George Chuvalo talks about fighting Muhammad Ali
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- Опубліковано 15 чер 2024
- George Chuvalo is one of only two people to have fought Muhammad Ali before and after Ali’s exile from boxing. (Floyd Patterson is the other). Chuvalo twice went the distance with Ali. The first fight took place on March 29, 1966 at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto. Ali successfully defended his heavyweight title and won a unanimous decision. The second fight with Ali was May 1, 1972 at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver. Ali also won that fight by decision. Chuvalo, a tough, granite-chinned heavyweight from Toronto, Canada, George turned pro in 1956 and retired in 1978. In addition to fighting Ali twice, he also fought Floyd Patterson, Ernie Terrell, Joe Frazier and George Foreman and he beat Doug Jones, Jerry Quarry and Cleveland Williams. #georgechuvalo #muhammadali #boxing #toronto #canada #chuvalo #alichuvalo
Chuvalo is a man in his 80's who could still kick the ass of 90% of the adult male population, even those in their primes. The man has had so many personal tragedies involving his family and took at least 10,000 punches to his head when he was younger, some of those by the best boxers in the world, and he's still positive, friendly, and living life to the fullest, when most of us would have packed it in decades ago after all that. A true champion and a gentleman in every sense of the words.
WoW ! Just WOW !
I love this man !
Very well said
Good and true comment.
Yes indeed,a real "Class Act" and still very articulate &most capable at making his point!
And I would add u learnt more here from George in a brief segment,than some contrived interviews or Docu's which might take up an Hour or so!
Glad this gem is still with us. He fought in the toughest era. He earned his keep.
He truly did earn his keep
George really was a tough cookie
I could not have said it better. This man earned and kept his respect in boxing circles the old fashioned way.
I am proud that George Chuvalo is of Croatian origin.
I had the honor to meet him 11 years ago during his visit to Croatia:
ua-cam.com/video/1WA2xU9Yfxg/v-deo.html
Was it? I'd say the era from like the 20s-50s, when they would let you stand there and get your brains punched in, with no knockdown rules, with toy gloves, with more rounds, and fighting 2-4 times a month was the toughest era. Lol
All those shots he taken on the head by some of the eras greatest fighters and he still sounds clear and articulate. God bless him!!!
I met George Chuvalo one on one in Vancouver in 1985. I called him Champ and I said that he'd fought Ali (G.O.A.T.) and that he had made Canadians proud. He was really humble and a very class act. I was very impressed with his down to earthiness, a super nice guy even though he was tough as nails inside the ring. Here's to the former Canadian Heavyweight Champion!
He is Croat.
He is croatian, a mouse born in sea is not a fish, hes not a canadian
@@ivanhorvat9292 based
Would have been a world champion in plenty of other eras.
Hrvat💥
George Chuvalo is one of the few guys that had a long career but you couldn't tell he was a boxer. Leave alone he had 93 fights against every world class opponent of his days.
George is not well know also! This firm was taken in 2022.
@@ronbonora7872 Not well known? Every boxing fan who lived during the Ali era and beyond knows about George Chuvalo. His reputation is to have one of the best chins in boxing history.
@@ronbonora7872 Can't be 2022. He is talking as if Ali is still alive
@@JamesLachowsky Yep, Ali died in 2016 (6y ago), difficult speaking for 10y+, so interview is likely 2014 +/- … Chavalu (now 84) would be mid-70s.
Chuvalo was never knocked down in 93 professional fights while fighting in what was far and away the most talented era in heavyweight history. Let me tell you, that's saying something. Iron chin, heart of a lion, and first class gentleman in every sense of the word.
Amazing
That's true but the fight was stopped before he went down.
But he never gave up like so many others.
George Chuvalo is a gem for documenting his boxing era. He was good at taking punishment, and a very rugged opponent for other boxers.
I love George. Tough as nails but what a gentleman
He does seem like a true gentleman
He is a gentleman.
And he has come out the other side with his brain intact, which is a big plus....stay healthy george
Sounds like a nice person. Very humble.
Yes sir! And tuff one
George was a great fighter. Taking nothing away from him. A great fighter!
A very difficult fight for anyone in any era !!!
I'll tell you how nice George Chuvalo is. I visited him after the Dick Wipperman fight in Akron, Ohio and he was kind and polite to this young boxer. He took the time to speak with me for quite a while despite that he was wrapped in a towel on the way to his post fight shower. I met a lot of fighters but George Chuvalo was the King of Class Act.
It’s hard to believe that someone who was in that profession is still so coherent and lucid at his age.
@@percybyssheshelly Right, with all the blows he's taken I thought he would end up slurring his words and would've had trouble articulating his thoughts and ideas, but this would be far from the case as he sounds amazing and healthy, I wish it like that for every boxer
and the family tragedy he's gone thru
What an amazing fellow. A truly nice guy, champion and a gentleman in every sense of the word. So many boxers can learn from him. Maximum respect to George Chuvalo. No wonder Ali became friends with him.
George Chuvalo: great fighter, great man.
He looks like he is in his 60"s. amazing!
A world class boxer and tough. Fought against the best in his era. Speaks extremely well of his experiences and career.
Currently 84 years of age.
Great respect to you Sir. 👏
🌟😎 indeed Glyn Hannaford.
"Washer woman" my ass. First man to put Ali in the hospital in 65', true story. Great fighter, vastly underrated.
Sooo glad to hear his clear speaking abilities, a lot of older fighters are struggling with that. 🙏🏽❤️
I met George in the 90s when he was touring schools. He was such a great speaker, great humanitarian.
Now I want to learn more about this man. Unlike so many of his peers, he doesn't seem to suffer from dementia. He's classy and well-spoken when he's speaking about his opponent. Cool video clip.
Not every fighter suffers from CTE. There are certainly more with CTE than without but still... he's lucky
His private life is so tragic.Poor guy
I remember those fights. Chuvalo was a handful for Ali. Nice to know they became friends. thank you
What a Legend !!
Always enjoyed George fighting You're a stand-up guy thanks George
Massive respect to Chavulo.
Well spoken, straight, honest, very respectful. Mr. Chuvalo comes across as a great guy.
Great fighter great man. He lived across the street from my grandparents in West Toronto. First met him around 1958 and saw his first fight with Ali at Maple Leaf Gardens. This video is a few years old because he is now in very poor condition. George we will always be proud of you. Bless you man!!
Not sure when this interview took place, but he's remarkable. He had 93 Fights and he's 84 years old and speaking with a clarity not found with most octogenarians.
Well, it was at least six years ago, because he is referring to Ali as still being alive.
Mr. Chuvalo was a fine man in his prime time, and he is still now, an Example of a real MAN. God Bless Him!!!!
George Chavalo was one tough guy. He fought when there was a wealth of Great Fighters. He could take a punch that would have knocked most out. Had his shining moments in the ring. This is the most I’ve ever heard him talk. He seems like a nice guy and a straight shooter. Very Lucid and Articulate! Good to See!
Sadly he's not lucid anymore. He's been suffering from dementia since 2018. This interview was probably done more than 4 years ago.
@@roll2134 So sorry to hear that of him. I had rooted for him often!
Look at the size of his hands and forearms even as an old man. That’s a man there.
Man I'm glad I stumbled across this video. This is some rare great content.
Ladies and Gentleman...let me present the original old skool tough guy....Gentleman George
You gotta love a man who talks so highly of his cOMpetitor. God bless George!
These champions, like George here, are so often very impressive in interviews - I guess after facing what they have, giving an interview isnt too difficult.
What this man went through…Emotionally and all..my heart goes out to him..that my friends is one tough MAN….God bless George Chuvalo
One of the great iron-chinned fighters. The fight game didn't take a lot of brain cells away from Chuvalo either. He was like Archie Moore, leaving the fight game with all of his marbles.
Speaks clearly & forms complicated sentences without a problem. Probably got better brain health than Joe Biden!
@@brentsummers7377 Now hold on a minute. Biden's pretty sharp for a guy who is beginning to slur his words.
Jack Dempsy too. As a boy I met him at his restaurant on Broadway. Hemust have been 80 but he was a charming guy.
@@trajan75 Dempsey was never knocked out. He was knocked down several times but always got up. He lost on points twice to Tunney but he didn't get beat up at all.
@@pukulu Of course, the second Tunney fight, the long count, was very controversial. Al Capone, of all people, said it was fixed.
GOOD MAN CHUVALO...GREAT FIGHTER!!
Meet him in Canada a few years back what a gent.
A total class act!
George Chuvalo- a class act through and through- as kids in the 60’s we routed for him to beat Ali. The underdog. But he’s really now come out on top!!
Ali (rip) passed in 2016. When was this interview? Chuvalo is a living legend
Yes was wondering that too, as I'd heard he's not doing too great at the moment apparently ..
At the time i had no idea who he was. back in the mid 90s i use to work out at a gym and he would attend with his niece i believe. He was a quiet man and rightfully so after just losing a son and his wife.
He exemplifies strength both outside and in.
This guy was great boxer, granite chin, good to see him now looking healthy in his later years.
Nat Fleischer, who edited The Ring Magazine from 1922 until his death in 1972, said that George Chuvalo was the toughest fighter he'd ever seen. Just think about how many fighters Fleischer had seen in over those years.
Good to see Chvalo doing well at his age. Always fair, always respectful, and always a sense of humor. A great ambassador for the sport.
We love you, George..... from when I was a kid at Cabbagetown fight nights to your visits to the North West Territories...you were the embodiment of a gentleman and treated everyone exactly the same.☮
You are one of my heroes . My hats off to you George
This is a man that carries himself with dignity and respect and one amazing tough boxer. Ali once said he was one of the toughest fighters he ever fought. Angelo Dundee knew his boxing and when he seen Chuvalo fight he was amazed and said Chuvalo was no bum. If Chuvalo was ever arrested for being kind there would be a great deal of evidence to convict him. The world needs more men like him.
Never heard it put that way but yeah, I know what you mean 😢
Absolutely 💯 ❤
What a though life He had outside ring, it amazes me how He coped with all tragedy`s in his life from young age
I have so much respect for this great man, my hat off Mr. Chuvalo
Tough guy and honest. Much respect.
They could do a movie on George’s life he had it hard , three kids ODing and wife commits suicide . he gave Ali two of the hardest fights Ali’s had ,but George never got knocked down that in itself is incredible , he’s probably the toughest guy I’ve seen
It would have to be a mini series!!!
I agree,the guy went through hell on earth and is a legend for sure
Didn't appreciate George as much when I was a teen watching him, but now after so many years, and realizing who he fought, and that he was never even knocked down, let alone out, incredibly resilient, man, and I just like the person he is too !
God bless George. A supremely tough human being with a heart of gold.
He conquered his depression when tragedy hit his family.....a champ in and outside of the ring.
The most underrated champion of all time great
When you see an old guy sitting in a bar and no one pays attention to him. Then you find out he’s the famous George Chuvalo who fought Muhammad Ali twice and George Foreman, AND Joe Frazier, AND Floyd Patterson!Fabulous to see him looking and sounding so well! That’s a piece of boxing history right there.
Great speaker this boxer,smart you can tell.
George! My admiration for you knows no limit! You clearly understood what Ali was and what he meant to so many of us ….
GREAT fighter and wise man. When George talks about Ali not fighting in a war he didn't believe in, reminds me of the present time between Russia and Ukraine, Many of the Russian soldiers Not wanting to attack a sovereign State.
Ali did respect Chuvalo. All his talk was just promotion. There is a reason Ali is considered the goat. He told us he was!
good to see an old fighter still alive with good cognitive ability...so many
die prematurely or suffer brain damage.....i like his diplomatic this guy is...
Seems like a good guy. Lots of respect for his comment on Ali refusing to go to 'Nam. Greetings from Germany
A class act. Can’t see him ever trash talking.
Good to see you in good health.
Remarkable. Still coherent and thoughtful and articulate after taking all those punches. Amazing.
I'm a life long fan...my dad was your fan also...we listened to your second fight with Ali on the radio.
Godbless him. One of a kind. No one more durable. Ever.
I saw that fight at the Santa Monica auditorium on closed circuit TV. Chuvalo may have lost, but he was still fantastic.
watched chuvalo and ali train at the northwest eagles gym in north vancouver in preparation for their fight. ali was all personality and chuvalo all business. watched chuvalo work a hard three minute round with his trainer and after the round he walked over to the ropes and leaned his forearms on the top rope with his gloves over the edge of the ring above a wooden table. chuvalo opened his gloves and let the two lead weights that he had in his gloves drop with a crash to the table below. 50 years ago but seems like yesterday.
Great story George thank you
Rocky Marciano once said, "If all fights went 100 rounds, George Chuvalo would be unbeaten in any era.” You can tell the Brockton Blockbuster was right when you hear how clearly Chuvalo still speaks to this day. He is like the late Tiger Ted Lowry, two time Marciano opponent, their styles are different, though.
What a load of rubbish..if the fights he had against foreman and frazier went on any longer george would have been seriously hospitalised
@@stevens5541 Yes, we all know an anonymous UA-cam commenter has more weight on boxing than Rocky Marciano.
I wont get near his age and i`m 57 now.I`ve never been in a boxing ring but George Chuvalo considering all his tough fights and his family tragedies and terrible they were he`s still looking good in his 80s.Amazing fellah
This man is a Canadian treasure ❤️🤘
Ali is gone, and Chuvalo still strong and able to speak very clearly. What a tough man and contender....a class fighter from Canada. When boxers were boxers...by trade. A life example of persistence. He will be 85 in September. Wow.
Telling it like it is with no BS. Thanks for posting.
He'got those tough Croatian genes 😀. Pozdrav gospodinu Čuvalu!
Have to respect George. Fought all the best in the golden age of boxing, and never knocked down.
He got knocked out a few times
George was fabulous but he wasn't doing so well against Foreman's attack in the corner before the ref stopped it. But then again no one was doing well against Foreman, not even Ali. Ali lost six straight rounds until Foreman gassed himself to his own defeat to a waiting Ali.
@@johnc.8298 very true . I'm not trying to diminish Alis victory over George but its always been projected as if ali knocked him on his ass with solid punches when in fact George was so wasted energy wise that he basically fell on the canvas
To alis credit he absorbed tremendous punishment in the fight and came back
@@lendrury2771 I remember seeing Ali on a talk show leading up to the fight saying George punches air and had a surprise for him. Between the strategy of rope a dope with Angelo Dundee sneaking into the arena and slackening the corner turnbuckles of the ropes so Ali could lean way back, their strategy worked.
When watching the seventh round, you can notice that Ali's feet weren't even planted. Those punches were strictly arm punches which have much less force. At that point I surmise a strong wind would have knocked George down.
@@johnc.8298 I agree
I watched the fight in an arena on closed circuit TV as a young kid and George was totally gassed out
I remember my uncle saying that it looked like George fell over from exhaustion
Very well spoken Man.
I went to the first fight at the Gardens.i think it cost close to a weeks pay at the time for a good seat. Looking at the program I still have as I write this. March, 29, 1966. It cost 35 cents. Great undercard also, Jimmy Ellis, Pretty boy Felstein, Frankie Bullard, and good opponents. I can still remember the red welts on Ali's back from the pounding from Chuvalo in the clinches.
Hi Al, I would love to see a few pics of that program if possible. Mitch Chuvalo. Coachm Chuvalo, Facebook.
@@mitchchuvalo799 Hi Mitch, I’d be more than happy to send you pictures of it . How would I do that?
@@mitchchuvalo799 Hi Mitch, I would be happy to send you some pics of it. How would I do that?
God Bless George Chuvalo
May dad was yelling at the TV. Love you George
oh man hats off to Chuvalo real strong fighter love that fight Ali vs Chuvalo!
What year was this? Chuvalo is a Canadian legend. There is a statue of George in somewhere in Bosnia where his parents were born. It's often said George had one of the best chins in boxing ever.
This guy was a great Boxer
I dint know who this guy was...what a legend...he fought some great names patterson..foreman ali twice..frazier...93 fights! Awsome guy...and no fool in the ring! ..glad to see him so sharpe n healthy after all those fights💪👍🥊💣💥❤
Wonderful to see CHUVALO in such great mental condition with no signs whatsoever of any ill effects of his boxing career. Incredibly well spoken and in full command of his faculties, unlike many former boxers who can barely talk.
May GOD bless him and keep him alive and well. An honest old school real heavyweight with a chin of steel.
They once asked him if he had ever been on his knees and he said " only in church "...never knocked down I believe.
Sadly he's been suffering from dementia since at least 2018. This interview was probably done before 2018. His current wife and children are feuding over his care.
@@roll2134 Yes, unfortunately this interview was from a few years ago because he was talking about Ali in the present tense.
George is a very cool guy
He was a tough fighter
Unfortunately he fought when the division was loaded which prevented him from winning a title. But he gave everyone hell in the ring
Gosh, all things considered George is doing very well. (this before Ali's passing) He should have done more broadcasting, like on HBO. He knows whereof he speaks.
Chuvalo is a legend
This guy would be champ today, this is the worst heavyweight era of all time ⌚
Love this guy!!
It's so great (and unusual) to see a former boxer his age who can speak in complete sentences, communicate clearly and access his thoughts and memories with ease. He comes across as a very likable, thoughtful and generous man. Good sense of proportion, too--he's not saying "I was robbed!" fifty years later.
One word for this man -- AWESOME !!
Impressive interview.
That is one tough, tough man right there.
I am a big fan of this Canadian hero !!
This interwiew is probably 2015 when George was healthy. He's not anymore. Dementia took over a few years ago. So sad.
Mr Chuvalo was the toughest man to KO (nobody couldn't) and one of the nicest man on Earth.
“Alot” of people thought you won the second fight? I’ll just say you are one tough ass fighter!
George, I thought you took it to him, and I definitely thought you won. You pressed him and backed him up, got off first. And turned him into a defensive fighter, backing up into the corner in my book you won.
Wow im amazed that George was still together years after his carreer. You couldnt knock the man down. He took more head shots than Ali or anyone. His head of granite took them all. And here he is years later
A wonderful intelligent and generous man about his old opponent. Ali called him the Washerwoman, but George knew it was all in good fun. He was our best the iconic Canadian fighter, and he is still around at 84.
Gentleman George Class Act .
Respect for Chuvalo.