Teófilo Stevenson would have been 66

[oogiebe]

This past March 29th would have been Teófilo Stevenson's 66th birthday. He died so quietly in 2012, one would never have thought he was such a boxing great.

What were your memories of Stevenson?

[oogiebe]

Interesting Ring Resume:

Tony Tubbs
Duane Bobick
Mike Dokes
John Tate
Francisco Damiani
Alex Garcia
Jimmy Clark
Tyrell Biggs
et al...

[SenorPipino]

Decisively defeating touted American Duane Bobick in the 1972 Olympics.

Bobick had actually beaten Stevenson in the Pan American games of 1971 and was expected to repeat the trick again.

But Stevenson simply outclassed Bobick.

The Cuban also scored an easy KO over future professional champion Big John Tate in the Montreal games of 1976.

Stevenson had trouble with a Soviet fighter by the name of Vysotsky, meeting him twice and losing both bouts.

I recall that one of those fights ended in a KO win for the Russian.

But Stevenson might very well be the most famous amateur boxer ever, winning 3 gold medals in the Olympics (1972, 1976 and 1980)

[HomicideHenry]

The vast majority of the people he beaten were primarily teenagers. How good he actually was will always be an enormous "What if?" in the sport of boxing. I do think, though, in the late 70s he could have defeated Muhammad Ali just like Leon Spinks.

[oogiebe]

The vast majority of the people he beaten were primarily teenagers. How good he actually was will always be an enormous "What if?" in the sport of boxing. I do think, though, in the late 70s he could have defeated Muhammad Ali just like Leon Spinks.

In no way would I compare a career three round fighter to a pro. WE had a blast debating Stevenson in the early mid seventies; v. Ali, Frazier, etc. We'll never know, but we do know he is the greatest amateur SHW ever.

[HomicideHenry]

The vast majority of the people he beaten were primarily teenagers. How good he actually was will always be an enormous "What if?" in the sport of boxing. I do think, though, in the late 70s he could have defeated Muhammad Ali just like Leon Spinks.

In no way would I compare a career three round fighter to a pro. WE had a blast debating Stevenson in the early mid seventies; v. Ali, Frazier, etc. We'll never know, but we do know he is the greatest amateur SHW ever.

If Spinks in six bouts as a pro could do it, I have little doubt that Stevenson could have too. Lomanchenko is an excellent example of what can be done despite being a "three round fighter".

[tennessee]

Happy birthday champ. You were one of the greats. I always think, "only if".

[oogiebe]

The vast majority of the people he beaten were primarily teenagers. How good he actually was will always be an enormous "What if?" in the sport of boxing. I do think, though, in the late 70s he could have defeated Muhammad Ali just like Leon Spinks.

In no way would I compare a career three round fighter to a pro. WE had a blast debating Stevenson in the early mid seventies; v. Ali, Frazier, etc. We'll never know, but we do know he is the greatest amateur SHW ever.

If Spinks in six bouts as a pro could do it, I have little doubt that Stevenson could have too. Lomanchenko is an excellent example of what can be done despite being a "three round fighter".

Lomanchenko is proven, so it's easy to point him out. I stand by my statement.

[SenorPipino]

In no way would I compare a career three round fighter to a pro. WE had a blast debating Stevenson in the early mid seventies; v. Ali, Frazier, etc. We'll never know, but we do know he is the greatest amateur SHW ever.

If Spinks in six bouts as a pro could do it, I have little doubt that Stevenson could have too. Lomanchenko is an excellent example of what can be done despite being a "three round fighter".

Lomanchenko is proven, so it's easy to point him out. I stand by my statement.

I have to agree with Oogiebe.

Spinks did have 10 round professional experience. Stevenson only 3 rounders.

And Spinks had that aggressive kamikaze style that can play havoc with an aging fighter like Ali. Old guys want a slow pace where they can rest and then pick their spots.

In the first fight, Spinks didn't give Ali a chance to rest.

Stevenson wasn't that type. A stylistic, measures fighter who wouldn't have pushed Ali and worn him down.

At a slow pace, the vastly experienced Ali would have been able to show Stevenson all his old tricks, without tiring badly.

And again, Stevenson would have to deal with 15 rounds. Not likely he could do that easily.

[oogiebe]

If Spinks in six bouts as a pro could do it, I have little doubt that Stevenson could have too. Lomanchenko is an excellent example of what can be done despite being a "three round fighter".

Lomanchenko is proven, so it's easy to point him out. I stand by my statement.

I have to agree with Oogiebe.

Spinks did have 10 round professional experience. Stevenson only 3 rounders.

And Spinks had that aggressive kamikaze style that can play havoc with an aging fighter like Ali. Old guys want a slow pace where they can rest and then pick their spots.

In the first fight, Spinks didn't give Ali a chance to rest.

Stevenson wasn't that type. A stylistic, measures fighter who wouldn't have pushed Ali and worn him down.

At a slow pace, the vastly experienced Ali would have been able to show Stevenson all his old tricks, without tiring badly.

And again, Stevenson would have to deal with 15 rounds. Not likely he could do that easily.

[Nile4000]

A great fighter, though like mentioned before, he was primarily beating teenagers, and never avenged his loss to Vysotsky, where his backup Angel Milian beat him. And he was lucky that politics helped him out in a couple of the Jimmy Clark fights, where Jimmy was beating him. Also Greg Page, Mitch Green, Marvis Frazier, and possibly James Broad would have beaten him had he fought those guys after 1977.