Well done, and particularly interesting because it focuses very little on Ali and greatly on those who fought him. I like that angle.
The star in the whole production, however (which is saying something, given Ali's charisma and gravitas), is a gentleman-boxer named George Chuvalo. Below is a bit of Chuvalo's biography, but what knocks me out about him is how articulate, sensitive, sharp, and witty he remains. And a beautiful storyteller. Man-oh-man, he tells a really haunting story about losing his wife and three of four children to drugs that'll take your breath away. Left me in tears. I see on IMDB that he's been in 17 films, so that partly explains his comfort in front of the camera, but he comes across as a natural, and every time he appears on camera his genius (both mental and verbal) sparkles and shines. What a neat man.
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George Chuvalo was Canada's greatest heavyweight boxer. In a career which spanned three decades and 93 fights, Chuvalo fought six world heavyweight champions, and failed in two attempts to capture the World Heavyweight Title. George, a muscular 6 feet 210 pounder, turned pro in 1956 at age 18 and knocked-out 4 men in one night to capture the Jack Dempsey Novice Heavyweight Tournament. On September 15, 1958 he knocked-out James J. Parker in one round to win the Canadian Heavyweight Boxing Title for the first time. Over the next 19 years, Chuvalo would reign 4 more times as Canada's boxing king. Chuvalo failed in his first attempt to win the world's title by losing a 15-round nod to Ernie Terrell in 1965. A year later he was beaten by Muhammad Ali in 15 rounds again. In his 21 year career, Chuvalo compiled a record of 73-18-2 with 64 wins by knockout. Chuvalo scored wins over rated contenders such as Jerry Quarry KO 7, Cleveland Williams W 10, Buster Mathis W 12, Manuel Ramos KO 5, Doug Jones KO 11, and Robert Cleroux W 12. He was defeated by heavyweight champions Floyd Patterson, Ernie Terrell, Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Jimmy Ellis, and George Foreman. In 93 professional fights, Chuvalo was never knocked off his feet. (IMDB biography courtesy of angelsunchained)
