Chuck Bodak

American boxing trainer, cutman (1916–2009)

Vasil "Chuck" Bodak (June 3, 1916 – February 6, 2009) was an American boxing cutman and trainer who worked with over 50 world champions including Muhammad Ali, Rocky Marciano, Tommy Hearns, Julio César Chávez, Evander Holyfield, Oscar De La Hoya and Jorge Maromero Páez.[1] He was known for his trademark headbands with photos of his fighters as well as his handmade jewelry and collages that he liked to give away as gifts.[2][3]

Chuck Bodak's Fiat housed at the Marconi Automotive Museum

Life and career

Bodak was born June 3, 1916, in Gary, Indiana where his involvement in boxing began circa 1929 at Schonfield's Athletic Club. In 1942 he enlisted in the U.S. Army. He survived the Battle of The Bulge after being shot twice and was awarded two Purple Hearts. An amateur fighter himself, Bodak coached the National Golden Gloves team in the late 1950s and began working with young teenager named Cassius Clay who changed his name to Muhammad Ali.[4] Bodak trained Ali for the last four years of his amateur career that culminated with the winning of a Gold Medal for the light-heavyweight competition at the 1960 Summer Olympic Games held in Rome, Italy.[5]

Bodak moved to Chicago, Illinois in 1958 where he was a boxing coach for the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) for many years before moving to California.[6] Even though advancing in age, he continued to work in the ring and was active in the boxing community until he suffered a stroke in 2007 at the age of 90.[7] He died in a motor accident on February 6, 2009, at the age of 92 in Orange County, California.

Awards and recognition

Bodak was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame, "Expanded Category" (Managers & Trainers).[8]

In October 2008, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award in person at a WBC Legends of Boxing Museum ceremony.[9]

In 1993, he was honored by the Cauliflower Alley Club.

Bibliography

Bodak co-authored Boxing Basics, a book published in 1979 that outlines the fundamentals of boxing including psychological preparation, physical conditioning, offensive and defensive strategies, and ring psychology.[10]

Acting roles

Bodak played the role of Cesar's cutman in the 1999 film Play It to the Bone and portrayed himself in two documentaries, More Than Famous in 2003 and The Distance in 2006.[11]

References

  1. ^ Chuck Bodak passes Archived 2011-07-11 at the Wayback Machine Fightnews.com, February 6, 2009
  2. ^ Chuck Bodak 1916–2009 By Thomas Gerbasi, MaxBoxing.com (February 6, 2009)
  3. ^ Chuck Bodak Loses His Final Battle - Legendary cutman passes away at 92 Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine By Michele Chong, http://boxinggreats.multiply.com Archived 2012-06-25 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ Boxing Loses True Hero in Chuck Bodak February 7th, 2009 By Pedro Fernandez, ringtalk.com
  5. ^ "GODFATHER" OF CUTMEN-CHUCK BODAK SUFFERS STROKE Archived April 14, 2015, at the Wayback Machine 02 September, 2007 by Pedro Fernandez, ringtalk.com
  6. ^ Tribute Event for Chuck Bodak by Michele Chong (March 12, 2009), myboxingfans.com
  7. ^ Cutman Chuck Bodak Update September 1, 2008
  8. ^ Chuck Bodak, boxrec.com
  9. ^ Cutman Chuck Bodak 2009 Update by Michele Chong (January 10, 2009), myboxingfans.com
  10. ^ Boxing Basics by Chuck Bodak and Neil Milbert ISBN 9780809272105
  11. ^ IMDb profile of Vasil Chuck Bodak

External links

  • Chuck Bodak honored by the boxing world
  • Boxing Loses True Hero in Chuck Bodak
  • Chuck Bodak Interview conducted by Thomas Gerbasi
  • Chuck Bodak's Bio
  • v
  • t
  • e
Fights
Media
Docu films
and series
FamilyTeam and
associatesBooks
  • The Greatest: My Own Story (1975 autobiography)
  • The Fight (1975)
  • Muhammad Ali: His Life and Times (1991 biography)
  • The Tao of Muhammad Ali (1997)
  • King of the World (1998 biography)
  • Facing Ali (2002)
  • Muhammad Ali: The Glory Years (2002 biography)
  • The Soul of a Butterfly (2004 autobiography)
  • Twelve Rounds to Glory (2007 biography)
  • Ali: A Life (2018 biography)
Related
Category