Sam McVey's Big Rechterhand

Sam McVey moe van het gebrek aan kansen voor zwarte vechters in de Verenigde Staten tijdens de vroege twintigste eeuw. McVey besloten om te vertrekken voor Europa in 1907, waar hij vochten tot 1911. McVey vochten in Australië voor drie jaar alvorens terug te keren naar de Verenigde Staten.

Deze korte hoogtepunt film uit Frankrijk in 1911 met “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. Helaas, 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 jaar oud.

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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