win

55–10–5

Professor Stevenson

KO

5 (10)

Nov 6, 1913

70

Win

54–10–5

Colin Bell

TKO

16 (20)

Apr 19, 1913

69

Draw

53–10–5

Sam Langford

PTS

20

Mar 24, 1913

68

Loss

53–10–4

Sam Langford

KO

13 (20)

Dec 26, 1912

67

Loss

53–9–4

Sam Langford

TKO

11 (20)

Oct 9, 1912

66

Loss

53–8–4

Sam Langford

PTS

20

Aug 3, 1912

65

Loss

53–7–4

Sam Langford

PTS

20

Apr 8, 1912

64

Win

53–6–4

Jim Barry

PTS

20

Mar 16, 1912

63

Win

52–6–4

Sam Langford

PTS

20

Dec 26, 1911

62

Win

51–6–4

Jack Lester

TKO

8 (20)

Dec 11, 1911

61

Win

50–6–4

Bill Lang

KO

2 (20)

Oct 28, 1911

60

Win

49–6–4

Jack Lester

PTS

20

Sep 30, 1911

59

Win

48–6–4

Alf Langford

KO

9 (15)

Aug 3, 1911

58

Win

47–6–4

George Rodel

KO

1 (20)

Jul 20, 1911

57

Win

46–6–4

Andrew Dixon

KO

4 (20)

May 25, 1911

56

Draw

45–6–4

Sam Langford

PTS

20

Apr 1, 1911

55

Win

45–6–3

Charley Harris

KO

3 (?)

Feb 25, 1911

54

Win

44–6–3

Seaman Fred Parsons

KO

1 (15)

Jan 14, 1911

53

Win

43–6–3

Battling Jim Johnson

KO

21 (25)

Nov 19, 1910

52

Win

42–6–3

Sergeant Sunshine

KO

1 (?)

Oct 22, 1910

51

Win

41–6–3

Peter Rice

TKO

3 (?)

Oct 17, 1910

50

Draw

40–6–3

Battling Jim Johnson

PTS

15

Aug 7, 1910

49

Win

40–6–2

Peter Rice

KO

4 (?)

Jul 22, 1910

48

Win

39–6–2

Joe Grim

TKO

13 (20)

Jun 25, 1910

47

Win

38–6–2

Jim Stewart

TKO

6 (25)

Apr 16, 1910

46

Win

37–6–2

Arthur Bennett

KO

4 (25)

Apr 13, 1910

45

Win

36–6–2

Herbert Sinnott

KO

5

Mar 25, 1910

44

Win

35–6–2

Al Kubiak

KO

10 (20)

Feb 26, 1910

43

Win

34–6–2

Fred Drummond

KO

5 (?)

Jan 27, 1910

42

Draw

33–6–2

Joe Jennette

PTS

30

Dec 11, 1909

41

Win

33–6–1

Fred Drummond

KO

7 (20)

Jul 4, 1909

40

Win

32–6–1

Jim Barry

DQ

15 (20)

Jun 26, 1909

39

Win

31–6–1

Bill Harris

KO

5

May 30, 1909

38

Win

30–6–1

Fred Drummond

KO

5 (20)

Apr 24, 1909

37

Loss

29–6–1

Joe Jennette

RTD

49 (?)

Apr 17, 1909

36

Win

29–5–1

'Cyclone' Billy Warren

KO

2 (?)

Apr 9, 1909

35

Win

28–5–1

Joe Jennette

PTS

20

Feb 20, 1909

34

Win

27–5–1

Herbert Sinnott

KO

5 (15)

Feb 5, 1909

33

Win

26–5–1

Bill Rickard

KO

1 (?),

Jan 23, 1909

32

Draw

25–5–1

Fred Drummond

PTS

?

Dec 18, 1908

31

25–5

Fred Drummond

NC

? (?)

Dec 17, 1908

30

Win

25–5

Camerlings

TKO

1 (?)

Nov 18, 1908

29

Win

24–5

Herbert Sinnott

KO

5 (20)

Nov 14, 1908

28

Win

23–5

Guionnet

TKO

3 (?)

Oct 14, 1908

27

Win

22–5

Harry Shearing

KO

1 (?)

Sep 19, 1908

26

Win

21–5

Fred Drummond

KO

4 (15)

Jul 18, 1908

25

Win

20–5

Charlie Wilson

KO

3 (20)

Jul 12, 1908

24

Win

19–5

Georges Rampazzi

KO

3 (?)

Jul 1, 1908

23

Win

18–5

Jewey Smith

KO

3 (20)

May 23, 1908

22

Win

17–5

Ben Taylor

KO

11 (15)

Apr 15, 1908

21

Win

16–5

Harry Shearing

TKO

5 (?)

Feb 15, 1908

20

Win

15–5

Jack Scales

KO

2 (15)

Dec 28, 1907

19

Win

14–5

Marc Gaucher

KO

4 (?)

Oct 24, 1907

18

Win

13–5

Ben Taylor

KO

3 (10)

Jun 3, 1907

17

Loss

12–5

Joe Jennette

NWS

10

Apr 15, 1907

16

Win

12–4

Denver Ed Martin

KO

16 (20)

Feb 28, 1907

15

Win

11–4

Sailor Matt Turner

KO

2 (20),

Nov 29, 1906

14

Win

10–4

Tornado Smith

KO

1 (?)

Feb 24, 1906

13

Win

9–4

Denver Ed Martin

KO

4 (20)

Jan 25, 1906

12

Loss

8–4

Denver Ed Martin

PTS

10

Aug 12, 1904

11

Loss

8–3

Jack Johnson

KO

20 (20)

Apr 22, 1904

10

Loss

8–2

Jack Johnson

PTS

20

Oct 27, 1903

9

Win

8–1

Denver Ed Martin

KO

1 (20),

Sep 15, 1903

8

Win

7–1

Kid Carter

KO

11 (20)

May 5, 1903

7

Loss

6–1

Jack Johnson

PTS

20

Feb 26, 1903

6

Win

6–0

Jack Kid Lavalle

KO

1 (10),

Jan 31, 1903

5

Win

5–0

Jim 'Toothpick' Kelly

KO

4 (?)

Jan 6, 1903

4

Win

4–0

Fred Russell

KO

5 (20)

Nov 1, 1902

3

Win

3–0

Jack Fogarty

KO

5 (?)

Oct 9, 1902

2

Win

2–0

Herb McKell

KO

3 (?)

Jun 19, 1902

1

Win

1–0

George Sullivan

KO

6 (20)

Apr 12, 1902

References