Most likely to knockout George Chuvalo

[HomicideHenry]

Chuvalo was easily the toughest guy ever to step in the ring. At his prime, he also was able to block or deflect a lot of punches. He said himself, that no one could have taken all the punches the press said he took and lived. Chuvalo was a human tank, and the man was never born who could knock him out. I still say that if Chuvalo had been in his prime when he fought Foreman, he could have knocked him out. Foreman said after the fight that George had clocked him with one of the hardest shots he'd ever taken. Chuvalo knew what he wanted to do in there that day, but he couldn't always make his body do it.

Cap

You're dillusional. Toughest of all time is very debatable. Chuvalo was a p4p tough guy, yes, but how can you say he was tougher than LaMotta? Tex Cobb? Chuck Wepner? Joe Grimm? Let's just say for sake of argument he's a top 10 tough guy.

Where you get dillusional is saying that Chuvalo could knock out Foreman. In 80 some fights, Foreman was 'stopped' once [in my opinion Foreman gave up against Ali, I call it a TKO not a genuine kayo]. Holyfield, Morrison, Moorer, Stewart were all primarily in their primes, and if they couldn't knock out the middle aged Foreman with all their skill, speed, fire power, how can you say that Chuvalo could?

Chuvalo had the power to beat guys like Joe Erskine by kayo. But he sure as hell didn't have the power to stop even Floyd Patterson, who had an iffy chin. What makes you think he could knock out Foreman?

[Goodnight, Irene]

"Foreman hurt Chuvalo with a left hook and he wobbled into the ropes but regained his footing quickly, Foreman then had him pinned in a corner and pounded him until a combination of Chuavlo's corner and Arthur Mercante stopped the fight.

Chuvalo seemed to be on steady legs and was trying to counter but was bleeding and taking flush shots. It would have taken a lot more I'm sure to put him on the deck. The left hook was right on the button whilst Chuvalo was also throwing a punch, if that didn't put him on the deck I'm not sure what would have done.

Chuvalo protested bitterly at the stoppage." - Flump

We seem to be in a minority here, but that is pretty much how I see it as well.

I'm sure Chuvalo could've been knocked down if the fight went several more rounds, but not sooner. To me, this is as worthwhile as saying maybe Chuvalo would've beaten Ali in their 1966 title bout had that been scheduled for 50 rounds instead of 15.

What started the beginning of the end was the most exquisite left hook I've ever seen Foreman throw. Chuvalo caught it sweetly as you mentioned, & from that point on he was spitting blood, being driven across the ring, & finally was battered in the corner when they stopped it. He wasn't punching back but he was trying to defend himself, & as you pointed out, was together enough to strongly protest the stoppage.

The fight was stopped because Chuvalo was taking immense punishment. But no way was he out on his feet as some have implied.

Myself, I go for someone like Joe Louis, if I go for anybody. Short, precise punches, dig to the body, come back upstairs, ultra-fast, concussive punches --- the type that re-arranged Arturo Godoy's face.

But maybe no Heavyweight in history counts him out.

[Robinson]

I think peak for peak

George Foreman would have dropped him, and like it is said above he could most likely have done this if there was no Ref intervention.

Joe Frazier, I think Frazier would have had a good chance of closiing his eyes if there was no Ref.

Rocky Marciano, I think the Rock and Chuvalo's style make for a pretty mean and ugly fight that has Marciano winning late by jolting KO.

Mike Tyson, A sharp punching, accurate Tyson has a good chance at closing Chuvalo's eyes.

Riddick Bowe, a pre title Bowe who is hungry (for the belt) would have enough size, power and speed to stop Chuvalo.

Lennox Lewis, I think the big Briton has a good shot at doing this.

Joe Louis, the Brown Bomber would have agood chance at landing something nice and numbing onto Chuvalo's chin.

George Chuvalo as we all know has a iron jaw and was one of those tough old bastards, who for all his ring wear, still seems to have his wits and senses about him. I think that if he met any those above men, who would have a good chance of standing up to them, but in no way beating them. He may be TKO'd however. I am in the same opinion that Randall Cobb would have the durability and awkwardness to go the distance with most of histories best.

In regards to the Tyson win over Holmes. That fight should never had happened, Holmes was coming of the couch and into the ropes for money. Sure he had a name and was only a few years from being champ, I do howver feel that that version of Holmes would have been able to have extended a great many other fighters on that night.

Tyson looked good in it however, and you should not rob him of the victory. It was Larry Holmes inside there with him, in name however.

Kym

[granberry]

In regards to the Tyson win over Holmes. That fight should never had happened, Holmes was coming of the couch and into the ropes for money. Sure he had a name and was only a few years from being champ, I do howver feel that that version of Holmes would have been able to have extended a great many other fighters on that night.

Tyson looked good in it however, and you should not rob him of the victory. It was Larry Holmes inside there with him, in name however.

Kym

Now tell us all about Holyfield fighting an EVEN OLDER Holmes for 15 rounds to a decision.

[Robinson]

The 12 rounder that Holyfield and Holmes fought should not be compared to the Tyson fight. Holmes was as you know had worked himself free of ring rust and had re-built himself out of retirement.

I am not quite sure what you are asking, as you are a special man. I am assuming your talking about the 12 rounder in 1992 that holmes and holyfield fought.

Kym

[dagosd2000]

As I understand it he was pulled out by is corner vs Foreman. Is it not likely if they had not done this he would have been Ko'ed?

You're correct. Foreman was wailing on Chuvalo. Foreman might have hurt him real bad if his corner hadn't of stopped it. Shavers might of had the single hardest right hand in the history of the division,but I think it would have taken a cumulative array of hard shots to have brought Chuvalo down. Foreman in his prime I think had the best credentials. When he beat Chuvalo that night it was going to happen. George wasn't going to punch himself out before he would have killed him.

[joe kurtz]

Actually, Earnie Shavers was scheduled to fight George Chuvalo in Cleveland sometime in the mid-70s. I even saw one of the posters printed up for the contest, which did, infact, bill it as a bout between "the unstoppable force vs the immovable object".

I wasn't aware that the fight had been made until I saw the poster for sale in the early 90s at the annual boxing memorabilia collectors show held in Canastota every June during Hall of Fame Induction weekend.

Like a bloody fool, I didn't buy it even though the vendor only wanted $20 for it ( I was short of cash that year ) & as fate would have it, I've never seen another copy of it since that day.

I wish I'd have at least made a note of the date that the fight was scheduled for, to see who Shavers wound up fighting instead. Because, I'm pretty sure that the fellow selling the poster told me that Chuvalo was the one who was forced to pull out of the fight.

[joe kurtz]

Oh, my opinion oon what would have occurred if Chuvalo hadn't pulled out?

I'm going to say that at that point in Chuvalo's career that Shavers just might have been able to stop him on cuts, swellings or punches, but I don't think he'd have dropped him. And, if he didn't stop him, I still think Earnie'd have won via decision. Which, though rare, wasn't the total anomaly that some folks make it out to be now.

Shavers was able to outpoint some decent fighters like Vincente Rondon & Henry Clark in his day. He didn't always fall apart or get beaten when fights went into the latter rounds.