From BBC News · · 1m 20s
George Chuvalo, the man who never went down
Ninety-three pro fights, not one knockdown, and a life outside the ring that hit harder than anyone in it.
In brief
Ninety-three pro fights, not one knockdown, and a life outside the ring that hit harder than anyone in it. Chuvalo's real toughness was what he did after boxing: turning the loss of four family members into a warning he carried across Canada. Originally reported by BBC News.
Canada loses its warrior
George Chuvalo, five-time Canadian heavyweight champion, has died at 89. He died on Saturday, which was also his birthday.
Never once on the canvas
He fought 93 professional bouts: 73 wins, 18 losses, two draws. Across all of them, no opponent ever put him down.
Ali's toughest opponent
Chuvalo faced Muhammad Ali in 1966 and again in 1972, losing both. Ali still named him the hardest man he ever fought.
“Ali called him the toughest guy he ever fought.”
Born in Toronto, built on grit
Son of Croatian immigrants, born in 1937, he grew up in Toronto and started boxing young. Foreman and Frazier also found out about that iron chin.
“Widely considered "Canada's greatest warrior"”
The fights after boxing
He retired in 1978 and lost three sons and his wife to overdoses and suicide. He then spent years touring Canada speaking on drugs and mental health.
“I hope you think of me, George Chuvalo, and what drugs did to my family”
A second act on screen
He acted in The Fly in 1986 and the comedy Dirty Work, commentated on big fights, and co-hosted a boxing show. He leaves behind his son Mitch, daughter Vanessa, grandchildren and wife Joanne.
What to remember
Chuvalo's real toughness was what he did after boxing: turning the loss of four family members into a warning he carried across Canada.
