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The characteristic that gives us a sense of
toughness about this boxing legend, is that he was never knocked
down in ninety-three professional fights between 1956 and 1979.
He was Canadian heavyweight champion as both an amateur and a
professional, and twice fought for versions of the professional
world's heavyweight title.
In his teens, he became one of the best-known
amateur boxers in Toronto. Chuvalo became Canadian amateur
heavyweight champion in May 1955. Chuvalo finished his amateur
career with a 16-0-0, all by KO within four rounds…a
record.
On April 26, 1956 he knocked out four opponents
in one night, winning the heavyweight tournament held by former
world's champion Jack Dempsey at Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto.
Nicknamed "Boom Boom" Chuvalo - he turned
professional in 1956. Future world champions Joe Frazier and
George Foreman, despite being big punchers, were unable to knock
Chuvalo down, but they were the only fighters to stop him scoring
technical knockout (TKO) victories.
As successful as he was in the ring he incurred
terrible personal loss. He and his wife had four sons. He lost
two sons to drug overdose, another son as well as his wife to
suicide. His remaining son, Mitch, became a successful teacher
and coach. He adopted a personal commitment and passion to
“The Fight Against Drugs” that has become highly
successful on the lecture tour. www.fightagainstdrugs.ca
Chuvalo was inducted into the Canadian Sports
Hall of Fame in 1990 and the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 1997.
He was made a Member of the Order of Canada in 1998 and was
awarded a star on Canada's Walk of Fame in 2005.
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