R.I.P. George Chuvalo

[writehooks]

The legendary Canadian heavyweight died today -- his 89th birthday -- in Toronto. I had the privilege of sharing a 40-year friendship with George, and was deeply honored when he asked me to co-author his autobiography in 2013.

One of the last of boxing's 15-round gladiators, from 1956-78 George compiled a stellar record of 73-18-2, and was the only man to fight the "holy trinity" of Ali (twice), Frazier and Foreman. His two biggest wins were KOs of Manuel Ramos (1968) and Jerry Quarry (1969).

Post-retirement, after tragically losing his wife and three sons to drugs and suicide, he spent years criss-crossing North America to tell his story to students and youth groups. For the past several years he was confined to an assisted living facility, suffering from acute dementia.

Murray Greig

[gilgamesh]

One of the Longest survivors of one of the Toughest eras of Boxing. The hardships this man endured outside of the ring dwarf the hardships he endured in it, but what a testament to the unbreakable character and strength of will of George Chuvalo that he kept standing through it all.

[scorpio83]

Chuvalo fought 6 current, former and future World Heavyweight Champions in Muhammad Ali (twice), George Foreman, Joe Frazier, Floyd Patterson, Ernie Terrell (WBA Heavyweight Champion) and Jimmy Ellis (also former WBA Heavyweight Champion) and he fought contenders and challengers for the title in Buster Mathis Sr., Zora Folley, Cleveland "Big Cat" Williams, Jerry Quarry, Oscar Bonavena, Manuel Ramos, Dante Cane, Mike DeJohn, Doug Jones, Bob Cleroux (thrice), Bob Baker, Pete Rademacher, Alex Miteff, Yvon Durrelle, Joe Erskine, Joe Bygraves, Eduardo Corletti, Willi Besmanoff (thrice), James J. Parker and Tony Alongi just to name many.

With all of the opponents of Chuvalo, whom I mentioned except Corletti who is still living right now as Chuvalo would rematch each of them in their afterlife.

RIP Champ

[Ambling Alp II]

Sad to hear. He did have an interesting career. Gave it all that he had. He was willing to take on anyone; we need more guys like that.
The fight with Patterson was the Fight of the Year.

I remember one time I was looking up who the Canadian Heavyweight Champion was before Tevor Berbik. (Don't ask me why).
I was shocked to see that it was George Chuvalo! He first won the title in 1958, had four reigns, and he retired with the title in 1979!

[SteveO]

A real tough guy. Never knocked down throughout his professional career. Fought some of the best.
R.I.P George

[Expug]

A true warrior. In the ring and outside it.
Unimaginable hardships he faced.
No matter what came his way, he kept moving forward.
If there are residual life benefits to boxing, George would be a guy I’d use as example of them.

[elmersalsa]

May he rest in peace. One of the toughest heavyweight boxers in history that took on the best fighters of his era, including the great Muhammad Ali twice.

He was also Canadian Heavyweight Champion. He will surely be missed.

R.I.P, champ!

[overhand_right]

The legendary Canadian heavyweight died today -- his 89th birthday -- in Toronto. I had the privilege of sharing a 40-year friendship with George, and was deeply honored when he asked me to co-author his autobiography in 2013.

One of the last of boxing's 15-round gladiators, from 1956-78 George compiled a stellar record of 73-18-2, and was the only man to fight the "holy trinity" of Ali (twice), Frazier and Foreman. His two biggest wins were KOs of Manuel Ramos (1968) and Jerry Quarry (1969).

Post-retirement, after tragically losing his wife and three sons to drugs and suicide, he spent years criss-crossing North America to tell his story to students and youth groups. For the past several years he was confined to an assisted living facility, suffering from acute dementia.

Murray Greig

Murray -- I've seen your username writehooks over the years on the forum but had no idea you were the co author of Chuvalo. Let me commend you on a classic book. There's various ways of writing a boxing biog or ghosting/co-writing an autobiog, some can feel like breezy, cynical cash-ins (Bugner, Tyson), others possess such depth and insight that they transcend sportswriting and qualify as great literature (Frazier, Foreman, Holmes, Hauser's Ali). Your Chuvalo book is very much in the latter group. I read it only a couple of months back and it does everything right. I was transported to another place and feel like I lived George's life with him. Every day I looked forward to evening when I would be able to sit down with your book. In age where everything seems to be dumbed down and watching current year boxing feels like an insult to the intelligence, your book was pure, preserved-in-amber golden age prizefighting.

Sad that George has died but have been expecting it since the dementia diagnosis. Was always glad he got the book out while the mind was still sharp. The pain he must have been through post boxing with the numerous tragedies would have been too much for me to bear. A real iron man in and out of the ring.

[writehooks]

Thanks for the kind words, OR.
I have around 30 hours of taped conversations with George, which were the basis of our book. Even though separated by a couple of thousand miles here in the Great White North, over the years we spent hundreds of hours traveling together, including annual trips to Canestota, where he was always mobbed by the fans. In 40 years I never once saw him turn down an autograph or photo request. He will be deeply missed.

Murray

[goose 5]

Are there any films of Chuvalo's bouts that are not in circulation ?

[BroughtonRulesRefuge]

The legendary Canadian heavyweight died today -- his 89th birthday -- in Toronto. I had the privilege of sharing a 40-year friendship with George, and was deeply honored when he asked me to co-author his autobiography in 2013.

One of the last of boxing's 15-round gladiators, from 1956-78 George compiled a stellar record of 73-18-2, and was the only man to fight the "holy trinity" of Ali (twice), Frazier and Foreman. His two biggest wins were KOs of Manuel Ramos (1968) and Jerry Quarry (1969).

Post-retirement, after tragically losing his wife and three sons to drugs and suicide, he spent years criss-crossing North America to tell his story to students and youth groups. For the past several years he was confined to an assisted living facility, suffering from acute dementia.

Murray Greig

Murray -- I've seen your username writehooks over the years on the forum but had no idea you were the co author of Chuvalo. Let me commend you on a classic book. There's various ways of writing a boxing biog or ghosting/co-writing an autobiog, some can feel like breezy, cynical cash-ins (Bugner, Tyson), others possess such depth and insight that they transcend sportswriting and qualify as great literature (Frazier, Foreman, Holmes, Hauser's Ali). Your Chuvalo book is very much in the latter group. I read it only a couple of months back and it does everything right. I was transported to another place and feel like I lived George's life with him. Every day I looked forward to evening when I would be able to sit down with your book. In age where everything seems to be dumbed down and watching current year boxing feels like an insult to the intelligence, your book was pure, preserved-in-amber golden age prizefighting.

Sad that George has died but have been expecting it since the dementia diagnosis. Was always glad he got the book out while the mind was still sharp. The pain he must have been through post boxing with the numerous tragedies would have been too much for me to bear. A real iron man in and out of the ring.

- Humbled and honored to have witnessed George in action including the other George. Foreman reduced him in 3 rounds whereas he put Ali in the hospital in their first fight.

In ninety-three professionals fights, Chuvalo was never knocked off his feet, a Man's Man and Gentleman to the end...R.I.P. and Hello Valhalla...

[Nile4000]

This is a bit surprisning. RIP George, you represented well.