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Canadian Rockers Our Lady Peace choose George Chuvalo to grace their new album cover
Canadian boxing legend George Chuvalo has garnered many honours over the course of his exceptional boxing career and life.
Inducted into Canada's Sports Hall Of Fame in 1990. The World Boxing Hall Of Fame in 1997. Member of the Order Of Canada in 1998. Granted a place on Canada's Walk Of Fame in 2005. To name just a few.
Now, comes an honour of a different sort. One that shows how his legendary tenacity, spirit and pugilistic ability have transcended the sport he made one of his life's ambitions. It's also one that illustrates the staying power and universality of his iconic status, from generation to generation.
Chuvalo's latest honour comes from the world of rock n roll. He's now on an album cover.
Canadian band Our Lady Peace has seen fit to have a picture of a young Chuvalo on the cover of their eighth studio album, "Curve."
This honour, while perhaps not so august and substantial as the decorations mentioned above, is something quite extraordinary. Most musicians worth their salt (and Our Lady Peace would be considered such musicians) care very much about what their album covers look like. After all, they've slaved and sweated through the process of imagining, writing and meticulously producing their musical creation. The last thing they want is for their baby to be represented with anything but the appropriate cover image. There have occasionally been massive fights between artists and their record companies over these images over the years.
So, why the snapshot of a young Chuvalo, flicking a gloved right at the camera, as album art for "Curve"? What makes this image the right one to represent this collection of songs?
Our Lady Peace front man, Raine Maida, believes there are similarities between musicians and boxers, as he explained in a recent blog entitled "The Boxer And The Artist:"
"Over the years I have come to realize that musicians and boxers have a lot in common. There are strong emotional and physical similarities between the two. The boxer skillfully relies on rhythm and improvisation to control a fight. An artist relies on rhythm and improvisation to help guide the listener."
Maida went on to write about the personal relationship that's developed between the band and the legendary boxer, noting Chuvalo's persistence and dedication to fighting through anything and everything that's come his way.
"George has been kind enough to befriend the band and share some of his life experiences both inside and outside the ring with us. His story is one of tirelessness and human spirit. Heavyweight is inspired by the struggle that both the boxer and the artist endure.
"Heavyweight," is the first single from the album, with a video filled with grainy black and white images showcasing the art and struggle of pugilism.
Of course, Chuvalo's battles with incredible heartache and tragedy outside the ring are maybe more legendary even than his substantial feats inside the ropes.
If you're looking for a man who exemplifies the fighting spirit in the face of what many would count as insurmountable odds, you can do no better than George Chuvalo. Never being knocked off your feet in 93 bouts, including two fights against somebody named Muhammad Ali, is impressive. Being continually knocked off your feet, in life, by the tragic deaths of three sons and your wife, then getting up time and time again, makes those 93 professional fights look like paddy cake. Two sons, Georgie and Steven, lost to drugs. A third son, Jesse, and Chuvalo's first wife, Lynne, lost to suicide.
Montreal-based boxing columnist Michael Carbert, of BestBoxingBlog.com writes of Chuvalo's rare indestructible nature in the ring, crowning him as the man with the best chin in the history of the sport. As with most of us, Carbert's admiration of Chuvalo steps outside the ring:
"Everyone knows the story and everyone wonders if they could stand up to that degree of personal tragedy with the strength and dignity that he has. He tours the country speaking out on the horrors of drug abuse, encouraging young people to stay clean and stay strong, and there's no denying the fact that the man stands as a compelling and inspiring role model, an example of how to overcome the worst kind of loss and adversity. He enjoys the respect and regard of the whole country and he's never lost his relevance. In fact, he's probably more relevant now than when he was ranked number two in the world in the heavyweight division and helping draw big crowds to Maple Leaf Gardens and Madison Square."
Chuvalo's appearance on the "Curve" album cover, in 2012, stands as testament to his special position in Canadian sports lore. As Carbert notes:
"Chuvalo is unique among Canadian sports stars for a few reasons. First off, outside of our beloved hockey icons, it's tough to think of more than a few other Canadian athletes who have maintained their status and appeal the way Chuvalo has generation after generation. His last boxing match of any significance took place 40 years ago, yet he remains as well-known and respected now as when he was competing in probably the best heavyweight division in boxing history."
Legions of Chuvalo's fans have sung the praises of the man. Maida literally does this on the final song on "Curve." "Mettle" is a low key, slow moving ballad with lyrics that paint a vivid picture of struggle and perseverance. It can easily be surmised that Chuvalo is its inspiration. There is little doubt about that when you then hear Maida's singing punctuated with Chuvalo's own spoken words on the track.
"The worst thing in the world is to be in a fight and get tired," Chuvalo says at one point. "You don't wanna get tired in a fight."
He may have been speaking literally there. Perhaps, not. It can be safely said that if George Chuvalo ever did get tired in a fight, of any kind, damned if anyone could tell.
With his face now on the cover of a beloved band's album, George Chuvalo's legend grows.
