Legendary boxer who fought Muhammad Ali, George Foreman dies at 89
· Yahoo Sports
Canadian boxer George Chuvalo, who fought the best heavyweights of his generation and was never knocked out in 93 professional fights, died on his 89th birthday Saturday, Sept. 13.
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Born in Toronto on Sept. 12, 1937, Chuvalo was the son of Croatian immigrants. He took up boxing as a boy after discovering The Ring magazine and had his first organized bout at 10.
By 17, he was the Canadian amateur heavyweight champion. He was selected for Canada’s 1956 Olympic team but turned professional instead.
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Chuvalo’s professional career began in 1956 and lasted 22 years. He finished with a record of 73-18-2, including 64 knockouts, and won the Canadian heavyweight championship five times. He was ranked as high as No. 2 in the world, although he never won a world title.
Chuvalo’s reputation was established most firmly in fights against the leading heavyweights of his era. He fought Joe Frazier in 1967 and George Foreman in 1970, losing both by stoppage but never being put on the canvas. His 1965 fight with Floyd Patterson was named Fight of the Year by The Ring Magazine.
The fights that defined Chuvalo’s public image came against Muhammad Ali. In March 1966, with only 17 days to prepare, Chuvalo faced the undefeated heavyweight champion at Toronto’s Maple Leaf Gardens. Ali won a unanimous decision after 15 rounds, but Chuvalo had lasted the distance against a fighter widely regarded as the best in the world.
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After the fight, Chuvalo said, “I went dancing with my wife. I got the best of that deal.”
They met again in Vancouver in 1972, with Ali again winning a decision. Chuvalo later resisted the idea that his career could be reduced to his ability to absorb punishment.
“When people think of me, they think of me fighting Muhammad,” he said. “It’s hard for them to think of anything else. But I had close to 100 fights.”
Chuvalo is survived by his eldest son Mitch, daughter Vanessa, grandchildren, and second wife Joanne.
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