After a second title defense against Floyd Patterson on November 22nd, 1965 for the WBC, NYSAC, and the Ring championship at Las Vegas Convention Center, Nevada, Muhammad Ali was scheduled to fight WBA champion Ernie Terrell in Chicago, Illinois on March 29th, 1966. Terrell’s title was stripped away from Ali in 1965.
Let’s figure out what happened. Between 1964 and 1965 bouts against Sonny Liston for the world heavyweight title, Muhammad Ali had been WBA heavyweight champion for less than 7 months. On the same day as the 1965 rematch with Liston at Boston Garden was announced, the chairman of the WBA Ontario group, Merv Lawrence McKenzie, spoke to the press from his office in Toronto.
WBA rules forbade return bout contracts in title fights. Professional boxing was only beginning to emerge from the era of mob control. It doesn’t take a genius to see that contracts guaranteeing rematches could be abused by nefarious forces when the outcome of fights was not always solely in the hands of the two men in the ring. The World Boxing Association is withdrawing recognition as champion from Clay, and the Boston bout will be considered as a non-title bout.
A non-title bout in the eyes of the WBA maybe, but the WBC still had Ali as champion and would sanction the contest as for the world title. The WBA had initially proposed to crown a new heavyweight champion through an elimination tournament including the top four heavyweights in their rankings. That came to nothing and on March 5th, 1965, Ernie Terrell met Eddie Machen in a fight for the vacant WBA title.
Terrell defeated Machen to win the belt on March 5th, 1965. If we have more than one person walking around with a title, isn’t that going to hurt boxing quite a bit? Well, I don’t know. It’s the WBA’s fault. They’re the one who took the title. I mean >> Back in 1964, Ali failed the US Armed Forces Qualifying Test because his writing and spelling skills were substandard.
With the escalation of the Vietnam War, the test standards were lowered in November 1965 and Ali was reclassified as 1A in February 1966, which meant he was now eligible for the draft and induction into the army. He is now fit to serve. Yet, how I can be reclassified as 1A without testing me in no way, just calling me like this. >> words, you think they called you only because you’re the heavyweight champion.
>> And the Muslim, why would they be so anxious and determined and gunning for all for me of me of all people? I just can’t understand the many people in Louisville they could have called and many of many many many more athletes. Why me, the heavyweight champion of the world? And ranking me as 1A without testing me in no way.
I just can’t understand it and I’m just I’m trying to figure it out. Why is it me? When notified of this status, he declared that he would refuse to serve in the US Army and publicly considered himself a conscientious objector. Our religion do teach us that we don’t pick up weapons which take the lives of other human beings.
Why should me and other so-called Negroes go 10,000 miles uh away from home here in America to drop bombs and bullets on other innocent uh brown people who’s never bothered us? I ain’t got no quarrel with them Viet Cong. No Viet Cong ever called me with N-word. Why should they ask me to put on a uniform and go 10,000 miles from home and drop bombs and bullets on brown people in Vietnam while so-called Negro people in Louisville are treated like dogs and denied simple human rights? He was called before the Illinois State Athletic Commission to apologize for his
unpatriotic remarks. Ali would refuse to apologize, which prompted Illinois Attorney General William G. Clark to declare the 1966 Ali-Terrell bout in Chicago illegal. What about your unpatriotic remarks that you made? That will be straightened out with the government or whoever I have to face when it comes to that.
>> Are you apologizing for having made those statements to this commission, to the governor, to the people of Illinois, and to the people of the United States? I did not make I’ll take that up with the my lawyers will take that up with the proper people in authority over there. The mayors of more than 200 American cities quickly followed suit, forcing the promoter Bob Arum to search for an alternative location.
Arum reached out in desperation and struck a deal in Montreal. Mayor Jean Drapeau was on board, but then he got a message from the American Veterans Association. If you allow Ali to fight in Montreal, we will boycott Expo 1967. Drapeau backed out. With nothing more to lose, the promoters took a meeting with a Canadian businessman, Toronto’s Harold Ballard, who was the owner of the Toronto’s Maple Leaf Gardens arena.
The fight was quickly booked, but not so fast. The local politicians were going to hold a debate whether they would allow the fight in the province of Ontario. Problem was solved after a guarantee that George Chuvalo would be the next opponent of the winner. Finally, the date and the venue were set, March 29th, 1966, Ernie Terrell against Muhammad Ali in Toronto at Maple Leaf Gardens.
Then disaster struck again. Ernie Terrell bowed out of the fight. Terrell’s purse was not enough to cover training expenses because of the boycott of most closed-circuit TV locations in the United States. that we would be in Toronto and I’m a man of my word and so we going to go. And if he’s not there, then we going to forget about him and negotiate on a fight with Chuvalo.
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I think he deserves a title shot now. >> 17 days before the match was supposed to happen, George Chuvalo got a phone call. 17 days to prepare for a world heavyweight bout. Opportunity knocked, Chuvalo agreed. Ali had named George the Washwoman after witnessing the churning left-right attack he had used against Mike DeJohn on September 27th, 1963.
The bout was in Muhammad Ali’s hometown, Louisville, Kentucky. Ali had a contract to fight the winner of the Chuvalo-DeJohn bout. He watched the fight closely. After he digested Chuvalo’s work in the ring, he decided he would have no part of a match. Instead, he chose Sonny Liston and the world heavyweight title.
Chuvalo gave a performance in January 1964 on Toronto TV in a woman outfit, pointed that Ali forgot to sign a contract of their fight, calling him Cautious Clay. You don’t even live up to your word. You’re a blemish on the fair state of Kentucky. Get that mess away from me before I whip all of you. Can you tell me an approximate date within a week of the I’m tired.
Just tell me an approximate. How about the January From 1964 to 1966, George fought 13 times with opponents such as Zora Folley, Doug Jones, Floyd Patterson, and a title bout with Ernie Terrell in 1965. He had four losses during this period. But those jabs that Terrell has been scoring whether it’s solid. Thanks.
The people here in Canada are nice. I’ve never really honestly, I’m not saying it just because I’m here at all cuz I’m not the kind of person who say things I don’t mean. I tell the truth and I’m known for it. But I’ve never been treated so nice in my life. I haven’t had no people making wise cracks.
Everybody’s friendly, the children, the waitresses, the hotel managers, the policemen, everybody is nice as they can be. And it’s a lot different from where I come from. WBA president Merv McKenzie, who stripped Ali of a title a year ago, made a promise that this bout would have recognized as for the heavyweight championship.
Muhammad Ali and George Chuvalo finally met on March 29th, 1966 at Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, Canada for the WBC, NYSAC, and the Ring heavyweight championship. Muhammad Ali was 24. George Chuvalo, 28 years old. 216 lb. The heavy George 214 and 1/2. Muhammad Ali, 214 and 1/2. Such is the present lowly and chaotic state of professional boxing that this match, Maple Leaf Gardens [music] tonight, wandered all over North America before it found a home.
>> World heavyweight championship, Muhammad Ali against George Chuvalo. Tonight in a 15-round international contest. Greetings from Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto. We have a tremendous crowd estimated at up to 14,000 people. The referee for the heavyweight fight, Jackie Silver. From Louisville, Kentucky, weighing 214 and 1/2 lb, Muhammad Ali! From Toronto, weighing 216 lb, George Chuvalo! 15 rounds.
Well, they’re both charged up. Make no mistake about that. The bell for round one. From the opening bell, it was clear that Ali was going to outscore Chuvalo. Chuvalo, of course, is expected to go to the body. Solid left hook by the champion. That one connected. A good jab. Through the round, challenger was stalking the champion, trying to find a weak spot.
That spot was the lower body shots in the clinch. Ali said, “You should hit harder than that.” Chuvalo will hammer to the body at every opportunity. Ali was connecting solidly with jabs and combos. 1 minute to the end of round one. Clay, of course, depends on his great speed and hand and foot. Chuvalo will try to get to the body at every opportunity.
George Chuvalo, the Canadian champion. George ate all of those punches. Good jabbing punches. 30 seconds to the end of round one. It’s the chance of a lifetime for Chuvalo. Chuvalo has never been knocked off his feet and, of course, has never been knocked out. You think the champion do it to him? I think he’s going to have to do it.
I think if it goes all the way, it could be a very tough fight for him. The champion is up on his feet, ready for action. And here comes Chuvalo. In the second, Ali tried to keep more distance between them with his left. However, Chuvalo continued to stalking and sending powerful body shots.
Chuvalo will try to cut that ring in half to keep his man in one half of the ring and do away with the great speed of the champion. Chuvalo is tough. Make no mistake about that. That was the stunning left hook by the champion. And toughest fight. Chuvalo hit him with a good left hook to the face in that exchange. In fact, Ali was ready for those body shots.
He deliberately let his sparring partners to hit his midsection. A hook to the kidneys will wear you down over a period of time. 10 seconds to the end of round two. The champ is playing with him. Clay was out early after the 10-second whistle for Now he makes a face at the referee and here they come for round three. Great combination by the champion.
The champ is determined now to display his boxing skills. Very fast with hands and feet. Possibly the fastest heavyweight of all time and that’s a fact. He’s scoring consistently with the right jab. Clay. Chuvalo will just try to pull his way forward and get back to the body. Clay is protecting the midsection while all the blows are going.
He’s liable to lead with a right or a left. You don’t know what to expect. Ali was circling around Chuvalo in a clockwise direction, stinging opponent with his left, but slower as usual. Halfway through round three. The boxing piece of protection for the lower body saved Ali from being severely damaged.
1 minute to the end of the round. 30 seconds to the end of round three. It’s Clay turning it on with left and rights. Looks like a payback for me. Well, ending round three. Clay is out of the ring though the bell has just rung now. Here we go for round four. Chuvalo has never been knocked off his feet. Never been knocked out. He’d like to get Clay to mix it up a little there so he could punch.
But the champion is too smart for that. Ali kept slower pace cuz there was no need of energy wasting while boxing with a flat-footed fighter. George Chuvalo, the Canadian heavyweight champion in black. There’s a straight cut high on the head above the left eye of George Chuvalo. Meanwhile, George stuck to his pattern, catching Ali on the ropes and corners.
The cut means nothing at this point. Certainly not serious. The great footwork of Cassius Clay. The fastest feet possibly ever in the heavyweight division. Indeed, champ switched gears in this round. 2 minutes to go in round five. That was the close call. That long hard right missed. It did not connect. Halfway through round five.
Jab connecting solidly. Series of slick moves from the champ. Followed by left hook by Chuvalo. 5 seconds left in the round. Angelo Dundee, his manager, giving him last minute instructions. Here we go with round six.
No knockdown. Ali was waiting for the openings while constantly pressing with the jab. Chuvalo will take the left jabs if he figures it’ll get him in close. Chuvalo’s best left jab of the night. Judges and the referee score the fight on the five-point must system. The winner of a round must be given five points.
The loser of a round must be given four. If a round is scored even, each fighter gets five points. George was very determined. It looked like Ali could not stop him. 1 minute to go in round There is a swelling around the left eye of George Chuvalo. Come on, >> 10 seconds to go in the round. Here we go with round seven. I imagine a lot of people didn’t think Chuvalo would be here for round seven.
But he’s here and still going strong. As you may notice, Ali did not go to the midsection. Cuz that would let him to open up for the furious haymakers to the head. Frazier appears to be showing a little more dedication to his work just about now. 2 minutes to go in round seven. Chuvalo is marked around the left eye and above it.
Devastating combinations by the champ. However, concrete chin of Chuvalo was not a myth. Eye appears to be starting to swell. Nothing serious at this point. Chuvalo blocked both punches. 1 minute to go in round seven. Chuvalo missing with a smashing left hook, but he missed it. Jab connecting solidly by the champ. 10 seconds to go in the round.
The bell, round eight. From the start of the round, champ turned on his stick and move style, measuring the challenger, circling around in a clockwise direction with a sharp jabs and combos. We’re reeling round eight. George had no other options but to stuck to the same pattern. He could not compete with the champion’s speed.
Also, he did not miss any opportunity to cause the damage. >> 1 minute to go in round eight. You’re going to again see the mark on Chuvalo’s forehead, high up near the hairline, but it certainly does not look serious. His left eye is beginning to swell, Chuvalo’s, and that’s from the left jabs of the champion. Good right hook to the body.
The end of round eight. It looked like Ali stopped trying to knock Chuvalo down. This time it was strategic outboxing. This is the ninth round. A first left hook scored. Great left hook to the chin. Ali was looking dazed for a moment. >> [cheering] >> The champion scores consistently with the left jab, but Chuvalo shows little sign that it bothers him that much.
1 minute to go in the round. 30 seconds to go in the ninth round. Chuvalo scores with the right hook to the body. And took it back on the face of the champion. And again, the great combination by the champion. 10 seconds to the end of the round. There’s the bell. Beneath this ring is a wooden floor, and beneath the wooden floor, the ice surface for the National Hockey League games.
2 minutes to go in round 10. Both fighters were maintaining high energy levels. Frazier has a 3-in edge in reach. Ali is 79 in, Chuvalo 76. 1 minute to go in the round. The left hook just grazed the face of the champion. 30 seconds to go
in the 10th round. But the fans are not facing the left jab. Good solid left hook to the body by Chuvalo. Ali is on his feet. Here comes Chuvalo. Through the round, champ connected many powerful combos to the head of Chuvalo, while George ignored all of them, stalking Ali as nothing matters. Chuvalo has taken the champion’s fast jabs without giving an inch.
The left hook connected, but not as solidly as Chuvalo would have liked. Neither fighter has been knocked down. Great combination by Frazier, and then disappears as Ali tried to swing on him. 1 minute to go in round 11. Near the end of the round, champ performed a wild flurry of punches. 30 seconds left in the round.
Stunning left hand by the champion to Chuvalo’s face. 10 seconds left in the round. There’s the bell for round 12. Round 12 begins and look at Ali. Still on his toes, still light as if it’s the opening minutes. He’s pumping that jab, sharp, snapping, lightning fast. Chavalo keeps coming forward like a tank.
This man does not have a reverse gear. Chavalo says, “I’ll take it if I can just get in close. He wants him on the ropes and the corners.” The champion is unmarked. Chavalo has some swelling around the left eye. But nothing to worry about. 1 minute to go round 12.
Landed on the champion’s arm. 10 seconds to go in the round. Well, Jim, there’s the end of round 12 and that’s as far as the champion has ever gone before. Round 13 coming up. There’s the bell. Chavalo’s up first this time. At every landed punch of the challenger, the champion answered with at least four punches.
>> [cheering] >> Chavalo now has a slight cut on the right side of his nose, just under the right eye. We’re halfway through 1 minute to go in round 13.
30 seconds left in round 13. Chavalo knows if he could hit him that one deadly shot, he’d be seconds away from fame and fortune. The bell ending round 13. The champion has now gone further than he has ever gone in his career before, 13 rounds. Two rounds to go. Chavalo’s trunks are soaking wet. Champ’s main intentions was to keep moving, stay on his toes, scoring points and finish strong.
So the hometown boy George had no chances. 2 minutes to go in the 14th round. Really rocked him there. >> [cheering] >> A minute and a half to go in the 14th round. 1 minute to go in the 14th. It’s scheduled for 15 rounds. It became
clear that Ali was not going to rock Chavalo, but he was going to beat him on points unless George could dig deep enough to land a few sledgehammers on Ali. 10 seconds left in the round. >> [cheering] >> With 3 minutes to go, they were exhausted but still pushing hard. Ali looks stronger than he has for several rounds.
It looked like the champion still thinking that he could put that cyborg on the canvas. That last left hook was a grazing blow. >> [cheering] >> 2 minutes to go. That’s the go. A minute and a half left. A solid left hand by Chavalo. >> [cheering]
>> 30 seconds to go in the fight. 30 seconds. 10 seconds. 8 7 5 seconds. AND IT’S ALL OVER. The world champ retained his title. “He’s the toughest guy I ever fought.” Ali said of Chavalo after the bout. George himself pointed out that although Ali won that fight fair and square, when it was all said and done, Ali spent the remains of the night in hospital because he was urinating blood while Chavalo himself went dancing with his wife.
The winner, Muhammad Ali. It was a pretty close fight. I’m uh I’m happy that I fought the guy, I guess. We fought a good fight. I think I fought a good enough fight. I just wish I had a little more time to ready. I only had 17 days notice, but all in all, I’m going to meet peace. I’d just like to get another chance to fight him again.
George, how about the one time where you thought perhaps you might have nailed him? Did you ever get that feeling? >> Well, I know I hurt him at least a couple of occasions in the bout. If I could have followed it up a little better, I would have hurt him all right, I guess. Well, why didn’t you follow up on it? Well, I tried, but he’s pretty slick.
Like I said before, I only had about 2 weeks notice, a little over 2 weeks. If I had a little more time, I could have been a little sharper and perhaps I could have made a difference.
