Teofilo Stevenson RIP

[Old bones Ian]

All time great Teofilo Stevenson has passed away, another icon of the Heavyweights gone.

3 time gold medalist, 3 time world amateur Champion, and turning down millions to go pro. At one time he didn't lose a match for 11 years , an almost unbelivable statistic .

[bennie]

Quite simply, Stevenson stood out as the best pure puncher in a golden era for heavyweight boxing in the 1970s. A peak George Foreman clubbed his victims to defeat but Stevenson's right hand was smooth and deadly, and his victims crashed to the deck in pieces. A mere sprinkling include Mike Dokes (whose jaw he broke), Tony Tubbs, John Tate, Duane Bobick and Tyrell Biggs. There is no doubt he would have destroyed the likes of Kenny Norton, Mike Weaver and even Joe Frazier in the pros.
Stevenson dominated amateur boxing from 1970 through to 1986, when he won his third world amateur title.

[dondada]

A true, all-time great.

[nobby_nobbins]

If you could design the perfect physical specimen for a heavyweight boxer, he would look like Stevenson.

[GlobalBox]

Without doubt he really was an all time great

God Bless Champ, rest peacefully.

[stujones]

Quite simply, Stevenson stood out as the best pure puncher in a golden era for heavyweight boxing in the 1970s. A peak George Foreman clubbed his victims to defeat but Stevenson's right hand was smooth and deadly, and his victims crashed to the deck in pieces. A mere sprinkling include Mike Dokes (whose jaw he broke), Tony Tubbs, John Tate, Duane Bobick and Tyrell Biggs. There is no doubt he would have destroyed the likes of Kenny Norton, Mike Weaver and even Joe Frazier in the pros.
Stevenson dominated amateur boxing from 1970 through to 1986, when he won his third world amateur title.

I didn't realise until after his death that he continued boxing so much after the 1980's Olympic games. It is conceivable that he could have won 5 Olympic Gold medals as, according to post death reports, he wanted to compete not just in Los Angeles (1984) but in Seoul (1988).

Stevenson vs Lewis would really have been a fight for the generations.

Gutted to hear the news of his passing, RIP champ.

[jonny]

Very sad news, R.I.P

[Syntax Error]

I really wish Teofilo could have turned professional; it certainly would have been interesting to see.

The only issue is his date of birth.

Being born in 1952 would have meant that he would have risen to prominence a little too late in the 70s & would have been up against a faded Ali, the ghost of Frazier & Foreman with one eye on the ministry.

His only real competition would have been Larry Holmes probably.

He would have come up against some fairly talented guys in the early 80s, but we all know what happened to them & Stevenson probably would have beaten them in 2nd gear.

RIP Champ.

[stujones]

I really wish Teofilio could have turned professional; it certainly would have been interesting to see.

The only issue is his date of birth.

Being born in 1952 would have meant that he would have risen to prominence a little too late in the 70s & would have been up against a faded Ali, the ghost of Frazier & Foreman with one eye on the ministry.

His only real competition would have been Larry Holmes probably.

He would have come up against some fairly talented guys in the early 80s, but we all know what happened to them & Stevenson probably would have beaten them in 2nd gear.

RIP Champ.

Stevenson world amateur champion in 1986, Mike Tyson world proffesional champion 1986... Might have been interesting.

In 1975 Stevenson would have been 23.... I don't think he would have been too inexperienced for Ali, Frazier and Foreman then.

[jessi]

R I P, sad news, they would of been very interesting fights with the likes of Ali or Tyson.
Who was the other Cuban heavyweight great Felix......sav?
I also remember talk of Mario kindelan being offered millions to fight de la Hoya !

[Mick the Mechanic]

Felix Savon,similar build and style.
Stephenson was the better for me..

[stujones]

Yeah, agree Mick. It might sound strange to say this about a 3 time Olympic champion - but I don't think Savon was in the same league as Stephenson in their primes (from what I have seen of them both).

Also by the time of his final Olympic Gold, father time was catching with Savon and was no longer as dominant as he once was. He was looking beatable. Stephenson was at his peak at the time of his last gold in 1980.

Both fantastic fighters, but certainly from the clips I have seen of them both, Stephenson was better.

[Bleak]

Yeah, agree Mick. It might sound strange to say this about a 3 time Olympic champion - but I don't think Savon was in the same league as Stephenson in their primes (from what I have seen of them both).

Also by the time of his final Olympic Gold, father time was catching with Savon and was no longer as dominant as he once was. He was looking beatable. Stephenson was at his peak at the time of his last gold in 1980.

Both fantastic fighters, but certainly from the clips I have seen of them both, Stephenson was better.

Would Savon fought at Heavyweight or Cruiser as a pro? just before my time see

[Old bones Ian]

From when Ali visited Cuba, always playing to the crowd.

[Bleak]

Still a relatively young man at 60.

Bleak, Savon could not have done the old crusier limit and maintained his strength - so he'd have definitely been a heavyweight.

Cheers mate

[crusader]

There are some interesting posts near the bottom of this thread.

http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=153336

[Old bones Ian]

There are some interesting posts near the bottom of this thread.

http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=153336

Enrique is from Cuba, and he did also post in another thread about Stevenson
'I think the Bustamante allegations whether true or not, are motivated by the woman's desire to sell books and get her fifteen minutes of fame. If she picked Stevenson to make up a story it's because Teofilo has a decent track record in the runaway ego department.

I won't buy her book. I'd rather buy an old record book and download 500 fights in box rec.'

but he does like to keep bringing it up, and yes the airport story is true, but getting into a fight at an airport is hardly unusual.

[el_grande_mauro_mina]

Enrique is from Cuba

Miami-Cubans.

[bennie]

Anyone knocking Stevenson's abilities as a fighter is really knocking himself. Fighters get old and old fighters get beaten but they still remind you of how great they were in their heyday. Just before the 1984 Olympics, Stevenson took on Tyrell Biggs a second time, having previously stopped him with body shots. Biggs has improved, is fighting on home turf and wants his revenge and the crowd want it for him. Stevenson shows everything as he boxes and punches his way to a decision. It's on youtube.
Teofilo Stevenson was the complete article.

[Quixall]

R.I.P

[Nile4000]

All time great Teofilo Stevenson has passed away, another icon of the Heavyweights gone.

3 time gold medalist, 3 time world amateur Champion, and turning down millions to go pro. At one time he didn't lose a match for 11 years , an almost unbelivable statistic .

Igor Vysotsky beat him twice, Jimmy Clark gave him hell in three fights, and Angel Milian supposedly got robbed of a fight or two against Stevenson.Great fighter, slightly overrated.