Chuvalo finished his career at 73-18-2 with 64 knockouts. His extraordinary durability made him famous, but he was far more than a fighter who absorbed punishment. He held the Canadian heavyweight title for much of his career, climbed as high as No. 2 in the world rankings, and defeated Jerry Quarry, Cleveland Williams, Mike DeJohn, Doug Jones, and Yvon Durelle.
His name will always be linked with Muhammad Ali. Chuvalo accepted their first fight on only 17 days’ notice and challenged Ali for the world heavyweight championship at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto on March 29, 1966. Ali won a 15-round unanimous decision, but he could not drop or stop the rugged Canadian.
Chuvalo received another opportunity against Ali in Vancouver on May 1, 1972. He again lasted the distance, losing a 12-round unanimous decision.
The Toronto heavyweight also shared the ring with Joe Frazier, George Foreman, Floyd Patterson, Ernie Terrell, Oscar Bonavena, Buster Mathis and Zora Folley. Frazier and Foreman stopped him, but neither man put him on the canvas.
Chuvalo retired in 1978 after winning his final seven fights. His last appearance ended with a second-round stoppage of George Jerome while Chuvalo was 41.
His most painful battles came outside boxing. Chuvalo lost three sons and his first wife to drugs and suicide. He later traveled across Canada speaking to young people about substance abuse and the destruction it can bring to families.
Chuvalo was inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame in 1990 and the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 1997. He received the Order of Canada in 1998 and joined Canada’s Walk of Fame in 2005. His autobiography, Chuvalo: A Fighter’s Life, was published in 2013.
After boxing, he also worked in films, television programs and commercials.
I interviewed Chuvalo once. Far from sounding like the bruising heavyweight seen in the ring, he spoke with the thoughtfulness and intelligence of a college professor. That conversation showed another side of one of Canada’s most respected fighters.
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