August 8, 1906
James Jeffries (26-2) scored a MD15 over #7 Sam McVey (14-4) in a controversial decision. Bottom line is you have to beat the champ and McVey suffered a knockdown and didn't do quite enough to overcome it.
It was clear from the start that Jeffries realized he needed big shots to win the fight as he abandoned any strategy after the first round. Jeffries dropped his hands after the first and started hunting down McVey looking to land the big shot. He lost the first 4 rounds and 5 out of the first 6. His right eye started to swell in the 6th.
He finally caught McVey in the 7th when he landed a clean shot that opened a cut under McVey's left eye and then worked it the rest of the round. McVey's left eye started to swell.
Jeffries then caught McVey with an uppercut in the 8th that landed McVey on queer street. He took a 9 count then held on to make it out of the round. McVey ran from Jeffries in the 9th to get his legs back. Then started to find his range in the 10th. He took 3 of the next five rounds.
Jeffries corner told him he needed the 15th to win the fight. McVey's corner told him to stay away and the title was his. Jeffries corner was right. Jeffries won the 15th and the fight because of it.
McVey landed 420 punches to Jeffries 317. McVey also landed 56% to Jeffries 32%. But Jeffries was the agressor throwing almost 250 more punches.
I had McVey winning 143-142. Jim Trunzo ringside had it even at 142.
I have two judges names champ one and champ two who judge all title fights with a randomly selected judge. They are there to favor the champ, like happens IRL. This was the first time I noticed it affected the outcome. Champ One had it 143-141, Champ Two had it 144-142 both in favor of Jeffries. The random judge who had no bias scored it even at 142.
As you can tell I enjoyed this fight
, and the outcome.
On the undercard
LHW - John Donaldson (6-5) UD10 Jack Sullivan (12-12-1)
LHW - Jack Graham (6-1) KO2 Fred Cooley (3-8-1)
MW - Joe Thomas (5-0) UD6 Dick Moore (0-15-1) (Thomas fought as a beginner in this club fight)
FW - Billy O'Donnell (3-0-1) TKO6 Alvin Rose (TC) (1-4) (O' Donnell fought as a beginner in this club fight)
LHW - Jack Stewart (5-11-3) UD10 Fred Robinson (5-16-4) (club fight)