Muhammad Ali is being remembered around the world following his death on Friday June 3rd, 2016. For many Canadians his match with this country’s champion at the time, George Chuvalo, was a contest to remember.
The biggest fight that ever took place in Canada
On March 29, 1966, Ali entered Canadian sports history with a pair of victories over the fierce Chuvalo. The event, at Toronto’s Maple Leaf Gardens, came when the athlete known as ‘The Greatest’ was embroiled in a controversy at home over his resistance to the Vietnam War.
No promoter in the United States would get involved. Originally scheduled for Montreal, the meet was cancelled when then Mayor, Jean Drapeau, buckled to pressure from American interest groups, that they would boycott the following year’s Expo ’67 celebration in that city.
For the rest of his career, Ali would tell everyone about George Chuvalo, “He’s the toughest guy I ever fought.”
Chuvalo would say that although Ali won that fight, fair and square… Ali spent the rest of the night in hospital, while Chuvalo went dancing with his wife.
Muhammad Ali wasthe 24, and at the top form. Chuvalo, was four years older, and nearing the end of his best days. The two of them fought the biggest fight that ever took place in Canada.
For reasons beyond our control, and for an undetermined period of time, our comment section is now closed. However, our social networks remain open to your contributions.