In poking around for Turnbow, I found this interview where Chuvalo mentions Mel along with Mike DeJohn as having delivered the hardest blows. I thought Cap might enjoy it.
From the Drayton Valley Western Review:
http://www.draytonvalleywesternrevie...y.php?id=98749
Chuvalo speaks and we listen
Tuesday April 27, 2004
Drayton Valley Western Review — George Chuvalo is now best-known for his fight against drugs but to another generation he was Canada’s heavyweight boxing icon. He was the national champ from 1958-1979 and went toe-to-toe with the greatest boxers of his era.
He was in Drayton Valley last week and dropped by the Derrick Boxing Club, where The Western Review caught up with him for a few questions.
WR: You went the distance with Muhammad Ali in March 1966 in front of a home crowd at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto. What is your most vivid memory of that night?
GC: Went the distance? Who would you say went to the hospital? He did. They make it sound like I got the whack knocked out of me. I didn’t take terrible beatings. If I took terrible beatings I sure wouldn’t be able to speak normally.
WR: You didn’t get knocked down that night, or much ever. Was it a result of good defence or just an iron chin?
GC: A little bit of both.
WR: You were Canadian champ for 21 years. Do you ever just sit back and think about how remarkable an accomplishment that is?
GC: No. I didn’t really have any contenders and I didn’t have to defend my title much.
WR: What is the hardest you’ve ever been hit?
GC: By Mike DeJohn (Sept. 27, 1963, won in 10 rounds), or maybe Mel Turnbow (Aug. 16, 1966, won with 7th round KO).
WR: Being famous can be tough at the best of times. How hard was it being famous with the tragedies experienced by your family?
GC: In one way it’s worse and in other ways it’s better. At least people remember my sons. If I wasn’t well known I wouldn’t have the chance to talk about what happened to them to help others.
WR: What is the one aspect, moment, or accomplishment, that you would want history to remember about George Chuvalo the boxer?
GC: One of the most fulfilling moments was when I knocked out Jerry Quarry in the seventh round (Dec. 12, 1969). He was ranked fourth in the world. That was probably the most gratifying fight in a lot of ways because they were going to stop the fight because my eye was so bad.