As a Canadian, George Chuvalo is one of the people I think of immediately when I think of those that best exemplify our greatest qualities. Though he was a fighter and clearly the toughest man who ever stepped foot in the ring, he was (and is) equally kind, compassionate and humble. He has endured personal tragedy so grave as to be incomprehensible for anyone other than the person who experienced it, but that is where he showed his greatest strength and toughness; he battled on and turned the most profound of personal loss into a crusade to inform the public and help others. George Chuvalo is in my pantheon of people who make me the most proud to be Canadian. What a man.
As an American, I'd list my favorite Canadian boxers as George Chuvalo, and to some extent Donny Lalonde. Music? Neil Young, Gordon Lightfoot, and Leonard Cohen. Also Bret The Hitman Hart.
@@devilface97 Can't opine on the robbery as I haven't found much info on it, but Floyd was only 9-0 when they fought. No disgrace as Yvonne was as tough as they come. I have seen the hell he gave Archie though.
In the last few years I've seen him at the grocery store sometimes, his son lives in my neighbourhood. He walks very slowly now, last time I saw him he was crossing the street and the light turned red before he made it and cars were honking at him, if only those people knew who they were honking at.
You really need to show him this video if you have a chance . I think he might like to know that there are people out there who still remember his name.
George Chuvalo was and is one of the nicest men you will meet in and out of boxing. I met Mr. Chuvalo in his dressing room after his fight with Dick Wipperman in the Akron Ohio Armory in 1967. I was a young fighter and Chuvalo was kind enough to delay his post fight shower to speak with me. (His advice was to get out of boxing). He was polite and well spoken. A man we can respect and honor for a brilliant career. His book "Chuvalo: A Fighter's Life" is a must read for boxing fans.
@@AXL664 For guys who are thinking of getting in the fight game, connections are necessary to receive enough training time, making enough money to live on andreceiving matches that are equitable. Other considerations are getting good trainers and managers that care about a fighter's health. It a tough deal as gyms are crowded with various levels of talent. At least they were crowded years ago.
I met Chuvalo years ago at a boxing banquet. He was very well spoken and personable. It was just after his son had passed away, and he was definitely still going through the heartbreak. He was candid and spoke about it, but we could all tell how hard a subject it was. Poor guy’s been through so much.
I've had the pleasure of knowing George personally, for all of my life 56 years , he was a good friend to my father , Travis Sugden who trained two Canadian champions , and is also in the boxing Hall of Fame , and traded gloves in the ring with Muhammad Ali , then Cassius Clay back in the Sully's gym days back in 66 .. George is a standup guy , beneath the boxer is a very kind man who cares so much about people, after tragedy took his son and wife he decided to make a difference which is what the beginning of this documentary is about . George was not only a good friend to my father , he was very kind to me and called me once in a while after my dad died just to see how I was doing , as I said, what a standup guy ;) thanks, George
I'm taking Oliver McCall. Over 30 years of boxing, and never touched the canvas. While prime Tua was beast, and certainly in his league. He did go down against Monte Barrett, and should of have knockdown ruled against him in his second fight with Rahman.
I was managing a printing company back in the 1980s, when George Chuvalo's publicity woman came in and asked us to print 500 8x10s of George to promote him as an actor. All of us were kids when Chuvalo was a contender. Everyone was so excited that we were doing something for Chuvalo. Everyone wanted to be involved. When the job was done (and it was perfect. We didn't want George Chuvalo mad at us) I told his publicity woman that we couldn't release the pictures unless George himself came in to autograph some for us. She expected we'd ask (beg) to meet him so George Chuvalo himself showed up to pick up the job, shake hands and autograph pictures. I still have mine. It says "To my buddy Chris, Keep Punching" and his name. It was everyone's favourite job and we also printed comps for the sexiest models in Toronto.
George Chuvalo is the one I think of when I hear chin. The man had a face made of granite or steel! He had power too, and he went up against the greatest and never was knocked down or out! He still held his head high after all his trials, tragedies, and tribulations. That is resilience! I don't know if I could withstand even one iota of what he has withstood.
In 1993, George appeared at a Michigan Kidney Association fundraiser on behalf of his old foe Buster Mathsi Sr. I never met a more genuine man than George, particularly after what he went through in life. He told me that the only time he experienced fear in boxing was after he received a broken eye socket via a Joe Frazier left hook. George said that he could actually feel the eyeball loose in the socket.
@RichtheFightHistorian , when you mentioned the other documentary about George, I watched it and it was terrible. You are the fight historian and do the best shows. I've sent this to people and I think George will def see it. He needs to know what a legend he is b4 he dies.
That beginning part is one of the most spine-chilling things I have ever heard. It's amazing how he is still alive with us today, truly a good boxer. The greatest chin in boxing
What a tough fighter he was but so gentle outside the ring. I myself lost two brothers, one to heroin and the other to a gunshot wound related to drugs. I wish him peace of mind as he is still living. This was a tough one to watch Rich, however, maybe it will help some people realize that drugs only bring death and heartache. Great one Rich!
His is a story of triumph. How he overcame the best HW era, the worst family tragedy you can face, and still being able to have laughter, love and his memories in tact is unreal. Blessings to that man
When I first learned of this utterly heartrending story, (of a fighter I greatly admired.)... I was deeply moved, and affected; I remain so to this day. I will always feel love and compassion for the Chuvalo family. George Chuvalo.... HERO! THANK YOU GEORGE!
Rich - as ever sincerest thanks for producing such an excellent and enthralling tribute to Chuvalo. The very toughest of men- and not being made bitter by such awful personal tragedies is testament to his great heart. As I often say....please...`keep going and going` Sir.
Rich, another great presentation! I remember listening to the Ali fight as a 13 year old on the radio. Without a doubt Mr. Chuvalo has the will and determination to move forward like no other. To lose your Son's and Wife in such a tragic way and not succumb to that grief yourself is beyond words🤙
Another in a long line of great content Rich. As always, as soon as I see your newest post I watch. George Chuvalo was one tough dude. His problem with boxing was that, although tough as could be, he just didn;t possess the skills needed to beat the top guys. For some fighters, like Ali, he was a ready-made opponent, meaning Chuvalo was the perfect opponent for Ali's style of fighting. He'd keeping coming but was easy enough to hit.....But he still had a nice career, 74-18-2. Very sad about his family. How does a guy survive that. Hes still alive at 85.....and remarried...... One thing he could hang his hat on, Ali said he was the toughest guy he ever fought....That says something.
Chuvalo was one of my favorite fighters from a great age of boxing! Big Cat, Machen, Folley, Liston, Paterson, Terrell,...etc., & topped off by Ali! U have a great channel & I am a loyal subscriber!!
This was classic "Rich the Fight Historian". A thorough documentary on the tough, sad and heartbreaking story of George Chuvalo. So many great clips, so many agonizing moments of a truly exceptional heavyweight fighter whose life outside of the ring proved to be more difficult than any fighter he faced in the ring. You covered this extraordinary man in the most accurate and comprehensive manner. Bravo Rich. Well done!
It's hard to keep your eyes dry if you understand how much George Chuvalo means to Canada, the sport of boxing and what he went through in life. He is the real Rocky of Canada.
I met George in around 2008.. I couldn’t get over the size of the guys head and when I shook his hand, mine disappeared in his. Beast of a man. He was enormous.. I rate him as having the best chin in the history of the sport. This man took full on full force punches from Ali, Foreman, Frazier, , Cleveland Williams, Zora Folley, Doug Jones, Floyd Patterson, Buster Mathis, Jerry Quarry and Ernie Terrell, and was never knocked off his feet let alone knocked out. The beating he took from Foreman would have knocked any normal man out easily and killed some of them. He just took it. And he could punch too….he put Ali in hospital after their fight and had 64 KOs in 74 wins. Strong as an ox and as tough as one too. He told his story about his family while sitting in a boxing ring and there wasn’t a dry eye in the place. Even though the absolute hell of a life he went through, he carried with him a class and dignity that I’ve yet to see in another man, incredibly sweet guy, and the toughest SOB to ever step in a ring. I hear he suffers from dementia now and I really hope he’s getting the best care possible. Beautiful human being.
Thank you for this video. I can't believe I just googled George Chuvalo it's been a while, then one of my favourite boxing channels uploads a video on him. He is a Canadian/Etobicoke legend I knew him and one of his sons my whole life. The reason I box and stay clean to this day. Overlooked and underrated legend💙🇨🇦🥊
Very sad story and a very well done video. I remember George Chavalo and his never say die attitude. Thanks for this story of a man made of pure steel but with a broken heart.
@@RichtheFightHistorian As an aside, the man Chuvalo is talking with at 16:22 is Jack Donohue, broadcaster and former Canadian National Men's basketball coach. He coached New York's Power Memorial Academy to 71 straight wins aided by center Lew Alcindor (later Kareem Abdul Jabbar) His team was called the "High School Team of the Century" He was a mentor to Jay Triano who was a mentor to Steve Nash. I went to one of his basketball camps and the man was truly a legend. He can be seen here coaching Canada to a victory over the USSR who were basically the same team that beat the USA in the 72 Olympics. ua-cam.com/video/CXxQn9ZPi7Y/v-deo.html
The only explanation for how George Chuvalo can still talk coherently is because he mastered the art of rolling with the punch in order to reduce the impact.
Chuvalo,Quarry,big cat William, Oscar bonavita,even Paterson, if they were around today,they would clean up,look at who they fought, Ali,Frazier, Foreman, Ron Lyle, Earnie Shavers, all of them would have a cake work,and make millions today,as they say,timing is everything
Thanks so much, Rich for doing a video about George Chuvalo. I use to see him all the time here in Toronto. He is such a nice guy his hands are huge. He had a tragic personal life.
FANTASTIC work once again, Rich. You did a fine job of taking us through the journey of this man’s life. (I would have liked a final note on his son and daughter - I hope they were able to find peace and some taste of contentment in their lives
One of the Boxing greats, George Chuvalo and one who has had to deal with more tragedies then anyone and has been a strong fighter against drugs. Like I said one of Boxing greats and one of the Canada's greats. ❤👍👍
The man talking to George about the Terrell fight and others is Jack Donohue, coach of Canada's national men's basketball team. Chuvalo was a regular panelist on the sports quiz TV show "Fanfare" in the early '80s, and was the smartest one on the panel. He co-hosted the show "Famous Knockouts" with boxer/journalist Chuck "Spider" Jones a few years later. I remember listening to radio broadcasts of his Canadian title defenses against Tommy Burns (1972) and Earl McLeay (1977), and George won both by 1-round knockouts.
It’s heart breaking to hear what addiction did to his family. The root of addiction is selfishness and the chief activator is self centered fear. I’m a recovering addict and self pity, fear and lack of gratitude fueled my addition. But the 12 steps have changed my life and can change others
So articulate for a guy who took a lot of head shots. He gave U.S. heavyweights nothing but trouble. He should have been a color man on fights on HBO, Showtime, USA Network, or elsewhere.
I think it’s selling the man shirt to just say “he had a great chin” … it’s not a chin that takes a man from nothing to somebody!. To get in there with literally some of the greatest heavyweights of all time and to go punch for punch against Floyd Patterson, take Ali the distance twice and to basically beat Ernie Terrell amongst many other things takes way more than just a ‘great chin’. You need the heart of a champion alone to do what he did , you need a great punch and great cardio and most importantly the will and determination to fight to get to the top. As a father a husband and a man he was a champion and Rich you also are a champion for the content you bring us . Thank you from England 😉👊🏾🥊💯
I lost my Wife at 38 years of age. A Horror; hell on earth . My Children were both around 10. To Loose three Sons!!!!??? I do not know how Mr. Chuvalo lived. Bless you.
Same, I’m 38 and recently lost my wife. Thing is it’s more common than we think but we only hear of it when it happens to famous people. One thing we all have in common is that we are human, and life happens
Wow Rich what a documentary this was excellent. That poor man went through hell here with his family but still stood tall what a man . I just found this I don't know why I am not getting these but I really enjoyed this one thanks ol buddy you done a great job Rich
I appreciate all of your work in creating these boxing videos. I enjoy them a hell of a lot. I didn't know much about Chuvalo other than the fact he had an iron chin. Keep up the great work!
Thanks Rich. A really shocking and sad story. I only knew of him from footage of the Foreman fight before this. He seems to have handled terrible sorrow with great dignity.
Wonderful Rich, really appreciate your efforts. George was one tough guy. I can’t imagine the losses he has endured. On a related issue, serious boxing historians know that referee Zack Clayton was, shall we say, available for purchase. But that’s a story for another day.
He lost hes son,wife but Chuvalo continue to fight despite hes loss,he was a warrior,never back down,never been ko,fought every body,Bonavena,Ali,Frazier,Patterson,Foreman.Bonavena was a tought sob.
GREAT VIDEO. Thank you!! I'm looking for photos of The West Toronto Boxing Club / Earlscourt ...Any idea how to find them? Please let me know. Thank you!
George should have been Commonwealth champ for years but Henry Cooper, especially, steered well clear of him: the overrated Englishman was scared, and rightly so.
The Frazier fight looked like it was going to be interesting what the Doc doesn’t say is that his orbital bone was broken .. Frazier exacerbated a previous injury .. if you watch the fight it was going toe to toe ..
*I have never heard or seen any Fighter making, as many excuses for losing. As, George Chuvalo. His only basic claim to fame has been, "you didn't knock me down". Which isn't what boxing championshipship qualities are about..*
George endured tough times. Even spent time in prison. He recover well from the eye surgery required after his fight with Joe Frazier. Only man to knock out Jerry Quarry. Lasted the distance with Muhammad Ali. I give George full credit.
As a Canadian, George Chuvalo is one of the people I think of immediately when I think of those that best exemplify our greatest qualities. Though he was a fighter and clearly the toughest man who ever stepped foot in the ring, he was (and is) equally kind, compassionate and humble. He has endured personal tragedy so grave as to be incomprehensible for anyone other than the person who experienced it, but that is where he showed his greatest strength and toughness; he battled on and turned the most profound of personal loss into a crusade to inform the public and help others. George Chuvalo is in my pantheon of people who make me the most proud to be Canadian. What a man.
As an American, I'd list my favorite Canadian boxers as George Chuvalo, and to some extent Donny Lalonde. Music? Neil Young, Gordon Lightfoot, and Leonard Cohen. Also Bret The Hitman Hart.
Could not agree more. Salute!
Well put Chad.
Arkansas stands with you and Chuvalo!
@@tsb7911Yvonne durell smoke and drank, gave archie moore hell, beat floyd patterson and got robbed, went 12 with a prime chuvalo
@@devilface97 Can't opine on the robbery as I haven't found much info on it, but Floyd was only 9-0 when they fought. No disgrace as Yvonne was as tough as they come. I have seen the hell he gave Archie though.
In the last few years I've seen him at the grocery store sometimes, his son lives in my neighbourhood. He walks very slowly now, last time I saw him he was crossing the street and the light turned red before he made it and cars were honking at him, if only those people knew who they were honking at.
Sad very sad a champion of a bloke
Tell him hello from his #1 fan in San Diego!
You really need to show him this video if you have a chance . I think he might like to know that there are people out there who still remember his name.
@@hughgrection7246chuvalo has been in a nursing home with severe dementia for years now
@@hughgrection7246 True. Hundreds of thousands of people remember his name. A great man.
George Chuvalo was and is one of the nicest men you will meet in and out of boxing. I met Mr. Chuvalo in his dressing room after his fight with Dick Wipperman in the Akron Ohio Armory in 1967. I was a young fighter and Chuvalo was kind enough to delay his post fight shower to speak with me. (His advice was to get out of boxing). He was polite and well spoken. A man we can respect and honor for a brilliant career. His book "Chuvalo: A Fighter's Life" is a must read for boxing fans.
That has to be a great memory. Very cool.
why get out of boxing?
@@AXL664 For guys who are thinking of getting in the fight game, connections are necessary to receive enough training time, making enough money to live on andreceiving matches that are equitable. Other considerations are getting good trainers and managers that care about a fighter's health. It a tough deal as gyms are crowded with various levels of talent. At least they were crowded years ago.
@@texasstadium The fight was a fix and Chuvalo didnt have good trainers and still gave Ali problems on a 12 day notice
Hello. I'm looking for photos of The West Toronto Boxing Club / Earlscourt ...Any idea how to find them? Please let me know. Thank you!
I met Chuvalo years ago at a boxing banquet. He was very well spoken and personable. It was just after his son had passed away, and he was definitely still going through the heartbreak. He was candid and spoke about it, but we could all tell how hard a subject it was. Poor guy’s been through so much.
I've had the pleasure of knowing George personally, for all of my life 56 years , he was a good friend to my father , Travis Sugden who trained two Canadian champions , and is also in the boxing Hall of Fame , and traded gloves in the ring with Muhammad Ali , then Cassius Clay back in the Sully's gym days back in 66 .. George is a standup guy , beneath the boxer is a very kind man who cares so much about people, after tragedy took his son and wife he decided to make a difference which is what the beginning of this documentary is about . George was not only a good friend to my father , he was very kind to me and called me once in a while after my dad died just to see how I was doing , as I said, what a standup guy ;) thanks, George
Hello. I'm looking for photos of The West Toronto Boxing Club / Earlscourt ...Any idea how to find them? Please let me know. Thank you!
The single greatest chin in heavyweight history.
Jake LaMotta: am I a joke to you?
LaMotta wasn’t hit by George Forman.
I'm sure it's your opinion, but mine
would be Juan Laporte.
If heavyweight then I'd say David Tua
I'm taking Oliver McCall. Over 30 years of boxing, and never touched the canvas. While prime Tua was beast, and certainly in his league. He did go down against Monte Barrett, and should of have knockdown ruled against him in his second fight with Rahman.
I was managing a printing company back in the 1980s, when George Chuvalo's publicity woman came in and asked us to print 500 8x10s of George to promote him as an actor. All of us were kids when Chuvalo was a contender. Everyone was so excited that we were doing something for Chuvalo. Everyone wanted to be involved. When the job was done (and it was perfect. We didn't want George Chuvalo mad at us) I told his publicity woman that we couldn't release the pictures unless George himself came in to autograph some for us. She expected we'd ask (beg) to meet him so George Chuvalo himself showed up to pick up the job, shake hands and autograph pictures. I still have mine. It says "To my buddy Chris, Keep Punching" and his name. It was everyone's favourite job and we also printed comps for the sexiest models in Toronto.
Great share, thank you.
That's super awesome he's seems like humble man with a chin of steel
George Chuvalo is the one I think of when I hear chin. The man had a face made of granite or steel! He had power too, and he went up against the greatest and never was knocked down or out! He still held his head high after all his trials, tragedies, and tribulations. That is resilience! I don't know if I could withstand even one iota of what he has withstood.
In 1993, George appeared at a Michigan Kidney Association fundraiser on behalf of his old foe Buster Mathsi Sr. I never met a more genuine man than George, particularly after what he went through in life. He told me that the only time he experienced fear in boxing was after he received a broken eye socket via a Joe Frazier left hook. George said that he could actually feel the eyeball loose in the socket.
Thank you for doing this while George is still Alive. Amazing story. Amazing story. I'm really greatful for this. God Bless.
Thank you for suggesting him, there was a lot about Chuvalo I didn't know.
@RichtheFightHistorian , when you mentioned the other documentary about George, I watched it and it was terrible. You are the fight historian and do the best shows. I've sent this to people and I think George will def see it. He needs to know what a legend he is b4 he dies.
@@johntaylor-lo8qx Thanks very much, John. Yeah, I read that he's almost deaf now...His son Mitch helps take care of him.
Hopefully this legend sees this and knows boxing fans all over the world love him. Good health and happiness to Mr chuvalo 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
That beginning part is one of the most spine-chilling things I have ever heard. It's amazing how he is still alive with us today, truly a good boxer. The greatest chin in boxing
Your right mate would’ve finished a lot of blokes
Agree. I literally can not find the words to describe the sadness I feel for this GREAT man!! A strong man indeed!
One of the best chins in boxing and he wasn't afraid to fight anybody But I feel so sad for him it was devastating what happened to his family
What a tough fighter he was but so gentle outside the ring. I myself lost two brothers, one to heroin and the other to a gunshot wound related to drugs. I wish him peace of mind as he is still living. This was a tough one to watch Rich, however, maybe it will help some people realize that drugs only bring death and heartache. Great one Rich!
Very sorry for your losses, RE. Thanks for the kind words on the video.
His is a story of triumph. How he overcame the best HW era, the worst family tragedy you can face, and still being able to have laughter, love and his memories in tact is unreal. Blessings to that man
I was hoping you would do a video on George Chuvalo. One of my favorite boxers of all time. Had a chin made of iron. And he is a fellow Canadian.
When I first learned of this utterly heartrending story, (of a fighter I greatly admired.)... I was deeply moved, and affected; I remain so to this day. I will always feel love and compassion for the Chuvalo family. George Chuvalo.... HERO! THANK YOU GEORGE!
Love and respect to George Chevallo from Iran. Sir, you are my hero!
The one we've all been waiting for.
A fantastic documentary on Mr chuvalo, with a great interview, I've never seen before. Excellent, thank you. 🥊🥊🥊
My pleasure, Simon.
Rich - as ever sincerest thanks for producing such an excellent and enthralling tribute to Chuvalo.
The very toughest of men- and not being made bitter by such awful personal tragedies is testament to his great heart.
As I often say....please...`keep going and going` Sir.
Thanks, Martin. Will do
Rich, another great presentation! I remember listening to the Ali fight as a 13 year old on the radio. Without a doubt Mr. Chuvalo has the will and determination to move forward like no other. To lose your Son's and Wife in such a tragic way and not succumb to that grief yourself is beyond words🤙
Thanks, D Man. Very true what you said about his sons & wife.
Another in a long line of great content Rich. As always, as soon as I see your newest post I watch. George Chuvalo was one tough dude. His problem with boxing was that, although tough as could be, he just didn;t possess the skills needed to beat the top guys. For some fighters, like Ali, he was a ready-made opponent, meaning Chuvalo was the perfect opponent for Ali's style of fighting. He'd keeping coming but was easy enough to hit.....But he still had a nice career, 74-18-2. Very sad about his family. How does a guy survive that. Hes still alive at 85.....and remarried...... One thing he could hang his hat on, Ali said he was the toughest guy he ever fought....That says something.
Chuvalo was one of my favorite fighters from a great age of boxing! Big Cat, Machen, Folley, Liston, Paterson, Terrell,...etc., & topped off by Ali! U have a great channel & I am a loyal subscriber!!
This was classic "Rich the Fight Historian". A thorough documentary on the tough, sad and heartbreaking story of George Chuvalo. So many great clips, so many agonizing moments of a truly exceptional heavyweight fighter whose life outside of the ring proved to be more difficult than any fighter he faced in the ring. You covered this extraordinary man in the most accurate and comprehensive manner. Bravo Rich. Well done!
Thanks so much, Slaphead
It's hard to keep your eyes dry if you understand how much George Chuvalo means to Canada, the sport of boxing and what he went through in life. He is the real Rocky of Canada.
I met George in around 2008.. I couldn’t get over the size of the guys head and when I shook his hand, mine disappeared in his. Beast of a man. He was enormous.. I rate him as having the best chin in the history of the sport. This man took full on full force punches from Ali, Foreman, Frazier, , Cleveland Williams, Zora Folley, Doug Jones, Floyd Patterson, Buster Mathis, Jerry Quarry and Ernie Terrell, and was never knocked off his feet let alone knocked out. The beating he took from Foreman would have knocked any normal man out easily and killed some of them. He just took it. And he could punch too….he put Ali in hospital after their fight and had 64 KOs in 74 wins. Strong as an ox and as tough as one too. He told his story about his family while sitting in a boxing ring and there wasn’t a dry eye in the place. Even though the absolute hell of a life he went through, he carried with him a class and dignity that I’ve yet to see in another man, incredibly sweet guy, and the toughest SOB to ever step in a ring. I hear he suffers from dementia now and I really hope he’s getting the best care possible. Beautiful human being.
Thank you for this video. I can't believe I just googled George Chuvalo it's been a while, then one of my favourite boxing channels uploads a video on him. He is a Canadian/Etobicoke legend I knew him and one of his sons my whole life. The reason I box and stay clean to this day. Overlooked and underrated legend💙🇨🇦🥊
Very sad story and a very well done video. I remember George Chavalo and his never say die attitude. Thanks for this story of a man made of pure steel but with a broken heart.
Thx for doing this one. George is a great guy and it's unbelievable the sorrow the man has been through in his personal life.
He was a monster at age 15! His father showed some respect then I'm sure. Rich your channel is a gem and one of my favourite on the Tube.
Hey thanks, Matt.
@@RichtheFightHistorian As an aside, the man Chuvalo is talking with at 16:22 is Jack Donohue, broadcaster and former Canadian National Men's basketball coach. He coached New York's Power Memorial Academy to 71 straight wins aided by center Lew Alcindor (later Kareem Abdul Jabbar) His team was called the "High School Team of the Century" He was a mentor to Jay Triano who was a mentor to Steve Nash. I went to one of his basketball camps and the man was truly a legend. He can be seen here coaching Canada to a victory over the USSR who were basically the same team that beat the USA in the 72 Olympics. ua-cam.com/video/CXxQn9ZPi7Y/v-deo.html
What a man, its incredible how he coped with his tragedies...Also he was one of the toughest fighters to ever live.
I loved this man. He was the toughest boxer at a time when all time greats were at their best. Thanks.
I never new of George Chuvalo. Very touching story. Courageous and humble.
I hope George sees this he was a great fighter and human being. Highly underrated!!
The only explanation for how George Chuvalo can still talk coherently is because he mastered the art of rolling with the punch in order to reduce the impact.
THANK YOU SO MUCH RICH 😢 !!!
SAD BUT AWESOME VIDEO!!!
💥👊
My pleasure, Rigo.
This video was not just awesome, but incredibly inspiring... thank you. 🙏🙏💪💪👊👊
My pleasure, Paulie.
George Chuvalo inspired me to become a fighter and all my fights were brutal like his but I enjoyed every one of them.
Chuvalo,Quarry,big cat William, Oscar bonavita,even Paterson, if they were around today,they would clean up,look at who they fought, Ali,Frazier, Foreman, Ron Lyle, Earnie Shavers, all of them would have a cake work,and make millions today,as they say,timing is everything
Another great documentary!!
Thanks again!
I can't even imagine how much hurt this Man has gone through
Thanks so much, Rich for doing a video about George Chuvalo. I use to see him all the time here in Toronto. He is such a nice guy his hands are huge. He had a tragic personal life.
Always a pleasure, Mark.
You have some of the best documentaries. I enjoy them all. Thanks you.
Thanks so much, Julio.
Magnificent, profound and moving documentary Rich, about a great boxer and an even greater man. All of your documentaries are very much appreciated.
Thanks of rate support, David.
You are soo hardworker brother
All day :)
FANTASTIC work once again, Rich. You did a fine job of taking us through the journey of this man’s life.
(I would have liked a final note on his son and daughter - I hope they were able to find peace and some taste of contentment in their lives
Thanks, John.
Powerful story represented beautifully by this brilliant video.
One of the Boxing greats, George Chuvalo and one who has had to deal with more tragedies then anyone and has been a strong fighter against drugs. Like I said one of Boxing greats and one of the Canada's greats. ❤👍👍
No one does it like this, not on this level. We’re seeing fight films many have never seen. Bravo Rich! Thank you once again! 💪😃❤️🐜
Thanks so much, soprano4ny
Unlike most boxers, he was a good man
A tough as teak fighter and much underrated boxer …
My uncle Bobby was in George Chuvalo’s book. Dynamite Dafoe was his boxing name, miss being a kid and going to newsboys
The man talking to George about the Terrell fight and others is Jack Donohue, coach of Canada's national men's basketball team. Chuvalo was a regular panelist on the sports quiz TV show "Fanfare" in the early '80s, and was the smartest one on the panel. He co-hosted the show "Famous Knockouts" with boxer/journalist Chuck "Spider" Jones a few years later.
I remember listening to radio broadcasts of his Canadian title defenses against Tommy Burns (1972) and Earl McLeay (1977), and George won both by 1-round knockouts.
It’s heart breaking to hear what addiction did to his family. The root of addiction is selfishness and the chief activator is self centered fear. I’m a recovering addict and self pity, fear and lack of gratitude fueled my addition. But the 12 steps have changed my life and can change others
George is a Great Man
So articulate for a guy who took a lot of head shots. He gave U.S. heavyweights nothing but trouble. He should have been a color man on fights on HBO, Showtime, USA Network, or elsewhere.
Yeah, I think Chuvalo would have been great in the broadcast booth.
I think it’s selling the man shirt to just say “he had a great chin” … it’s not a chin that takes a man from nothing to somebody!.
To get in there with literally some of the greatest heavyweights of all time and to go punch for punch against Floyd Patterson, take Ali the distance twice and to basically beat Ernie Terrell amongst many other things takes way more than just a ‘great chin’.
You need the heart of a champion alone to do what he did , you need a great punch and great cardio and most importantly the will and determination to fight to get to the top.
As a father a husband and a man he was a champion and Rich you also are a champion for the content you bring us .
Thank you from England 😉👊🏾🥊💯
Thanks so much, JesseB
Great story Rich . It was really sad to see how drugs affected his life. No mention of his daughter I hope she was OK. 🥊😎
Thanks, Gerry. She was in a video during an intervention for one of her brothers. I hope she is okay too.
Great man George is i met george at the Landsdowne club went to school with his boys in Rexdale it was a FREAKIN SHAME that's for sure..
Rich, all of your stuff is quality, this is no exception!! Thanks for doing what you do.
My pleasure, Anthony. Thanks for the kind words.
I lost my Wife at 38 years of age. A Horror; hell on earth . My Children were both around 10. To Loose three Sons!!!!??? I do not know how Mr. Chuvalo lived. Bless you.
Same, I’m 38 and recently lost my wife. Thing is it’s more common than we think but we only hear of it when it happens to famous people.
One thing we all have in common is that we are human, and life happens
Wow Rich what a documentary this was excellent. That poor man went through hell here with his family but still stood tall what a man . I just found this I don't know why I am not getting these but I really enjoyed this one thanks ol buddy you done a great job Rich
Thanks, Ron. Yeah, sometimes UA-cam doesn't give my viewers the heads up.
I appreciate all of your work in creating these boxing videos. I enjoy them a hell of a lot. I didn't know much about Chuvalo other than the fact he had an iron chin. Keep up the great work!
Thanks, J Cole, will do
I had no idea the extent of his devastation of loss outside of the ring. Just completely tragic. Thanks for sharing Rich.
Sure thing, oncall21
George chuvalo was superb boxer and a lovely man with it too he's had bad things happened to him which he had to handle great man!
Thanks Rich. A really shocking and sad story. I only knew of him from footage of the Foreman fight before this. He seems to have handled terrible sorrow with great dignity.
Sure thing, Jon.
Wonderful Rich, really appreciate your efforts. George was one tough guy. I can’t imagine the losses he has endured.
On a related issue, serious boxing historians know that referee Zack Clayton was, shall we say, available for purchase. But that’s a story for another day.
Thanks, James.
Cuts deep may he find solace
Goodness me I had no idea of the trobles this man faced.
Thanks for posting and making me aware
Offline for a while rich but glad you did this one good story, great job.
Thanks, Jesse.
Your welcome rich thank you 😊
He lost hes son,wife but Chuvalo continue to fight despite hes loss,he was a warrior,never back down,never been ko,fought every body,Bonavena,Ali,Frazier,Patterson,Foreman.Bonavena was a tought sob.
Man what a story
GREAT VIDEO. Thank you!! I'm looking for photos of The West Toronto Boxing Club / Earlscourt ...Any idea how to find them? Please let me know. Thank you!
Thanks. Only from old news clippings & boxing magazine. I'll be on the lookout for them.
All the best to GEORGE a great Canadian
Great job Rich. Sad life.
Thank you
Sure thing, Osama.
My God. Losing his wife and three sons because of drugs. Much respect to you Mr. Chuvalo. I pray you find peace. 🙏
I think Chuvalo is another boxer that would have beaten Marciano.
Great boxer
Wow never knew his life ended so sadly😊
Amazing! Took shots from George Foreman and didn't hit the canvas.
Or as George would say "Kissed a lot of girls but never kissed the canvas"
George doesn't get anywhere near the respect he deserves
hits home
George was one tough cookie
Wasn't expecting this to come out anyway pls do the mysterious Jessie James Leija
George should have been Commonwealth champ for years but Henry Cooper, especially, steered well clear of him: the overrated Englishman was scared, and rightly so.
very sad what happened with his children
i am not sure, but i think the biggest weakness in chuvalo as a boxer is his kindness even on the ring. seems he was not aggressive at all.
24:11 Is that Randall Cobb with George Chuvalo
The Frazier fight looked like it was going to be interesting what the Doc doesn’t say is that his orbital bone was broken .. Frazier exacerbated a previous injury .. if you watch the fight it was going toe to toe ..
Excellent documentary
Thanks, Peter.
He went through a lot.
God bless George Chuvalo and his family 😢Tougher than a $2 steak 🥩
🙏🙏🙏
Nice
I love this family but wow the denial of George even in his families death. Have the respect to admit or own the beatings to your entire family daily.
*I have never heard or seen any Fighter making, as many excuses for losing. As, George Chuvalo. His only basic claim to fame has been, "you didn't knock me down". Which isn't what boxing championshipship qualities are about..*
George endured tough times. Even spent time in prison. He recover well from the eye surgery required after his fight with Joe Frazier. Only man to knock out Jerry Quarry. Lasted the distance with Muhammad Ali. I give George full credit.
But what a chin - and jaw for that matter !