George Chuvalo in the Hall of Fame?

I'm a huge Chuvalo fan, but I think the HOF has to remain reserved for the seriously elite. If you let too many fighters into it, it's significance is compromised.
There's already guys in there that probably shouldn't be.

 

you are right,and only good fighters of their generation got to fight in msg as many times as george did

 

No one said he wasn't a good fighter, he just wasn't "great".

 

Respect for Chuvalo. He is history and greates chin ever. But I dont know can hew be in the "Hall Of Fame".

 

I thought the Hall of Fame was for fighters who actually achieved something other than National Titles.He is in Canada's Hall of Fame,but the World's,no way.:deal

 

chuvalo is on the walk of fame in toronto,hes in the canadian sports all of fame and also a member of the order of canada

 

There should be 2 HOF, one easy to get into and another just for the absolute elites. So many fighters really dont deserve to be HOF but at the same time people can argue that lesser fighters have got in to they should too...confusing.

 

if a good chin gets you into the hall of fame then big george will be there,best heavyweight chin i ever saw

 

George Chuvalo is a Canadian boxing legend who stood as our country's national champion for twenty years. Ranked as high as Number Two in the world, Chuvalo stayed in the top 10 for most of his career and appeared numerous times on the cover of Sports Illustrated. Incredibly, in 97 professional fights in a sport where toughness is part of the job description, Chuvalo was never knocked out or knocked down.

From the first time he picked up Ring magazine, Chuvalo knew he wanted to become a boxer. He trained hard and moved quickly up the amateur ranks, turning professional in 1956 at the age of 18. In 1954, Chuvalo had been the first boxer chosen to represent Canada at the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne; in those days, however, amateur athletes received no financial backing and Chuvalo had to make the decision to bypass the Olympics and go pro in order to support himself.

Chuvalo was young, tough and the hottest up-and-comer in Canadian boxing. Most experts agreed he had a bright future ahead of him and he emerged as the top contender for the Canadian Heavyweight title. "I used to dream of being champion," Chuvalo said at the time. "The thrill of combat, the thrill of winning, it's just something I know I want to do."

On September 15, 1958, three days after his 21st birthday, Chuvalo realized his dream of winning the Canadian Heavyweight title after knocking out James Parker just two minutes into the first round.

But Chuvalo had bigger dreams. He wanted to be Heavyweight champion of the world. Chuvalo racked up an impressive record against formidable opponents and by 1962 he had achieved Number 2 in the world. Chuvalo's first big break came after he KO'd high-ranking Doug Jones on October 2, 1964 in New York's Madison Square Garden. Two bouts later, on April 30, 1965, Chuvalo was back in the Big Apple, only this time against Floyd Patterson, former two-time world champion, with the winner getting a shot at Muhammad Ali's title. In this bout voted "1965 Fight of the Year" by Ring magazine, Chuvalo and Patterson went head-to-head all twelve rounds with Patterson winning by decision.

Later that year, on November 1, 1965, at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, Chuvalo got his first shot at the title against World Champion Ernie Tyrell. Again, Chuvalo forced the fight through a full fifteen rounds. After the bell, media swarmed Chuvalo's corner, eager to be the first to interview the new champion. They and most boxing experts were shocked when the referee announced that Chuvalo had lost the match by decision.

On March 29, 1966, Chuvalo fought the first of his two famous title bouts with Muhammad Ali, again at home at Maple Leaf Gardens. With only 17 days notice, Chuvalo was fearsome in the ring and forced Ali to defend himself through 15 long rounds. Midway through the 15th round, Chuvalo landed four vicious blows to Ali's jaw and a wicked right to the head, but was unable to put Ali down for the count. Although Chuvalo lost the fight on decision, Ali later said, "He was the toughest man I ever fought." And Chuvalo quipped, "Guess who went to the hospital and guess who went out dancing with his wife!"

Chuvalo would face off again with Ali in 1972 in Vancouver, and also take on the rest of the best of his era including Joe Frazier, Jerry Quarry, George Foreman, Manuel Ramos, Alex Miteff and Willie Besmanoff.

By the time he retired as undisputed Heavyweight Champion of Canada in 1979, Chuvalo's professional record was an impressive 73 wins (64 by knockout), 18 losses and two draws.

After Chuvalo retired, he remained in the public eye in numerous films, television shows and commercials, including a turn as the barroom bully on the wrong side of a famous arm-wrestling match with Jeff Goldblum in David Cronenberg's The Fly.

Since 1995, Chuvalo has taken on a new role - as a tireless and inspirational anti-drug advocate and public speaker. Tragically, Chuvalo has lost three sons to drug abuse and suicide; overcome with grief, his first wife took her own life after the death of their second son.

Chuvalo has made over 1,000 appearances in Canada and the U.S. to students, Young Offenders and youth-at-risk, support groups and many others to talk about what happens to a family when one of its members uses drugs. Through his program, Fight Against Drugs, Chuvalo also encourages youth to respect themselves and make prudent choices like staying in school and loving one's family. In 1998, Chuvalo proudly received the Order of Canada for this work.

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Seems to me that's Hall of Fame material no matter how you define who should go in and who shouldn't.

 

Long time contender. Very tough, had a good punch. Beat some good fighters, lost to some great ones. For me, I can't say he did quite enough to warrant HOF status, but he wasn't too far off.

One thing that is true, is that his name shows up multiple times in the records of hall of fame fighters. Win, Lose, or Draw, that's plenty to brag about.

 

HOF Chin but not HOF talent.

 

Correct me if im wrong but wasnt he the Canadian Heavyweight Champion several times?

 

Being the longest ranking top 10 contender in history, and never being dropped on your ass in nearly 100 fights, especially during the era that he fought in, IS acheiving something. Chuvalo is a very well acheived fighter to say the least.

Before I forget, I suppose I should ad one of these: :deal

That's better....Post completed....

 

George Chuvalo would be heavyweight champion if he fought today.
Dont kid yourself.
George was much more than tough.
He could really fight.
None of the contenders today go to the body like George did.
Never been knocked out or down.
Rarely did he take a backward step.
Moved in always behind his jab.
Hands held high.
Rarely did he get hit on the chin.
George used to say that he could take punches high on the head all day long.
With Frazer he had a vision problem.
With Forman it was a very competative fight where he was out jabbing Forman and getting the better of many of the exchanges.
A very premature stoppage in favor of the undefeated fighter -- Forman.
Forman wouldnt of lasted the distance against George who would have only gotten stronger as Forman got weaker.
A professional career which lasted 20 years.
Ranked in the top ten heavyweight for over 10 years.
73 wins, 64 by KO, 93 fights.
How many in the "Hall" could match that.