We don't have anything about Maher on the tape and very little about McVea. Who do you think would win this fight in a 15 rounds matchup?
McVea was much more durable by all accounts, I'd go with him for the KO. Would still like to see this one, two especially hard hitters matching up, and it'd be fun while it lasted.
Maher durability can be questionable,but you have to consider this fact: Until his draw with Gus Ruhlin in 1900 (his last relevant fight) his record was 119-7-4. In that period he fought: Peter Jackson (0-1) Bob Fitzsimmons (0-2) Joe Goddard (1-2) Charles Kid McCoy (0-1) Joe Choynski (1-1) Steve O'Donnell (5-0) Gus Ruhlin (1-0-2) Frank Slavin (1-0) Jim Hall (draw which should be a win) George Godfrey (1-0) Joe Butler (1-0) Klondike Haynes (1-0) Ed Dunkhorst (2-0) CC Smith (2-0) Jim Daly (1-0) Overall record - 17-7-3 and two of his losses (and last Ruhlin draw) were past his prime anyway here. He lost against Choynski by decision, he wasn't knocked out. I think that we all agree that McVea wasn't on Fitz or Jackson level. That gives us 4 losses - against Choynski who he beat when both were at their best, against Kid McCoy when he was past his prime (and McCoy was much different fighter than McVea anyway) and two most important here - against Goddard. I don't know much about Goddard style. I know that he was strong puncher and he was roughly as big as McVea. This could be a key factor here. It's important to note though that Goddard's second win was questionable to say the least (by a backhanded punch). I'm not sure that McVea's record against elite fighters was better to be honest, but I'm far from expert on him.
Maher lost his fights to Fitz and Jackson so what's the relevance there? Apart from them, is there anyone on Maher's list of wins that McVey wouldn't beat? Maher may have had the better one shot power ,but McVey had by far the better chin and something like 20lbs on Peter. I pick Sam
The Jackson loss is irrelevant, Maher was practically an amateur in a glorified exhibition. I think Godfrey, Ruhlin, Sharkey, Slavin, Choynski, Goddard were all on a rough level with Maher and McVea, it took a great puncher or a great fighter to stop McVea, a la Johnson, Langford, Wills or Jeannette but Maher was a phenomenal hitter. Neither was a great boxer, McVea the more durable and hard as Sam hit, Peter probably hit harder. Slavin, Goddard, Sharkey were tough durable hitters, I think Maher has a decent chance with anyone he could hit and I think he could hit McVea. Jeannette would be a different proposition. But I have a Maher bias
Mcvea is a bit of a disappointing read. He was not as tough as he looked. On film he is a one armed left hook only type. Maher is a bit of a glass cannon type, but he could punch. Who wins? That depends on Maher's skill level ( No film ) , which I think was better than Mcvea's, however my money would be on McVea.
I can definitely see him struggling against Goddard, McCoy, Ruhlin, Sharkey and Slavin. Choynski could always be tricky.
I've seen a lot of Photos of McVea, the scariest one was of him and his Trainer and 2 Managers when they were in France, he literally looks like a frickin Beast, even though he has a heavy winter Coat and clothing on, he is absolutely huge, thick skull, neck and his entire body looks massive, he looks scary, but from what I've read, especially lately I've done a lot of research on McVea, I'm raising him up on my list of solid fighters and greats from the past, McVea wins this one.
Yeah McVea had very powerful looking physique. Such a shame that we only have one fight from him. I'd like to see some of his KO wins. Maher too for that matter. I still think that the most scary physique from that era belongs to Jeffries. He was just huge, he looks like a strongman not like a boxer. Jeffries vs McVea would be interesting to see.
Also look at my avatar of John L. Sullivan, he looks huge and powerful in the ring, nothing like the other more famous photos I've seen of him, this one taken from his Kilrain fight.