George Chuvalo

Wed, March 9, 2005 Chuvalo gets honour LEGEND LANDS PLACE ON CANADA'S WALK OF FAME By ALEX CARTER GEORGE CHUVALO finally will be put on the ground. The boxing legend, who never left his feet during his pro career, was named yesterday as an inductee to Canada's Walk of Fame. Chuvalo is one of the few sports icons inducted who didn't need to lace up the skates to make a name for himself in Canada. It was yet another in a long list of honours bestowed on Chuvalo, who held the Canadian heavyweight title for 21 years (1958-1979). Chuvalo was inducted into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame in 1990 and received the Order of Canada in 1998. Chuvalo is perhaps best known in the annals of Canadian sport for his 1966 bout against Muhammad Ali at Maple Leaf Gardens. Ali, who came to Canada in the midst of his fight to avoid serving in Vietnam, was forced to go the distance against Chuvalo before winning in 15 rounds (the results were the same in a 1972 rematch). Born and raised in Toronto, the 66-year-old Chuvalo retired in 1979, but has been involved in a different kind of fight after a wife and three of his sons died tragically. Chuvalo has tirelessly travelled the country as the face of his program Fight Against Drugs, in which he visits schools and detention centres to discuss the dangers of drug abuse. Chuvalo also has had success in the entertainment industry, with roles in films such as The Fly and The Untouchables. Chuvalo's sidewalk star will be unveiled on June 5 in Toronto.