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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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
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.
I was friends with his step son And I got to meet him and he took me to my first amateur fight and got me hooked to boxing from than on.i have many amateur fights and was extremely talented at one time because of this man on the video
@@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. czcams.com/video/CXxQn9ZPi7Y/video.html
My goodness, what a devastating hand George Chuvalo was dealt. The loss of a child is a source of unspeakable grief. To lose three sons is mind-numbingly tragic. A tough, tough, seemingly decent man. Thank you Rich for telling his tale.
@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.
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!
George is one tuff man who went through so much pain! You have too be too go through all that! It's kinda hard too believe he's still alive at 85. God bless you George Chuvalo 👍✌️❤️🙏👊
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!
I remember vividly when watching “Facing Ali” Chuvalo goes, Ali was an easy fight. After the fight, he went to hospital and I went dancing with My Beautiful Wife” On Foreman and Frazier……. Nonchalantly “They could both punch, there was just a different feel to them” George is a Legend and should be and will be remembered as such
I'm replying to your "as a Canadian" comment on one of my posts. First, no offense taken. Second, I only mentioned being Canadian because my post was somewhat patriotic and showing pride for a fellow countryman in a sport where Canadians have had limited global success, so not doing so would have resulted in my comment lacking context and making no sense. Third - to your "American neighbour syndrome" comment - just because a person makes a comment of the nature mine was doesn't mean insecurity and inadequacy are automatically baked in. I'm not trying to pick a fight either, but I feel you're overthinking something that only needed to be taken at face value; there is nothing to psychoanalyze.
What a profoundly moving documentary,Rich . You just keep outdoing yourself each time. A barrage of George Foreman haymakers was nothing compared to the shots Chuvalo took in personal life. At the end ,however, he was still standing.
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.
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🤙
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.
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!!
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.
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!
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 moving powerful description of the great Canadian strongman. My most vivid memory was watching the Ali-vs-Liston bout complete (repeat) on a cable channel showing ballistic Chuvalo going at Ali, George accusing Ali the "fix was in". Another memory was semi-retired Chuvalo challenging George Jerome for the 1977'ish heavyweight title, stopping him early like he he'd never left the game. Boxing Illustrated (Reg Noble) was kind to Jerome in the article, I thought it was funny as hell and testament to this underrated, savagely solid heavyweight who is still with us today. Great work here Rich, you kinda' outdid yourself here!
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.
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.
George Chuvalo is a wonderful human being, a very nice man. I used to see him at High Park gym but never wanted to bother the man because of all the hell he has been through in his life. I heard so many nice stories about this man and my sister met him once she asked him if he knew me and he said yes just to be polite. I love this man, just a great soul. :)
Thanks for this one Rich as a Canadian from Toronto George was not only a good boxer but an even better human to endure what he has. Wasn t uncommon to see him in Etobicoke just strolling down the street. A real Hero.
Good job Rich. Correction on the year that George Chuvalo fought Buster Mathis was in 1969 not 2 years earlier that you labeled under the footage of the fight. Anyways, Chuvalo was one of the great heavyweight fighters in the Golden Era of the heavyweights and nearly fought them all. It was sad on how Chuvalo lost his 3 sons and wife outside the ring. Keep it up there Rich.
In life it only takes one person to make a difference in a child’s life I am sure he saved mini mini children from turning into drug addicts. What a strong man and an outside of the ring.
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
I really loved watching Chuvalo fight. He was a true man of steel. The tragedies in his life are so immense. I truly feel for him. No man should face such tragedy where as to lose over half his family, one after another to such a horrible substance. He was one of the fighters who made the the 60s and 70s so competitive in the heavyweight division. Thanks for an excellent video Rich!
What a good man to have so much tragedy brought upon him. Young one`s watch this video and learn from it. Run away from drugs, don`t destow this upon the family that loves you.
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
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.
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.
George was an enigma his stamina was legendary and he beat many gifted fighters his only flaw in my opinion was his lack of footwork tough as nails and a great human being.
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
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. ❤👍👍
Chuvalo was incredibly durable. Very interesting to learn that his father was Croation. I don’t know what it is about Eastern European fighters, but they exude indestructibility. Chuvalo never showed pain and had a gift of never appearing wobbly despite the punches that hit him. Guys like him were never good opponents. If you were a skilled boxer, his unrelenting pressure was sure to make you look increasingly desperate, as your bag of tricks ran out. If you were a power puncher, you’d be embarrassed that no matter what you did, you couldn’t stop this guy coming forward. But, in the final analysis, the traditional ways of scoring professional boxing would always bias against George Chuvalo. He was great in so many ways but not in the way boxing is scored. His only genuine beating was another George named Foreman who possessed the same qualities, but perhaps larger and stronger. No contender trying for the heavyweight championship was ever happy facing George Chuvalo. That’s a fact!!! Sincere sympathy for all the pain he has endured in his private life. An “Ironman “ if there ever was one.
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.
Thank you for this Rich. I knew little of George, apart from his fights against the more notable opponents & how tough he was. In & out of ring, as I've found out today. To lose 3 sons & a wife ; to carry on. That's strength.! Ali, although he teased hin with his nick name spoke highly of him. Appreciate this. Bless up bro 👊
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 😉👊🏾🥊💯
George Chuvalo was one tough cookie. That boy could take a punch like no other. I didn't know that George had to deal with such heartache how can anyone cope with such lost? or let alone survive such tragedy , holy crap is all I can say, apparently, sad to even say, George, is still alive and is now into his 80's, is suffering from dementia. Wish you the best champ, wish you the best.
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!
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 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.
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!
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.
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!
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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!
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
I was friends with his step son
And I got to meet him and he took me to my first amateur fight and got me hooked to boxing from than on.i have many amateur fights and was extremely talented at one time because of this man on the video
Hopefully this legend sees this and knows boxing fans all over the world love him. Good health and happiness to Mr chuvalo 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
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. czcams.com/video/CXxQn9ZPi7Y/video.html
My goodness, what a devastating hand George Chuvalo was dealt. The loss of a child is a source of unspeakable grief. To lose three sons is mind-numbingly tragic. A tough, tough, seemingly decent man. Thank you Rich for telling his tale.
He was great. People forget about fighters like him. Nice video
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
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.
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.
George is one tuff man who went through so much pain! You have too be too go through all that! It's kinda hard too believe he's still alive at 85. God bless you George Chuvalo 👍✌️❤️🙏👊
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!
The one we've all been waiting for.
I remember vividly when watching “Facing Ali” Chuvalo goes, Ali was an easy fight. After the fight, he went to hospital and I went dancing with My Beautiful Wife”
On Foreman and Frazier……. Nonchalantly “They could both punch, there was just a different feel to them”
George is a Legend and should be and will be remembered as such
Love and respect to George Chevallo from Iran. Sir, you are my hero!
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.
Yes!! So glad you did one on George Chuvalo!!
I'm replying to your "as a Canadian" comment on one of my posts. First, no offense taken. Second, I only mentioned being Canadian because my post was somewhat patriotic and showing pride for a fellow countryman in a sport where Canadians have had limited global success, so not doing so would have resulted in my comment lacking context and making no sense. Third - to your "American neighbour syndrome" comment - just because a person makes a comment of the nature mine was doesn't mean insecurity and inadequacy are automatically baked in. I'm not trying to pick a fight either, but I feel you're overthinking something that only needed to be taken at face value; there is nothing to psychoanalyze.
What a profoundly moving documentary,Rich . You just keep outdoing yourself each time. A barrage of George Foreman haymakers was nothing compared to the shots Chuvalo took in personal life. At the end ,however, he was still standing.
Thanks, Triple Junction 707
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.
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.
A fantastic documentary on Mr chuvalo, with a great interview, I've never seen before. Excellent, thank you. 🥊🥊🥊
My pleasure, Simon.
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.
Excellent documentary.....long overdo!
Thanks, Ray.
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.
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!!
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
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
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 moving powerful description of the great Canadian strongman. My most vivid memory was watching the Ali-vs-Liston bout complete (repeat) on a cable channel showing ballistic Chuvalo going at Ali, George accusing Ali the "fix was in". Another memory was semi-retired Chuvalo challenging George Jerome for the 1977'ish heavyweight title, stopping him early like he he'd never left the game. Boxing Illustrated (Reg Noble) was kind to Jerome in the article, I thought it was funny as hell and testament to this underrated, savagely solid heavyweight who is still with us today. Great work here Rich, you kinda' outdid yourself here!
Thanks, Benny. Chuvalo was one determined fighter.
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.
One of my favorite fighters.
Canada you must be proud.
Rich the Fight Historian...
Again thank you for this video and for your hard work.
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.
What a man, its incredible how he coped with his tragedies...Also he was one of the toughest fighters to ever live.
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.
George Chuvalo is a wonderful human being, a very nice man. I used to see him at High Park gym but never wanted to bother the man because of all the hell he has been through in his life. I heard so many nice stories about this man and my sister met him once she asked him if he knew me and he said yes just to be polite. I love this man, just a great soul. :)
He lost this family and came forward and said he didn’t want it to happen to you, a stranger.
That’s a man.
This is cinematic in scope. What a story?! In its way as tragic a tale as the Von Erich family (wrestling). George always came across as a decent guy.
Thanks for this one Rich as a Canadian from Toronto George was not only a good boxer but an even better human to endure what he has. Wasn t uncommon to see him in Etobicoke just strolling down the street. A real Hero.
Good job Rich. Correction on the year that George Chuvalo fought Buster Mathis was in 1969 not 2 years earlier that you labeled under the footage of the fight. Anyways, Chuvalo was one of the great heavyweight fighters in the Golden Era of the heavyweights and nearly fought them all. It was sad on how Chuvalo lost his 3 sons and wife outside the ring. Keep it up there Rich.
I hope George sees this he was a great fighter and human being. Highly underrated!!
In life it only takes one person to make a difference in a child’s life I am sure he saved mini mini children from turning into drug addicts. What a strong man and an outside of the ring.
I loved this man. He was the toughest boxer at a time when all time greats were at their best. Thanks.
George Chuvalo inspired me to become a fighter and all my fights were brutal like his but I enjoyed every one of them.
I never new of George Chuvalo. Very touching story. Courageous and humble.
THANK YOU SO MUCH RICH 😢 !!!
SAD BUT AWESOME VIDEO!!!
💥👊
My pleasure, Rigo.
He was a very tough boxer. His book is very interesting.
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
Chuvalo: Great Speed, Great Agility, Great Stamina, Great Endurance, & Great Power
I really loved watching Chuvalo fight. He was a true man of steel. The tragedies in his life are so immense. I truly feel for him. No man should face such tragedy where as to lose over half his family, one after another to such a horrible substance. He was one of the fighters who made the the 60s and 70s so competitive in the heavyweight division. Thanks for an excellent video Rich!
My pleasure, Sylvester.
This video was not just awesome, but incredibly inspiring... thank you. 🙏🙏💪💪👊👊
My pleasure, Paulie.
Powerful story represented beautifully by this brilliant video.
This is a work of art. Thank you so much, Rich.
Always a pleasure, Michael
Another great documentary!!
Thanks again!
I can't even imagine how much hurt this Man has gone through
What a good man to have so much tragedy brought upon him. Young one`s watch this video and learn from it. Run away from drugs, don`t destow this upon the family that loves you.
Respect to you Mr Chuvalo, a ring legend and good man.
Top video ...Chuvalo top man ..'proper fighter' from the ring to life .
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
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.
Unlike most boxers, he was a good man
You have some of the best documentaries. I enjoy them all. Thanks you.
Thanks so much, Julio.
My uncle Bobby was in George Chuvalo’s book. Dynamite Dafoe was his boxing name, miss being a kid and going to newsboys
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.
George was an enigma his stamina was legendary and he beat many gifted fighters his only flaw in my opinion was his lack of footwork tough as nails and a great human being.
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
A tough as teak fighter and much underrated boxer …
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.
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 :)
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. ❤👍👍
George is a Great Man
Chuvalo was incredibly durable. Very interesting to learn that his father was Croation. I don’t know what it is about Eastern European fighters, but they exude indestructibility. Chuvalo never showed pain and had a gift of never appearing wobbly despite the punches that hit him. Guys like him were never good opponents. If you were a skilled boxer, his unrelenting pressure was sure to make you look increasingly desperate, as your bag of tricks ran out. If you were a power puncher, you’d be embarrassed that no matter what you did, you couldn’t stop this guy coming forward. But, in the final analysis, the traditional ways of scoring professional boxing would always bias against George Chuvalo. He was great in so many ways but not in the way boxing is scored. His only genuine beating was another George named Foreman who possessed the same qualities, but perhaps larger and stronger. No contender trying for the heavyweight championship was ever happy facing George Chuvalo. That’s a fact!!! Sincere sympathy for all the pain he has endured in his private life. An “Ironman “ if there ever was one.
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.
Thank you for this Rich. I knew little of George, apart from his fights against the more notable opponents & how tough he was. In & out of ring, as I've found out today. To lose 3 sons & a wife ; to carry on. That's strength.! Ali, although he teased hin with his nick name spoke highly of him. Appreciate this. Bless up bro 👊
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..
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
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
Another great video, Rich! Thanks!
Sure thing, Ruben
Please do Rubin Hurricane Carter. These two met, and Rubin is very underrated.
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.
Terrific video Thanks Rich !
Sure thing, grahamdoe
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.
George Chuvalo was one tough cookie. That boy could take a punch like no other. I didn't know that George had to deal with such heartache how can anyone cope with such lost? or let alone survive such tragedy , holy crap is all I can say, apparently, sad to even say, George, is still alive and is now into his 80's, is suffering from dementia. Wish you the best champ, wish you the best.
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
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!
Omg...I'm so sorry this is so tragic my heart 💔 after listening to just the first 10 seconds
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
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 CZcams doesn't give my viewers the heads up.
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.
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.
Goodness me I had no idea of the trobles this man faced.
Thanks for posting and making me aware