MISSING MEMORABILIA
In recent years I’ve gotten several requests to autograph and/or authenticate a lot of oddball memorabilia from my career—stuff like my old New York State boxing licenses, contracts for some of my bouts in the ‘60s, fight-worn gloves … even the boots that I supposedly wore while training for my second fight with Ali.
It didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out where the stuff was coming from: Irving Ungerman.
Soon after he became my manager in 1964, Irving and I agreed that Irving would save the gloves, robes, posters and other memorabilia from my fights because one day they might make nice keepsakes for my kids and future grandchildren. He said he’d take care of it, and from then on he scooped up whatever he could and put it away in storage. This was long before sports memorabilia became a huge industry, so I never gave it a second thought; it was enough to know that we had a verbal understanding that my stuff would be there when I asked for it.
In the years following my retirement I periodically asked Ungerman for the things he’d put away for me, but he always had some lame excuse about why he couldn’t produce them. We were both leading busy lives, so I just let it slide—but I never forgot about the stuff. Then, one day in 2008, a guy called out of the blue and told me Irving’s nephew—who may or may not have known the history—had been selling off my gloves, contracts and other items, including a large cache to Elite Sports Marketing, a well-known memorabilia outfit in Florida. I ended up paying them a visit in Tampa, and the owner showed me a canceled check for $45,000 that he’d given Ungerman—and that was just one payment!
I called Irving right away and told him I’d seen the check. “You told me you’d keep those things for my grandchildren,” I said. “Even if they didn’t want them, they could use the money to help with their education.” He responded with: “What about my grandchildren? Don’t they deserve something?”
What kind of twisted logic is that? No member of the Ungerman family ever traded punches with Muhammad Ali or Joe Frazier or George Foreman. There was no Ungerman DNA on those gloves and equipment. Yet here was this miserly multimillionaire trying to squeeze one last payday from stuff he had no right to sell.
In a 2010 interview with the Toronto Sun, Ungerman said he was “shocked and saddened” that I’d gone public with my bitterness over his memorabilia sell-off. He denied there was ever an agreement between us that the stuff still belonged to me. “I gave George plenty over the years, including helping him set up his Fight Against Drugs foundation,” he told reporter Steve Buffery. I would love to hear how he helped me with the “Fight Against Drugs.” What a load of crap!
But I must admit that my good friend Steve Stavro led a group of donors including the Greek-Macedonian community and Irving, who had been prodded to cough up at least a couple of grand on his part. This was to make a healthy down payment for a condo, after the Croation credit union had unceremoniously dumped my furniture and other belongings on my front lawn. The credit union closed on my mortgage after I’d missed a couple of payments and had not given me enough time to find a new lender.
MY “COMEBACK”
In the fall of 2010 I laced up the gloves for a three-round charity exhibition with comedian Rick Mercer, host of the CBC’s hit series The Rick Mercer Report. Sponsored by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, proceeds went to the United Way and my Fight Against Drugs foundation. The ring was set up in the atrium of an office building in downtown Toronto, and an overflow crowd showed up to watch Mercer collapse like he’d been shot after I gave him a little tap.
That went a lot more smoothly than in 1996, when I was the cornerman for a boxing match between Owen Hart and Raymond Rougeau on the first World Wrestling Federation card ever held at Montreal’s Molson Centre. The script called for Owen to get mad at me after the bout and push me out of the ring. At that point, I was supposed to pretend to punch him.
Well, things got a little carried away. With all that adrenaline pumping, Hart really gave me a good shove, and I reacted instinctively by throwing a left hook that laid him out cold! I felt terrible for the kid; I was 57 years old and hadn’t thrown a real punch for years, but I just forgot to pull it.
PROFESSIONAL RECORD OF GEORGE CHUVALO
1956
April 23 Gordon Baldwin Win: KO 2 Toronto
April 23 Jim Leonard Win: KO 2 Toronto
April 23 Ross Gregory Win: KO 1 Toronto
April 23 Ed McGhee Win: KO 1 Toronto
June 11 Johnny Arthur Win: UD 8 Toronto
Sept. 10 Joe Evans Win: KO 1 Toronto
Oct. 22 Howard King Loss: SD 8 Toronto
Nov. 19 Bob Biehler Win: UD 8 Toronto
1957
Jan. 14 Sid Russell Win: KO 1 Toronto
March 4 Walter Hafer Win: KO 3 Toronto
March 25 Moses Graham Win: KO 1 Toronto
April 22 Emil Brtko Win: TKO 2 Toronto
June 6 Joe Schmolze Win: KO 4 Fort William, Ont.
Sept. 9 Bob Baker Loss: UD 10 Toronto
1958
Jan. 27 Julio Medeiros Win: UD 10 Toronto
April 21 Howard King Win: KO 2 Toronto
June 16 Alex Miteff Draw: 10 Toronto
Sept. 15 James J. Parker Win: KO 1 Toronto (Canadian title)
Oct. 17 Pat McMurtry Loss: UD 10 New York
1959
Sept. 14 Frankie Daniels Win: TKO 7 Toronto
Nov. 17 Yvon Durelle Win: KO 12 Toronto (Canadian title)
1960
July 19 Pete Rademacher Loss: UD 10 Toronto
Aug. 17 Bob Cleroux Loss: SD 12 Montreal (Canadian title)
Nov. 23 Bob Cleroux Win: UD 12 Montreal (Canadian title)
1961
March 27 Alex Miteff Win: SD 10 Toronto
June 27 Willie Besmanoff Win: KO 4 Toronto
Aug. 8 Bob Cleroux Loss: SD 12 Montreal (Canadian title)
Oct. 2 Joe Erskine Loss: DQ 5 Toronto
1962
Inactive
1963
March 15 Rico Brooks Win: KO 2 Detroit
April 22 James Wakefield Win: TKO 2 Windsor, Ont.
April 29 Chico Gardner Win: KO 4 London, Ont.
May 18 Lloyd Washington Win: KO 2 Battle Creek, Mich.
Sept. 27 Mike DeJohn Win: MD 10 Louisville, Ky.
Nov. 8 Tony Alongi Draw: 10 Miami Beach, Fla.
1964
Jan. 17 Zora Folley Loss: UD 10 Cleveland
March 18 Hugh Mercier Win: KO 1 Regina (Canadian title)
July 27 Don Prout Win: TKO 3 New Bedford, Mass.
Oct. 2 Doug Jones Win: TKO 11 New York
Nov. 10 Calvin Butler Win: KO 3 Hull, Que.
1965
Feb. 1 Floyd Patterson Loss: UD 12 New York
April 19 Bill Nielsen Win: TKO 8 Toronto
June 7 Sonny Andrews Win: KO 1 Saint John, N.B.
June 30 Dave Bailey Win: KO 3 Regina
Aug. 17 Orvin Veazey Win: KO 3 Regina
Nov. 1 Ernie Terrell Loss: UD 15 Toronto (WBA world title)
Dec. 7 Joe Bygraves Win: Pts. 10 London, England
1966
Jan. 25 Eduardo Corletti Loss: Pts. 10 London, England
March 29 Muhammad Ali Loss: UD 15 Toronto
May 14 Levi Forte Win: TKO 2, Glace Bay, N.S.
June 23 Oscar Bonavena Loss: MD 10 New York
Aug. 16 Mel Turnbow Win: KO 7 Montreal
Sept. 15 Bob Avery Win: KO 2 Edmonton
Oct. 12 Dick Wipperman Win: TKO 5 Montreal
Nov. 21 Boston Jacobs Win: KO 3 Detroit
Nov. 28 Dave Russell Win: KO 2 Saint John, N.B.
Dec. 16 Willie McCormick Win: KO 3 Labrador City, Nfld.
1967
Jan. 16 Vic Brown Win: KO 4 Walpole, Mass.
Feb. 22 Dick Wipperman Win: KO 3 Akron, Ohio
March 20 Buddy Moore Win: KO 2 Walpole, Mass.
April 4 Willie Besmanoff Win: KO 3 Miami Beach, Fla.
May 27 Willie Besmanoff Win: KO 2 Cocoa, Fla.
June 22
Archie Ray Win: KO 2 Missoula, Mont.
July 19 Joe Frazier Loss: TKO 4 New York
1968
June 5 Jean-Claude Roy Win: UD 12 Regina (Canadian title)
June 30 Johnny Featherman Win: KO 1 Penticton, B.C.
Sept. 3 Levi Forte Win: KO 2 Miami Beach, Fla.
Sept. 17 Vic Brown Win: TKO 3 Toronto
Sept. 26 Manuel Ramos Win: KO 5 New York
Nov. 12 Dante Cane Win: KO 7 Toronto
1969
Feb. 3 Buster Mathis Loss: UD 12 New York
Sept. 8 Stamford Harris Win: KO 2 Lethbridge, Alta.
Nov. 16 Leslie Borden Win: KO 3 Kimberley, B.C.
Dec. 12 Jerry Quarry Win: KO 7 New York
1970
May 1 Billy Tiger Win: KO 10 Detroit
May 10 Gino Ricci Win: KO 1 Kimberley, B.C.
June 30 Charlie Reno Win: KO 3 Seattle
Aug. 4 George Foreman Loss: TKO 3 New York
Aug. 15 Mike Bruce Win: KO 2 Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina
Oct. 24 Tommy Burns Win: KO 1 Hamilton, Ont.
Nov. 5 Tony Ventura Win: TKO 4 Montreal
Dec. 11 Charles Couture Win: KO 2 Youngstown, Ohio
1971
May 10 Jimmy Ellis Loss: UD 10 Toronto
Nov. 17 Cleveland Williams Win: UD 10 Houston
1972
Jan. 28 Charley Chase Win: TKO 6 Vancouver (Canadian title)
Feb. 21 Jimmy Christopher Win: KO 2 Winnipeg
May 1 Muhammad Ali Loss: UD 12 Vancouver (NABF title)
Aug. 10 Tommy Burns Win: KO 1 Nelson, B.C.
Sept. 5 Charlie Boston Win: KO 2 Port-au-Prince, Haiti
1973
Sept. 25 Tony Ventura Win: TKO 3 Cheektowaga, N.Y.
Oct. 30 Mike Boswell Win: KO 7 Cheektowaga, N.Y.
1977
March 7 Bobby Felstein Win: KO 9 Toronto (Canadian title)
Dec. 8 Earl McLeay Win: KO 1 Toronto (Canadian title)
1978
Dec. 11 George Jerome Win: KO 3 Toronto (Canadian title)
TOTAL BOUTS: 93 WINS: 73 LOSSES: 18 DRAWS: 2 KOS: 64
Inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame (Toronto), 1990
Inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame (Los Angeles), 1997
Named a Member of the Order of Canada (Ottawa), 1998
Awarded a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame (Toronto), 2005
Invited to Ljubuski, Bosnia-Herzegovina, for the unveiling of a life-size bronze and granite statue of George Chuvalo, 2011
Photographic Inserts
The greatest feeling in the world: being cuddled by my mother, for a studio portrait in 1938. I was a year old.
The first two members of the Chuvalo clan to move to Canada: my uncle George (whom I was named after), on the left, and my father.
Donning my Sunday best for First Communion, 1943.
I could look downright studious with a book in front of me. This is in Grade 7, when I was 11.
Posing in the backyard of our house on Gillespie Avenue. I was 15 years old and a lean, mean 198 pounds.
That’s me on the left, sparring with St. Mike’s classmate Myron Blozowski in 1951.
A slice of cake and a hug from my mother was the perfect way to celebrate my 21st birthday, in 1958.
On September 15, 1958—just three days after my 21st birthday—I KO’d James J. Parker in the first round to win the Canadian heavyweight title. That’s my trainer Sonny Thomson raising my arm in victory.
This shot of me knocking Argentina’s Alex Miteff out of the ring was voted 1958’s Canadian sports photo of year by United Press International.
After training at Kutsher’s Resort in Monticello, New York, I was razor-sharp for my 1965 title elimination bout with Floyd Patterson.
Looping a right to Ernie Terrell’s midsection in our title bout at Maple Leaf Gardens on November 1, 1965.
Versions of this shot of my right fist distorting Floyd Patterson’s face have been used on a couple of album covers, including the Rolling Stones’ Exile on Main St. Our 12-round war was named 1965’s Fight of the Year by The Ring.
Muhammad Ali complained loud and long about my hitting him low in our first fight, at Maple Leaf Gardens on March 29, 1966—and judging by this photo, he had a case. But I swear it wasn’t deliberate!
People always say to me, “Hey George, you were the first guy to go 15 rounds with Ali!” but I prefer to think Muhammad went 15 with me. That’s referee Jackie Silvers looking on.
This shot of me blasting Italian champ Dante Cane at Maple Leaf Gardens in 1968 is the one that Rocky Balboa pulls out of his wallet in the first Rocky movie.
Joe Louis stands between me and Joe Frazier outside Madison Square Garden the day before our fight on July 19, 1967. The eye injury I sustained, courtesy of Frazier’s trademark left hook, kept me out of the ring for 11 months
Although Ali wasn’t nearly as fast in our second fight—which was 12 rounds—the result was the same. He got the decision, but I thought it should have been a lot closer.
Knocking out No. 4-ranked Manuel Ramos at Madison Square Garden on September 26, 1968, was one of the most satisfying wins of my career.
The punch that knocked out Jerry Quarry on December 12, 1969, at Madison Square Garden. Good thing I got him when I did—the ring doctor was going to stop the fight because of my swollen eye.
Irving Ungerman joins the celebration after I KO’d Quarry. If you look real close, you can see the M (for manager) on Ungerman’s left sleeve.
This angle shows how far Quarry staggered backwards before crashing to the canvas after I nailed him on the temple.
Strolling the streets of London with Susie the bear, prior to beating Joe Bygraves in a 10-round decision to close out 1965.
Relaxing in the Montana wilderness a few days before I KO’d Archie Ray in Missoula on June 22, 1967.
Lynne and I at the Caravan Club, circa 1967. Our involvement in the night-club business was short-lived.
Back in the old country, 1969. I look like a slimmed-down version of King Farouk! The fez was to commemorate my father, who donned the headwear as part of the national dress code when he was back home.
Muhammad Ali checks my weight prior our “Second Reckoning” bout at Vancouver’s Pacific Coliseum, on May 1, 1972.
Just 11 days after my loss to Foreman, I knocked out Mike Bruce at Kosevo Stadium in Sarajevo. I’m posing by a waterfall near my dad’s old house in the hamlet of Proboj, Bosnia-Herzegovina, the day after the fight.
My inimitable trainer Teddy McWhorter rides a donkey in Proboj. The guy laughing on the left promoted the fight in Sarajevo.
George Foreman and I ham it up at a New York press conference before our fight on August 4, 1970.
Showing Dolly Parton a few of my moves before her 1977 performance in Toronto. She’s a very nice lady.
Cue the world-class scream! Jeff Goldblum rips my arm off in The Fly (1986).
With Jerry Quarry and my granddaughter Rachel at Jerry’s induction into the World Boxing Hall of Fame in Los Angeles, October 14, 1995.
With Johnny Tapia on August 17, 1996, the day of his fight in Albuquerque. Little did I know that while I was working Tapia’s corner, Stevie was probably dead.
Chatting with Queen Elizabeth about going for a cup of tea after her Golden Jubilee reception in Ottawa, 2002. That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.
My grandson Jesse poses with Earnie Shavers near the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville, Kentucky, in 2007.
With writer Bert Sugar at the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, New York, in 2009.
Tryin’ to be a wise guy? The one and only Tony Soprano (a.k.a. the late actor James Gandolfini) moves in for a close-up at a charity event in New York City, 2010.
With Lynne and our boys, carving up the Thanksgiving turkey, 1965.
Reading to my sons during a break from training for Floyd Patterson in 1965.
Stevie (left) and Mitchell look on as I wrap Georgie Lee’s hands, in 1970.
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br /> The Chuvalo brood at summer camp.
My beautiful daughter, Vanessa, seems a little put off by those shades. Very ‘70s!
Vanessa gives me a good-luck kiss, 1972.
Christmas at the Chuvalo household, 1977. Mitch had just come home from college in Florida.
My father holds his grandson Jesse. Check out my dad’s right elbow, which never healed properly after a childhood injury
My youngest son, Jesse, age 18. Ever since he died, I can’t go to sleep without having a light on. Darkness concentrates my misery, like I’m suffocating.
Jesse on the dirt bike he crashed just a few weeks after his 20th birthday, in 1984. The knee injury he suffered put him on the road to heroin addiction.
Georgie Lee worked himself into terrific shape by lifting weights at the Collins Bay penitentiary in the mid-1980s.
Joanne and I are surrounded by Joanne’s daughter, Ruby, (far left) and son, Jesse (far right), along with Stevie’s kids, Rachel and Jesse, in 1995.
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