Sam McVey Gran Mà dreta

Sam McVey cansat de la falta d'oportunitats per als combatents negres als Estats Units a principis del segle XX. McVey decidir sortir per a Europa en 1907, on va lluitar fins 1911. McVey lluitar a Austràlia durant tres anys més abans de tornar als Estats Units.

Aquesta breu pel·lícula més destacat de França a 1911 amb “Battling” Jim Johnson shows McVey’s power punching style. McVey won the majority of fights with his powerful right hand. Despite several attempts to secure a title fight with Jack Johnson, who had edged him on points twice, Johnson would not fight any other black fighters.

The lack of opportunity for a world title fight lead McVey to seek greener pastures. Desafortunadament, the oversees moves did not completely cure his cash flow probelms.

When Sam McVey returned to the United States, he lived in relative poverty in New York. McVey eeked out a meager living training fighters and taking the occassional fight.

McVey died in a New York hospital two days before Christmas on December 23, 1921. McVey had contracted pneumonia, which ultimately took the life of the 5’11”, 200 pound fighter. McVey was only 37 anys d'edat.

McVey is most famous for his 15 fights with Sam Langford, another great heavyweight frozen out of the title picture because of his race. Langford won most of the fights but McVey always gave a good account of himself.

Until Jack Johnson won the World Heavyweight Championship on December 26, 1908, the holder of the Colored Heavyweight Championship was probably the real world champion. Even after Johnson’s title victory, the best fighters fought each other for the black championship.

Sam McVey was one of the greats.

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