George Chuvalo- Which champions could he beat?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by heizenberg, May 21, 2015.


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  1. heizenberg

    heizenberg Well-Known Member Full Member

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    George Chuvalo to me is in some way like a heavyweight Freddie Pendelton in a sense that he didn't have the best record but was still a very legit contender. He had a lot of bad nights and ups and downs in his career but on the nights where he gave his best effort he was never an easy opponent. He gave Ali hell twice, battled Patterson to a pretty well even great fight, Went back and forth with a prime Joe Frazier with furious exchanges until having his face broken. Beat Clevland Williams, Jerry Quarry, Mike DeJohn and Doug Jones amongst others. Had competitive fights with a number of other very good heavyweights (Bonavena, Terrell, Ellis etc). Known as being one of the most durable heavyweights of all time.. Had he come along at a different time and got his shot against other champions throughout history could he have become a real life rocky? I think its possible.

    I'd make Chuvalo on a good night a very live underdog against former belt holders like, Frank Bruno, Mike Weaver, Greg Page, Coetzee, Dokes, McCall, Patterson, Michael Spinks, Leon Spinks, Ken Norton.. I'd expect him to give champs like Marciano, Moore, Walcott, Charles, Holyfield, Moorer hell in fact it wouldn't surprise me to see Chuvalo give just about any heavyweight in history a very tough night in the ring. He proved in his title attempt against Ali in his prime that he could rise to the occasion and give one of the best of all time a very tough fight...
     
    heizenberg, May 21, 2015
    heizenberg, May 21, 2015
    #1
  2. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

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    I think he's about even money with a lot of the weaker fragment holders and linear claimants, a good many of them you already listed. In my opinion, he was robbed against Terrell for the WBA title, and Ernie fell into the exact sort of category that we're discussing.
     
    mr. magoo, May 21, 2015
    mr. magoo, May 21, 2015
    #2
  3. Balder

    Balder Well-Known Member banned Full Member

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    He is a tremendous fighter, and is underrated by many.

    Some of the best known champs he could challenge, for me ,would be Joe Louis, Moorer, and Holmes...

    He may very well beat Holmes ( Ali Clone) survive and possibly KO Louis, and I would favor him against Moorer.

    A fan favorite fight would be Holyfield vs Chuvalo.....
     
    Balder, May 21, 2015
    Balder, May 21, 2015
    #3
  4. Unforgiven

    Unforgiven VIP Member banned Full Member

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    You scored the third fight for Ali ?
     
    Unforgiven, May 21, 2015
    Unforgiven, May 21, 2015
    #4
  5. choklab

    choklab cocoon of horror Full Member

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    Chuvalo was about as good as Paulino Uzcudun. And Paulino was good! Both George and Paulino were good quality guys ...but not World champion calibre.
     
    choklab, May 21, 2015
    choklab, May 21, 2015
    #5
  6. LittleRed

    LittleRed Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    That was an atg thread
     
    LittleRed, May 21, 2015
    LittleRed, May 21, 2015
    #6
  7. klompton2

    klompton2 Boxing Junkie banned Full Member

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    My head just exploded...

    Beat Holmes and Louis?? I wouldnt even favor him over Moorer. Holyfield would beat the living **** out of him.

    Gave Ali hell twice? Ali outpointed him wide in both fights. Went back and forth with Frazier? Have you watched that fight? He could barely land on Frazier who beat the living **** out of him. Competetive with Ellis? He was only competetive on the Canadian judges scorecard. Ellis beat his ass also, bullied him, backed him up, and outworked him. Far from being underrated Chuvalo might just be one of the most overrated HWs ever. For every supposedly good performance against a great (and he lost every one of those in usually one sided manner) there are the inexplicable one sided losses to journeymen and nobodies. Dont get dominated by Pete Rademacher and then pretend you are ever going to win a title.
     
    klompton2, May 21, 2015
    klompton2, May 21, 2015
    #7
  8. Unforgiven

    Unforgiven VIP Member banned Full Member

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    He did pretty well against Patterson though.
     
    Unforgiven, May 21, 2015
    Unforgiven, May 21, 2015
    #8
  9. Ragamuffin

    Ragamuffin Active Member Full Member

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    George Chuvalo was a tough guy and strong as an ox with it. He was a good contender, and gave some tough guys a good fight. In my opinion, he would never be a champion in any era. He just never had that ingredient to be a champ. I remember watching him fighting a young and green George Foreman who gave him a bit of a pasting. He would never have beaten Larry Holmes.
     
    Ragamuffin, May 21, 2015
    Ragamuffin, May 21, 2015
    #9
  10. Unforgiven

    Unforgiven VIP Member banned Full Member

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    [yt]uhDntaI6XY8[/yt]
     
    Unforgiven, May 21, 2015
    Unforgiven, May 21, 2015
    #10
  11. red cobra

    red cobra Loyal Member Full Member

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    How's your basement BE?
     
    red cobra, May 21, 2015
    red cobra, May 21, 2015
    #11
  12. Unforgiven

    Unforgiven VIP Member banned Full Member

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    Sure you're not thinking of Linda Lovelace ?
     
    Unforgiven, May 21, 2015
    Unforgiven, May 21, 2015
    #12
  13. Balder

    Balder Well-Known Member banned Full Member

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    If he can give Ali a run, he can beat Holmes

    Louis would be favored of course. But Chuvalo is a live underdog.

    I think Moorer loses indeed

    Holyfield would be a great fight.
     
    Balder, May 21, 2015
    Balder, May 21, 2015
    #13
  14. Ragamuffin

    Ragamuffin Active Member Full Member

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    I nearly choked her the once. :lol:
     
    Ragamuffin, May 21, 2015
    Ragamuffin, May 21, 2015
    #14
  15. heizenberg

    heizenberg Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Ali did clearly win those fights but Chuvalo banged away on Ali's mid section and kept constant pressure. Those fights were not easy for Ali, Chuvalo looked very good and determined in those bouts. I've watched Frazier and Chuvalo many times again Frazier did a job on Chuvalo but Chuvalo stood his ground and kept throwing bombs back landing some to both Frazier's body and head. The Ellis fight I think I've seen before I don't remember I just mentioned that on the basis of the scorecard, my bad there if I was wrong.

    Chuvalo like I said was very inconsistent. One of the hardest parts about boxing is being consistent the truly great fighters are all master of performing on fight night Chuvalo was not. But in some of his bigger fights he gave very solid efforts, you can't even say he didn't give Ali a tough fight. He put constant pressure on Ali for 15-12 rounds pounded to his body and got some good head shots in as well. Chuvalo looked very good in those fights if he could bring that forum in against certain passed champions I'd give him a good shot of winning.
     
    heizenberg, May 21, 2015
    heizenberg, May 21, 2015
    #15
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