Heavyweight Tour of the Junction: George Chuvalo's Early Life

Mitchell Chuvalo, Neil Ross

George Chuvalo, five times heavyweight boxing champion of Canada, who twice challenged for the world title, grew up in West Toronto Junction. George’s son Mitch leads this tour in conversation with Junction historian Neil Ross. We meet at the Dundas Atkinson Parkette, then onto Hook Avenue, where George was born and grew up, pass by the field where he had his first fight, the cigar star where he bought the “Ring Magazine” which inspired him to become as professional boxer, the corner where he met his wife, the gym where he trained and the police station where he once spent the night after brawling in public, ending at St. Cecelia’s Catholic Church. A man of great endurance, George Chuvalo was never knocked down in his career. When Muhammad Ali taunted him with the words, "I hear you never been on your knees!" the Canadian champ replied "Only in church." That church was St. Cecelia's where George and his family worshipped in the 1930's and 40's, and it is the last stop on our tour.