George Chuvalo facts for kids

Quick facts for kids George Chuvalo CM
Chuvalo in April 2010
Statistics
Real name	Jure Čuvalo
Rated at	Heavyweight
Height	6' 0"
Reach	82 in
Born	(1937-09-12) September 12, 1937 (age 87) Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	93
Wins	73
Wins by KO	63
Losses	18
Draws	2

George Louis Chuvalo (born September 12, 1937) is a famous Canadian former professional boxer. He was the Canadian heavyweight champion five times. He also challenged for the world heavyweight title twice.

George Chuvalo is especially known for something amazing. In his 93 professional fights, he was never knocked down! This includes tough matches against boxing legends like Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, and George Foreman. He fought Muhammad Ali for the heavyweight championship in 1966. George Chuvalo was added to the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 1995.

George Chuvalo: A Boxing Legend

Early Life and Boxing Start

George Chuvalo was born in Canada. His parents, Stipan and Katica, were immigrants from Herzegovina. This area is now part of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In May 1955, George became the Canadian amateur heavyweight champion. He won by knocking out Peter Piper in the first round. This happened at a tournament in Regina, Saskatchewan. George had an amazing amateur record. He won all 16 of his fights by knockout. All these knockouts happened within four rounds.

George was nicknamed "Boom Boom" because of his powerful punches. He became a professional boxer in 1956. In his first professional event, he knocked out four opponents in one night! This helped him win a heavyweight tournament. The tournament was held by former world champion Jack Dempsey. It took place in Toronto on April 26, 1956.

Facing the Best: Ali, Frazier, and Foreman

George Chuvalo was a top-ranked heavyweight boxer for many years. He was ranked number 9 in 1963 and number 3 in 1965. He also ranked number 4 in 1968.

Epic Fights Against Muhammad Ali

George Chuvalo is most famous for his two fights against Muhammad Ali. He fought all the way to the end in both matches. He lost both times by decision, meaning the judges scored more points for Ali.

Their first fight was on March 29, 1966. It was for Ali's world heavyweight title. The match took place at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto. After the fight, Muhammad Ali himself said, "He's the toughest guy I ever fought." This shows how strong and determined George Chuvalo was.

Other Important Matches

George also had some losses against other famous boxers. In 1957, he lost to Bob Baker. Baker was once ranked as high as number two in the world. George also lost to Zora Folley, who was a top contender.

But George also had many big wins! He beat Doug Jones. Doug Jones had a very close fight with Muhammad Ali in 1963. This shows George could compete with the best.

Life Outside the Ring

George Chuvalo also appeared in several films. He had acting roles in movies like The Fly (1986) and Prom Night III: The Last Kiss (1989).

His famous 1966 fight against Muhammad Ali was even made into a documentary film. It was called The Last Round: Chuvalo vs. Ali and came out in 2003.

In December 2011, George traveled to Sarajevo. He went to see a statue made in his honor. The statue was placed in Ljubuški, the birthplace of his parents.

A special place called the George Chuvalo Neighborhood Centre opened in Toronto in 2019. It offers many fun programs for children and young people.

Family Life and Legacy

When George was 21, he married Lynne. They had five children together. George's son Mitchell is now a high school teacher. His daughter Vanessa manages a food market.

George Chuvalo has received many honors for his boxing career and his work. In 1998, he became a member of the Order of Canada. This is one of Canada's highest honors. In 2005, he received a star on Canada's Walk of Fame.

On March 26, 2013, he was given the key to the city of Toronto. This was for his success in boxing and for his speeches. He often spoke to young people about making good choices in life.

Professional Boxing Record Summary

George Chuvalo had a long and impressive professional boxing career. He fought 93 times in total. He won 73 of those fights, with 63 wins coming by knockout. He had 18 losses and 2 draws.

See also

In Spanish: George Chuvalo para niños