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Chuvalo was born to Croatian parents in Toronto, Canada in 1937 and became Canadian amateur heavyweight champion in 1956. During his 21-year career he fought some of the best boxers including Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, Floyd Patterson, Ernie Terrell, Joe Frazier, Jerry Quarry and many others. His professional record is at 73 wins (64 by knockout), 18 losses, and 2 draws.
He had two memorable fights against Muhammad Ali, both times going the distance. The first in 1966 went fifteen rounds with the decision going to Ali. After the fight Ali said "He [Chuvalo] was the toughest man I ever fought. He took all my best shots." The second was in 1972 and went twelve rounds, the close decision going to Ali.
Chuvalo was inducted into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame in 1990. He lost two sons to drug overdoses, another son to suicide and his wife to suicide after that. He currently tours giving lectures against drugs and actively participates in charity work, for which he was made a member of the Order of Canada in 1998.