Another gem from Rich, recently uploaded, which includes very interesting details re McVey’s cross overs into Jiu Jitsu. This content is protected Note that it is interspersed with clips from an old silent film in which McVey starred. I looked it up and the clips are from a serial called The Leather Pushers (1922) - a number of two reelers (about 20 mins each). Also note the film is dated as 1922 - Sam passed on 23 Dec 1921. Unless they’ve got the year wrong, then it is footage close to Sam’s passing. Only episodes 2 and 3 survive today. Wikipedia: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Leather_Pushers Here is episode 2 with Sam called Round 2:- This content is protected At 5’10” and about 205 lb peak - McVey’s heavy and well defined musculature was a standout for anytime and particularly in his own time.
The tally of victories between Langford and McVey is interesting. Langford was clearly better. But unlike Classic forum fantasy fights, it wasn't impossible for the slightly inferior elite fighter to win. Langford lost some fights against McVey. Because sometimes, that just happens.
It makes it unclear at times. Let’s take Machen and face him off against Marciano 10 times he’ll be bound to win one. Now on the off chance in reality Machen beats him and they never rematch what are we left with but uncertainty of the pair? I wonder how many great wins are just “not the right night”
Exactly. It makes you wonder even about most trilogies. Does peak Patterson beat peak Ingo by a 2-1 ratio if they fight 20 times? Or was the third fight just Patterson's "turn"? Same goes for most matchups. Hence my recent Ali vs Hasim Rahman 17 times thread.
Exactly. The ATGs are better then there opposition enough of the time. We hear about it all the time X is getting beaten up by Journeyman Y in sparring. Well it was Y's night I guess.
Only Rrounds Two and Three exist. The others are presumed lost. The first two episodes of The Leather Pushers were most likely filmed in October of 1921. A news release for November 5 of that year announced the production for episode 3. However, all episodes of the series did not see release until mid-1922.
Yes, just 2 and 3 exist. Nice investigative work on the likely filmed date and release date. Sam passed 23 Dec 1921 - so Ep 2 was filmed very close to that time. There is another black fighter shown, I think, in Ep 3 - anyone got a handle on who that might be?
I’d have to check but there was at least one fight between McVey and Langford for which they were booed for apparently not trying. I guess you have to factor that into such series of fights - having to meet each other so many times due to the colour line and other fighters avoiding them in general - eg - thus no Dempsey on Langford’s resume. I would say the two Sams would’ve agreed between me, for at least one of their fights and likely more, to just “dance this one out”.
McVey was a granite-jawed puncher with great stamina and courage. If he was also good at BJJ, is it possible that he was the hardest man on earth for a spell?
