After disposing of Jewey Smith,[April 1908,] Champion Tommy Burns was offered $20,000 to defend his title against Sam McVey in Paris. His response was, "I had made up my mind to fight only one negro,_that's Johnson, but I hate like the deuce to let this money get away from me". Give me a purse of $25,000,split $20,000 to the winner,and $5000 to the loser ,and a side bet of $5000 and I'll fight McVey here". Had he done so what would have been the result? ps Burns had turned down the NSC's $12,500 offer to defend against Johnson.
Cool find. Would have been a hell of a fight. Burns needs to be given credit for fighting Johnson (finally) and for being a guy who seemed to be afraid of no one.
Mcvey at this point may not have been in his absolute prime but certainly in his physical prime. He was a strong powerful puncher. Burns however was very underrated. I'm going with Mcvey via 10 round ko in a tough fight.
In case you start your martyr routine. I find this thread interesting, since both were punchers it could have been a great fight or a boring fight. Punchers sometimes are cautious and fight differently when they face a puncher. Just curious why the Johnson remark? Now I find this interesting that Burns would consider fighting McVea if they upped the purse. I believe when there was a purse offering back in that time, as in the 20k offered meant that they had to split the 20k. So Burns' proposal sounds reasonable. It sounds like the promoter proposing the match didnt want to spend another 5k to make the fight happen, might have changed boxing history. If McVea had won, then the Johnson-Burns fight would not have been for the title, and boxing history would have changed.
Usually not to this extent though. McVea was 5' 11'' with a 78'' reach, and he weighed about 210lbs. He also hit like a ton of bricks, harder than Jeffries in fact. It is true that Burns managed to out slick Marvin Hart, but I think that this would be a bridge too far.
Burns was a straight shooter who could both attack and respond to attack. McVea had an amateurish jab and seemed to be a bit of a wild, wide swinger who didn't seem to set up his attacks very well. Sure, he was a strong, powerful guy but Burns doesn't seem to be awed by anyone. And Burns himself could punch. But really, who knows?
Burns is very underrated. He keeps distance like Lomachenko. Light on his feet, can move in and out very comfortably. Confuses opponents using lateral movement and using his hands to obscure vision. Doesn't sacrifice balance much when punching. And some power that had some guys reeling. Harder to tell with McVae since there isn't as much footage. But against Jim Johnson he seems strong as an ox, capable of throwing bombs.