Legendary Canadian boxer George Chuvalo has died at the age of 89, according to Sully’s Boxing Gym in Toronto, where he trained during his career. The gym confirmed his death on his 89th birthday in a social media post.

Chuvalo’s boxing legacy and notable bouts

Chuvalo was born in 1937 to Croatian immigrant parents and grew up in Toronto. He became a Canadian amateur champion at 17 and held the national title as a professional for almost 20 years. With a professional record of 73-18-2 and 64 knockouts, he was ranked as high as No. 2 in the world. He was known for his iron chin and relentless durability, according to the BBC.

Two of his most famous fights were against Muhammad Ali in 1966 and 1972. Though he lost both matches, Ali called him the toughest guy he ever fought. Chuvalo also fought against other world-renowned fighters like George Foreman and Joe Frazier. ‘When people think of me, they think of me fighting Muhammad,’ he once said, according to Sportsnet.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford paid tribute to Chuvalo, calling him ‘a heavyweight boxing legend, a family friend and a Canadian icon,’ according to the BBC. He also expressed his condolences to George’s family and loved ones.

Personal life and advocacy

Chuvalo faced personal tragedy, having lost three sons and his wife to drug overdoses and suicide. He used these experiences to advocate for anti-drug education and mental health awareness after retiring from professional boxing in 1978. ‘I’d like to think if you’re ever tempted with the idea of doing drugs, or you ever flirt with doing drugs, I hope you think of me, George Chuvalo, and what drugs did to my family,’ he once said, according to a CBC Radio report in 1998.

Chuvalo is survived by his eldest son Mitch, daughter Vanessa, grandchildren, and second wife Joanne. In retirement, he also appeared in films like the 1998 comedy ‘Dirty Work’ and the 1986 horror film ‘The Fly,’ alongside Jeff Goldblum. He also served as a guest commentator for major boxing matches and co-hosted a TV boxing program called ‘Greatest Knockouts’ with his friend and fellow fighter Charles ‘Spider’ Jones.

Legacy and recognition

He also took pride in noting he had more knockouts than Joe Louis and Jack Dempsey, while also exceeding the total number of fights that Ali, Frazier, Rocky Marciano, and Mike Tyson had, according to Sportsnet. Chuvalo was widely considered ‘Canada’s greatest warrior.’ Known for having one of the best chins in boxing, he pointed out that it took more than the ability to absorb punches to record 73 wins and rank in the top 10 in the world in an age of heavyweight greats like Ali, Joe Frazier, and George Foreman.

‘His photos have hung on our walls for decades. His stories have been passed down from one generation of fighters to the next,’ said Sully’s Boxing, the Toronto gym where he trained, in a statement. He will be remembered for his contributions to boxing and his efforts in mental health and anti-drug advocacy.