George Chuvalo dies at 89 — five-time Canadian heavyweight champion died on his birthday

George Chuvalo, a five-time Canadian heavyweight champion, has died at 89. Sully's Boxing Gym in Toronto said he died on Saturday, his birthday.

Across 93 professional fights Chuvalo recorded 73 wins, 18 losses and 2 draws, and was never knocked down. He fought high-profile opponents including Muhammad Ali (in 1966 and 1972), George Foreman and Joe Frazier; Ali described him as the toughest man he fought.

Born in 1937 to Croatian immigrant parents and raised in Toronto, Chuvalo retired from professional boxing in 1978. After retiring he travelled Canada as a public speaker promoting anti-drug education and mental health awareness, citing the deaths of three sons and his first wife from overdoses and suicide in his talks.

In retirement he appeared in films including The Fly (1986) with Jeff Goldblum and Dirty Work (1998), worked as a boxing commentator and co-hosted the TV program Greatest Knockouts with Charles "Spider" Jones.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford called Chuvalo a "heavyweight boxing legend, a family friend and a Canadian icon" on social media. Sully's Boxing said Chuvalo's photos hung in their gym for decades and his stories were passed between generations of fighters.

He is survived by his eldest son Mitch, daughter Vanessa, grandchildren and his second wife Joanne.