CHUVALO'S BIGGEST FIGHT CONTINUES

The fight never ends for former Canadian heavyweight boxing champion George
Chuvalo.

Chuvalo, 66, came to Cambrian College Friday to fight the fight of his life
against substance abuse among youth.

Over 1,700 Grade 9 students, from all over Sudbury, were at the college to
hear what Chuvalo had to say.

Chuvalo was the Canadian boxing champion for 21 years, from 1958 to 1979.
During his career he took on some of the greatest heavyweights in the
history of the sport.

Chuvalo fought legends Joe Frazier in 1967 and "The Greatest" Muhammed Ali
twice in bouts in 1966 and 1972. Chuvalo was never once knocked off his
feet during his entire professional career. But even with 64 knockouts
under his belt, Chuvalo couldn't stop the tragedies in his life from happening.

Since the death of three of his sons and subsequent suicide of the mother
of those children, Chuvalo decided to devote much of the rest of his life
to talking to young people about substance abuse and making wise choices.

"Every time I tell the story of my family I get sick to my stomach," says
Chuvalo.

Chuvalo's son Jesse, aged 20, got hooked on heroin and killed himself in
1985. Eight years later George Lee, another of Chuvalo's sons, was found
dead in a Toronto hotel room. He had overdosed on heroin.

Only two days after George Lee's funeral, Chuvalo's first wife wrote a
suicide note and overdosed on pills.

"When you lose a child...some lessons are just too difficult," says Chuvalo.

Another son, Steven, who has since died, pushed Chuvalo into doing the
anti-drug campaigns. Steven was jailed because of theft and armed robbery
and, while in jail, was videotaped for the anti-drug video Chuvalo shows
during his seminars.

"People already involved in crime don't become addicts," says Chuvalo.
"Instead people who become addicted to drugs become criminals. They'd do
anything in order to help their habit."

Eight months after the video aired, in August of 1996, Chuvalo's only
daughter Vanessa found Steven's dead body slumped over a table with a
syringe sticking out of his arm.

"All he could think about was getting home and getting high," says Chuvalo.

Steven overdosed and was revived 18 times in his last two months of life,
until his addiction finally caught up with him. Now only two out of
Chuvalo's five children are alive.

"When Steven was off drugs he was a beautiful person," says Chuvalo. "I
love my son."

Although Chuvalo may not fight in the ring anymore, he continues to fight
drug abuse. He admits it might be his hardest challenge yet. In 1998,
Chuvalo received the Order of Canada.

"I hope my message and the examples of my family are enough to make an
impact on at least some people."

The Ontario Crime Control Commission (OCCC), in association with the
Greater Sudbury Police Service's in-school Empowered Student Partnership
program (ESP), have brought Chuvalo to almost 300 schools, detention
centres and parent support groups all over the province.

Chuvalo plans on continuing his fight against drugs by travelling through
Canada and the United States.

"When I think of my family, I think of the beautiful young people who could
be influenced by drugs and all I want to do is stop them, before it's too
late," says Chuvalo.