BOXING LEGEND COMING TO MONCTON FOR ANTI-DRUG SEMINAR

Tickets for George Chuvalo Event Now on Sale

Boxing legend George Chuvalo is coming to Moncton as part of his fight
against drugs.

The former Canadian heavyweight champion will be one of the guest
speakers during an event on May 28 at 3 p.m. at the Moncton Wesleyan
Celebration Center. This is the first event being staged by Eloquent
One Promotion, a new local company.

Tickets are $30 and go on sale today at the Moncton Wesleyan
Celebration Center, Frank's Music and Steve's Diner. Tickets are also
available at www.ticketwindow.ca or by calling 1-877-700-3130.

"I really hope that people will turn out to listen to George Chuvalo
speak," said Daniel Doiron, event manager for Eloquent One Promotion.
"For some people, it could change their life because they may not have
heard this kind of powerful message of hope before.

"Even though he's lost three kids and his wife (to substance abuse),
he hasn't given up the passion for life and the passion for trying to
reach out and help others. I would hope that his message touches
everyone, but if it touches one person then it's worth it to bring him
here to speak."

Chuvalo, who ended his illustrious boxing career in 1979, has been
inducted into both the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame and the World
Boxing Hall of Fame. He was the Canadian heavyweight champion for 21
years and ranked as high as No. 2 in the world.

The Toronto native stayed in the top 10 world rankings for most of his
career and appeared numerous times on the cover of Sports Illustrated.
He had a record of 73 wins (64 by knockout), 18 losses and two draws.
He was never knocked out or even knocked down.

Chuvalo's incredible life has been filled with both triumph and
tragedy. He lost three sons and a wife due to substance abuse,
something that has sparked his high-profile fight against drugs.

Since retiring from boxing, he's been in numerous films, television
shows and commercials. He's been an anti-drug advocate since 1995 and
made over 1,400 appearances in Canada and several other countries
talking to students, young offenders, youth at risk, support groups
and many others about drug abuse.

Doiron, who teaches human services at the New Brunswick Community
College, hopes the Moncton Wesleyan Celebration Center is filled to
its 1,820 capacity for Chuvalo's visit.

"What George Chuvalo has been through is an incredible story," said
Doiron. "It's heartbreaking to see what's happened in his life, but
it's also an amazing thing to see the man rise up and be in my corner,
your corner or the next person's corner to support them.

"He's just an amazing resilient person. He's truly a gift to society.
It's not like he walked away and put his energy somewhere else. He's
putting his energy exactly where it affected his family with his fight
against drugs."

Chuvalo fought some of the greatest boxers of all time, including
Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, Floyd Patterson, Ernie Terrell, Joe
Frazier and Jerry Quarry. He is Canada's most celebrated boxer of all
time and was appointed a member of the Order of Canada in 1998.

Although he lost a 15-round decision to Ali on March 29, 1966, Ali
later said that "He was the toughest man I ever fought."

"It has to be tough for him to relive what happened to his family, but
he's done over 1,400 talks in many countries," said Doiron. "He
continues to try to gain the attention of the public in his fight
against substance abuse."

Daniel Baker is the director of the Helping Hands Institute, which has
been involved in human service education and support for more than 30
years. He will join Chuvalo in Moncton as co guest speaker to talk
about grief recovery and emotional first aid.

Baker has worked with thousands of individuals and families in the
Atlantic provinces, teaching and supporting people as they learn to
regain their lives. He's been speaking at anti drug seminars for more
than 25 years.

"After Mr. Baker and Mr. Chuvalo talk, there will be an open
microphone session for the crowd to ask questions," said Doiron. "We
want to see people have a chance to change their life. It's never too
late to change. Both these men have a very powerful message.

"It's a long journey for people who have an addiction problem and it's
awfully tough to do it alone. You need to have family and friends in
your corner. There's a lot of people who can learn from and benefit
from this event we're putting on."