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 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."Oxnard's Coming Mill" Los Angeles Herald 6 October 1902, page 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.
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.The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), Thursday 3 October 1912 pg 4.
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. ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes112Draw74–14–10 Jeff ClarkNWS10Aug 1, 1921111Win74–14–10 Jeff ClarkNWS10Jul 7, 1921110Win74–14–10 Jeff ClarkPTS12Mar 21, 1921109NC73–14–10 Jack ThompsonNC6 (10)Mar 18, 1921108NC73–14–10 Harry WillsNC6 (8)Sep 8, 1920107Win73–14–10 Jack WardKO2 (10)Sep 1, 1920106Loss72–14–10 Sam LangfordNWS10Aug 14, 1920105Loss72–14–10 Pinky LewisPTS10Aug 5, 1920104Win72–13–10 Clem JohnsonKO4 (15)Dec 15, 1918103Draw71–13–10 Jack LivingstonePTS10Sep 14, 1918102Loss71–13–9 Harry WillsPTS20Jun 16, 1918101Loss71–12–9 Harry WillsKO5 (20)Feb 17, 1918100Win71–11–9 Battling Jim JohnsonPTS25Oct 14, 191799Win70–11–9 Battling Jim JohnsonPTS20Aug 12, 191798Win69–11–9 Jeff ClarkTKO15 (20)Jul 15, 191797Win68–11–9 Jeff ClarkPTS20May 13, 191796Win67–11–9 Jim BarryTKO7 (20)Mar 11, 191795Win66–11–9 Jim BriggsKO2 (10)Jan 27, 191794Win65–11–9 Fitz BrathwaiteKO1 (10)Jan 27, 191793Win64–11–9 Jack LivingstoneKO5 (15)Jan 14, 191792Win63–11–9 Bob DeverePTS10Sep 20, 191691Draw62–11–9 Bob DeverePTS20Sep 3, 191690Draw62–11–8 Sam LangfordPTS20Aug 12, 191689Draw62–11–7 Sam LangfordNWS12May 2, 191688Loss62–11–7 Jack ThompsonPTS8Apr 14, 191687Loss62–10–7 Sam LangfordNWS10Apr 7, 191686Loss62–10–7 Sam LangfordNWS10Feb 17, 191685Draw62–10–7 Sam LangfordNWS10Oct 23, 191584Win62–10–7 Jeff ClarkPTS10Oct 15, 191583Draw61–10–7 Sam LangfordPTS20Sep 30, 191582Loss61–10–6 Harry WillsPTS12Sep 7, 191581Win61–9–6 Sandy FergusonKO8 (12)Aug 10, 191580Win60–9–6 Sam LangfordPTS12Jun 29, 191579Win59–9–6 Battling Jim JohnsonNWS10Jun 9, 191578Win59–9–6 Harry WillsNWS10May 19, 191577Draw59–9–6 Joe JennettePTS12Apr 27, 191576Win59–9–5 Battling Jim JohnsonPTS20Feb 20, 191575Win58–9–5 Harry WillsPTS20Dec 20, 191474Win57–9–5 Battling Jim JohnsonNWS10Dec 10, 191473Win57–9–5 Arthur PelkeyKO4 (20)Jun 13, 191472Win56–9–5 Colin BellKO2 (20)Dec 27, 191371Win55–9–5 Professor StevensonKO5 (10)Nov 6, 191370Win54–9–5 Colin BellTKO16 (20)Apr 19, 191369Draw53–9–5 Sam LangfordPTS20Mar 24, 191368Loss53–9–4 Sam LangfordKO13 (20)Dec 26, 191267Loss53–8–4 Sam LangfordTKO11 (20)Oct 9, 191266Loss53–7–4 Sam LangfordPTS20Aug 3, 191265Loss53–6–4 Sam LangfordPTS20Apr 8, 191264Win53–5–4 Jim BarryPTS20Mar 16, 191263Win52–5–4 Sam LangfordPTS20Dec 26, 191162Win51–5–4 Jack LesterTKO8 (20)Dec 11, 191161Win50–5–4 Bill LangKO2 (20)Oct 28, 191160Win49–5–4 Jack LesterPTS20Sep 30, 191159Win48–5–4 Alf LangfordKO9 (15)Aug 3, 191158Win47–5–4 George RodelKO1 (20)Jul 20, 191157Win46–5–4 Andrew DixonKO4 (20)May 25, 191156Draw45–5–4 Sam LangfordPTS20Apr 1, 191155Win45–5–3 Charley HarrisKO3 (?)Feb 25, 191154Win44–5–3 Seaman Fred ParsonsKO1 (15)Jan 14, 191153Win43–5–3 Battling Jim JohnsonKO21 (25)Nov 19, 191052Win42–5–3 Sergeant SunshineKO1 (?)Oct 22, 191051Win41–5–3 Peter RiceTKO3 (?)Oct 17, 191050Draw40–5–3 Battling Jim JohnsonPTS15Aug 7, 191049Win40–5–2 Peter RiceKO4 (?)Jul 22, 191048Win39–5–2 Joe GrimTKO13 (20)Jun 25, 191047Win38–5–2 Jim StewartTKO6 (25)Apr 16, 191046Win37–5–2 Arthur BennettKO4 (25)Apr 13, 191045Win36–5–2 Herbert SinnottKO5Mar 25, 191044Win35–5–2 Al KubiakKO10 (20)Feb 26, 191043Win34–5–2 Fred DrummondKO5 (?)Jan 27, 191042Draw33–5–2 Joe JennettePTS30Dec 11, 190941Win33–5–1 Fred DrummondKO7 (20)Jul 4, 190940Win32–5–1 Jim BarryDQ15 (20)Jun 26, 190939Win31–5–1 Bill HarrisKO5May 30, 190938Win30–5–1 Fred DrummondKO5 (20)Apr 24, 190937Loss29–5–1 Joe JennetteRTD49 (?)Apr 17, 190936Win29–4–1 'Cyclone' Billy WarrenKO2 (?)Apr 9, 190935Win28–4–1 Joe JennettePTS20Feb 20, 190934Win27–4–1 Herbert SinnottKO5 (15)Feb 5, 190933Win26–4–1 Bill RickardKO1 (?), Jan 23, 190932Draw25–4–1 Fred DrummondPTS?Dec 18, 19083125–4 Fred DrummondNC? (?)Dec 17, 190830Win25–4 CamerlingsTKO1 (?)Nov 18, 190829Win24–4 Herbert SinnottKO5 (20)Nov 14, 190828Win23–4 GuionnetTKO3 (?)Oct 14, 190827Win22–4 Harry ShearingKO1 (?)Sep 19, 190826Win21–4 Fred DrummondKO4 (15)Jul 18, 190825Win20–4 Charlie WilsonKO3 (20)Jul 12, 190824Win19–4 Georges RampazziKO3 (?)Jul 1, 190823Win18–4 Jewey SmithKO3 (20)May 23, 190822Win17–4 Ben TaylorKO11 (15)Apr 15, 190821Win16–4 Harry ShearingTKO5 (?)Feb 15, 190820Win15–4 Jack ScalesKO2 (15)Dec 28, 190719Win14–4 Marc GaucherKO4 (?)Oct 24, 190718Win13–4 Ben TaylorKO3 (10)Jun 3, 190717Loss12–4 Joe JennetteNWS10Apr 15, 190716Win12–4 Denver Ed MartinKO16 (20)Feb 28, 190715Win11–4 Sailor Matt TurnerKO2 (20), Nov 29, 190614Win10–4 Tornado SmithKO1 (?)Feb 24, 190613Win9–4 Denver Ed MartinKO4 (20)Jan 25, 190612Loss8–4 Denver Ed MartinPTS10Aug 12, 190411Loss8–3 Jack JohnsonKO20 (20)Apr 22, 190410Loss8–2 Jack JohnsonPTS20Oct 27, 19039Win8–1 Denver Ed MartinKO1 (20), Sep 15, 19038Win7–1 Kid CarterKO11 (20)May 5, 19037Loss6–1 Jack JohnsonPTS20Feb 26, 19036Win6–0 Jack Kid LavalleKO1 (10), Jan 31, 19035Win5–0 Jim 'Toothpick' KellyKO4 (?)Jan 6, 19034Win4–0 Fred RussellKO5 (20)Nov 1, 19023Win3–0 Jack FogartyKO5 (?)Oct 9, 19022Win2–0 Herb McKellKO3 (?)Jun 19, 19021Win1–0 George SullivanKO6 (20)Apr 12, 1902
Unofficial record
Record with the inclusion of newspaper decisions to the win/loss/draw column.