Bonavena beats Chuvalo on points. Bonavena showing some boxing skills, before he became more "flat-footed". 3 months later Bonavena loses a majority decision to a young Joe Frazier, and knocked Joe down twice. 1966-06-23 : George Chuvalo 215 lbs lost to Oscar Bonavena 203 lbs by MD in round 10 of 10 Location: Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, USA Referee: Arthur Mercante 4-4 Judge: Tony Rossi 3-7 Judge: Tony Castellano 4-5 "Oscar Bonavena, 203, used his left hook like a buzzsaw to chop down George Chuvalo, 215, for a majority 10 round decision at MSG Thursday night. Although there were no knockdowns in the fight, Bonavena, a 9-5 underdog, staggered Chuvalo in the 2nd and 4th rounds and even claimed to have inflicted the first knockdown of the Canadian's career in the 4th. Bonavena drove Chuvalo back on his haunches in the 4th with a series of rights to the head and were it not for the ropes which checked his backward lurch, Chuvalo might have hit the canvas." -United Press International Many ringside observers felt Chuvalo had done enough to get the decision, forcing the action in most rounds and hurting the Argentine several times with slashing hooks to the body and head. More than once Bonavena took blows that almost had his knee touch canvas. Unofficial UPI scorecard - 7-2-1 Bonavena Unofficial AP scorecard - 4-4-2 Draw Unofficial ringside poll of sportswriters had 5 for Bonavena, 4 for Chuvalo and 3 had it even Post fight comments "I thought I won it 6-4. He's a mauler, hard to fight, tough and heavy-handed. I'd love a return bout." -George Chuvalo "I did knock him down even though they didn't count it." -Oscar Bonavena This content is protected This content is protected
I think Bonavena deserved the nod,this was immediately before his first fight with Frazier. Oscar displayed unexpected boxing skills against Chuvalo imo. Of course the tough Chuvalo could make most guys look skilful by comparison.
Bonavena should have been credited with at least one knockdown, maybe two. Sorry to burst your bubble Burt but the rule has always been that if a fighter goes down on the end of a punch its called knockdown. Its the only call Ive ever seen Mercante blow. Even the Ring credited Bonavena with the knockdown. Chuvalo always had an excuse or a claim of robbery handy when he lost. Hes one of the whiniest fighters in history for such a supposed tough guy.
