Watch the old fights of George Chuvalo sometime. Only then can you truly recognize the ferocity and the violence that boxing can be. The fight game, which is about as far from a "game" as can be is sometimes deadly serious with deadly consequences. While George Chuvalo was a successful winner who won far more than he lost, it was his unbelievable ability to absorb punishment that has made him historically significant.
And so, as I watched young Jeff Lacy absorb clean blow after clean blow recently, it got me to thinking about what the after effects may be for a young man who will have an entire life to live after he hangs up the gloves for good. The ending could still be good for a kid like Lacy. At age 29, and after only twenty-four pro fights he hasn’t absorbed anywhere near the shots the bear of a man named George Chuvalo did.
Chuvalo, who hails from north of the border in Canada, fought for 22 years and engaged in 93 pro fights. While not blessed with the natural ability of a Muhammad Ali, Chuvalo was a useful and dangerous contender who was ranked in the top 10 throughout the decade of the 1960’s. Along the way he fought some of the biggest punchers the heavyweight division has ever seen.
Names like George Foreman, Joe Frazier and Cleveland Williams dot Chuvalo’s record. The fights with Foreman and Frazier were particularly brutal. Because of Joe Frazier’s left hook, there is a piece of plastic that holds one of Chuvalo’s eyes in place. His 1970 fight with a still developing George Foreman was stopped in the third round but during the seven minutes and 41 seconds that fight lasted Chuvalo soaked up a tremendous beating. However, taking shots and not falling down was how Chuvalo made a living. His reputation as a catcher rivals that of Johnny Bench and Carlton Fisk. [details]
And so, as I watched young Jeff Lacy absorb clean blow after clean blow recently, it got me to thinking about what the after effects may be for a young man who will have an entire life to live after he hangs up the gloves for good. The ending could still be good for a kid like Lacy. At age 29, and after only twenty-four pro fights he hasn’t absorbed anywhere near the shots the bear of a man named George Chuvalo did.
Chuvalo, who hails from north of the border in Canada, fought for 22 years and engaged in 93 pro fights. While not blessed with the natural ability of a Muhammad Ali, Chuvalo was a useful and dangerous contender who was ranked in the top 10 throughout the decade of the 1960’s. Along the way he fought some of the biggest punchers the heavyweight division has ever seen.
Names like George Foreman, Joe Frazier and Cleveland Williams dot Chuvalo’s record. The fights with Foreman and Frazier were particularly brutal. Because of Joe Frazier’s left hook, there is a piece of plastic that holds one of Chuvalo’s eyes in place. His 1970 fight with a still developing George Foreman was stopped in the third round but during the seven minutes and 41 seconds that fight lasted Chuvalo soaked up a tremendous beating. However, taking shots and not falling down was how Chuvalo made a living. His reputation as a catcher rivals that of Johnny Bench and Carlton Fisk. [details]
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