Loved to watch his old matches I remember during Covid espn was running all the big fights from boxings heyday. I met him briefly at a signing event I remember he looked like a superhuman and his hands look like monster appendages. He had a great laugh and he made sure to look at you as he signed and talked. I just got the feeling with the interactions he had with his entourage and fans he was a decent human.
A great fighter. None of those 70s Heavyweights lived passed 80 and some were ravaged by the punches they took but I always thought George had it the best with his faculties and wealth intact.
George Chuvalo, who twice went the distance with Ali is 87.
He was a contender in the 60's and 70's and known for his durability, only Frazier and Foreman managed to stop him.
I wish I'd had the chance to meet him and always thought he was a great ambassador for boxing.
His fight with Ron Lyle was unforgettable.
Just wanted to clarify I didn’t technically “meet” Foreman I payed to stand in line for an autograph. I was always amazed by his movement and how he could push his opponent off him and kinda place his opponent where he wanted them. Hec of a ring IQ.
I boxed but strictly amateur and my weight class was well below George. I can’t imagine being able to take a shot from foreman on the button and still be able to stand and fight.
They say Ali rolled with a lot of those Foreman punches in the rumble in the jungle so he didn’t take the full brunt but I don’t know I watched that fight a dozen times Ali took a beating. Foreman stated he didn’t take the fight seriously enough as Ali was coming off that series of L’s but either way you feel those punches and 15 rounds was a long time.
I remember taking a few shots on the button and having my knees turn to jello credit to anyone who was in the ring with Forman.
That's true. George was fantasticly durable. I believe he's in a care home now but he was certainly quite bright until recently.
I was boxing crazy as a kid and boxed myself. I won a couple of schoolboy championships and got a few Welsh vests. Below is a reply I got asking for advice from Earnie Shavers. He was living in Liverpool for awhile.
That was very good of him.I heard a lot of great things about Earnie when he lived in Widnes though I never met him myself.
One of my trainers loved Welsh boxing and we boxed in the same SEER trunks that Howard Winstone did.He, Winstone was a particular favour of Jimmy the trainer and probably Eddie Thomas too.
We met some Welsh lads on holiday once and I kept in touch with one who boxed, they were from Letterston.
You must have been fairly useful if you boxed for your country 👍
All of my fights were at senior level and my first one was at the Imperial Hotel in Blackpool and I won a watch that must've gained a minute every hour🤣
I was over in Malta boxing when we heard about Johnny Owen passing away and asked for a minutes silence before the fights started.
Trivia Question :
Which Welsh boxer knocked out a world heavyweight champion in 1 round ?
I met Howard too. He presented me with a trophy after I boxed in Merthyr. A nice man who died relatively young. Merthyr was a hotbed of boxing at one time and yes the Eddie Thomas stable was one to be reckoned with. Ken Buchanan was managed by Eddie for awhile and boxed out of the town.
I must say you have stumped me. I'm usually pretty good on my boxing history but that question is one I don't know the answer to. It's going to be someone like Joe Erskine or one of the older lot like Gypsy Daniels right?
Gypsy Daniels knocked out Max Schmeling in 1 round while they were both light heavies 👍
Ken Buchanan was a hero of mine and I met him before the Benn-Eubank fight at Old Trafford.
As far as not meeting your heroes goes that was a load of cobblers.
The press said he was a cold figure and said him and Jim Watt hated each other ; and that was wrong too.
I asked him to put his left fist in my face which tickled him.
When I told him that I'd boxed he seemed to really loosen up but the 2 double single malts I bought him may have helped 🤣.
Walter McGowan presented the trophies at one of my fights but I had concussion coming on and can't remember much after the 1st round.
Eddie Thomas was a good welterweight back in the day and beat Billy Graham who was No.1 contender for the world title.
Have you still got any of the programmes from your fights ?
