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A champ brings his message North

Brodie Thomas
Northern News Services
Published Monday, October 20, 2008

AKLAVIK - In 92 professional boxing matches, George Chuvalo was never once knocked off his feet. It was only after he retired from fighting that the former Canadian heavyweight champ was nearly brought to his knees.

Chuvalo lost three sons to drug overdoses and his wife to suicide. Now he travels around the country speaking to people about the dangers of drugs. Last month he travelled to the Mackenzie Delta to speak in Inuvik, Aklavik, and Fort McPherson.

Chris Main, community wellness worker in Aklavik, helped organize Chuvalo's two-day visit.

Chuvalo's told his story in a frank and quiet way, even though he was speaking about very personal stories. He spoke about the pain of watching his sons succumb to heroin addiction. He told the audience in graphic detail how they often lost control of their bodily functions at the sight of the drug.

"George told it very simply without the frills and gimmicks," said Main.

Recreation co-ordinator Dean McLeod said Chuvalo's speech was powerful and had a definite impact on the audience.

"Even though he's a professional boxer -- it doesn't matter who you are - these things can happen to anyone and it is good to hear it from him," said McLeod.

McLeod said Chuvalo's was really down to earth and he took time to speak with youth in the community.

Most of Chuvalo's fights were in the 1960s and 1970s, so many of the youth in town had never heard of the athlete, although adults and elders could remember reading about him.

"They remember reading about him in magazines or hearing about his fights on CBC," said Main.

Main said mentions of Chuvalo's most famous opponent, Muhammad Ali, helped to create a buzz with the kids in week leading up to his visit.

"A few of us really put the bug in their ear," he said.

Chuvalo had a workout in Aklavik's new fitness centre and he told people in the audience they should all take advantage of the equipment.

At the end of his personal story, Chuvalo takes questions from the audience and he often ends up telling stories from his glory days of boxing. He said people always want to know what it was like to fight Muhammad Ali.

"It wasn't fun," said Chuvalo with a grin.

Although he lost on the scorecard to Ali, Chuvalo took his wife dancing after the fight. Ali, on the other hand, went to the hospital with kidney damage.