George Chuvalo: Most Recent Health Update

I don’t understand.

 

I wonder how the whole thing played out between his Wife and Children. I seem to recall the Kids blocked his wife from seeing him or something of that nature. His autobiography was a great read.

 

Me being sentimental.

I believe greatness in all forms deserves witnesses willing of understanding it with all its intricacies. It deserves the purest form of glory as perceived by the eyes of fellow men dedicating some part of their souls to the craft.

It's a duty of the admirers I would say.

 

Not the best boxer I ever saw, but that doesn't matter. one of the most active. Won some, lost some. Fought them all. Beat Jerry Quarry. More important came across as a great man.
Thanks for mentioning the book. Always said it's the best boxing book ive ever read.
Tragic life.

 

My grandmother had dementia and never boxed in her life. And she was 76 years old when she died. So 10 years younger than Chuvalo is now.

 

Kinda difficult to say whether George's mental decline is due, totally or partially, to boxing, or not. And probably we will never know for sure.

I understand in the case of football players affected by CTE, the full extent of damage won't show up in scans and the only way to know per sure is with a post mortem brain analysis. Thus, unless George's brain is carefully examined once he passes away, I suppose we won't know ... and maybe it is better that way.

Anyway, former boxer or not, once you hit the 80s mark essentially your mind and body are already living in borrowed time. Such is life. If George reached the 80s in a decent mental and physical condition that is a win in my book.

Now in my humble opinion, the last thing we should feel for George Chuvalo is pity. Even now, in his current condition, Chuvalo is not somebody we should feel sorry about. Respect and admiration, of course. But no pity.

I don't know if Chuvalo knows about Classic forum, but in the hypothetical case he was ever able to check this thread, I suspect he wouldn’t want us to feel sorry for him. I think he would want us to remember him and celebrate him for being a fighter who always gave his best, in and out the ring, and who, regardless setbacks and tragedies, has managed to carry on and lead a good life.

Chuvalo is a natural born warrior, who dedicated his life to the sport he loved. He fought during the golden era of HW boxing and made his mark going against the best of the best. His resume looks like a "who is who" of ATG and HOF fighters. Nothing to feel sorry about here, folks.

Furthermore, let's remember that George was an absolute freak of nature, with an adamantium chin, probably the toughest ever. He was never KOd. Considering how long and gruesome was his boxing career, by any account he should have been in a wheelchair by the time he was in his 40s. But all the opposite, he stayed well and sound for many, many years. Again, no reason to feel sorry for George.

If anything, George Chuvalo deserves from us respect and admiration, and maybe even envy, but no pity. No need to shed a tear for him.