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[Biff Hardbody]

Teofilo Stevenson

Or at least I've never heard of. I just watched this man's highlights on ESPN classic, and I am extremely impressed. Teofilo Stevenson was a 3X Olympic Gold medallist in boxing, and most likely would have been a 4X Olympic boxing champion had Cuba chose not to boycott the 84 Olympic games.

Here's what struck out at me about this man. He had an extremely calm style of boxing. He exuded confidence actually. He didn't bounce around much, and had solidarity you don't really see in the amateurs. He wasn't flat footed by any means, its as though he had a great balance between the two styles. He actually reminded me of Ali. Not as fast, not as agile...but very good, and far more powerful.

The main thing that I found incredible about the man was that whenever his opponents would engage him, they would be knocked out. Not a knock down, a knock out. It was always the same punch, the right cross. He'd measure his opponent with the jab, and then BOOM. He'd hit them with a perfectly clean right cross that would send them down the canvas.

He was so dominant, that he KOed all his opponents except two who ran away the entire fight. Still, these are 3 round fights and he's knocking guys out like they are full length fights. Remarkable, I've never seen anything like it.

He chose not to go pro, saying he found professional boxing inhumane. He even refused a contract to fight Ali. I know it is hard to measure an a man by the success he has as an amateur, but its clear this man was no ordinary amateur. He was remarkable. So calm, good speed, size, and amazing power.

People can debate if he would have been successful against fighters such as Norton, Frazier, Foreman, Holmes, and even Ali. He may not have been. Fighters mature, its a different game. However, I can't think of more dominant performances I've seen in Olympic boxing, not even watching Ali shuffle around the Polish fighter, Foreman against the Russian, or RJJ beating the Korean. In the Olympic performances, Teofilo is in a class of his own.

 

[DJ_Tet]

I consider myself a big sports guru, and I've never heard of this dude. Good find Biff, and I hope to see his Sports Century myself.

Sounds like the Bobby Jones of Boxing in the way he never turned pro.

 

[AstroLad]

Here's an article on his career and what he's up to now, "The Cuban Ali"-

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/osm/story/0,6903,641858,00.html

 

[Biff Hardbody]

DJ...this guy was incredible. I know, its the amateurs...but I've never seen anything like it. He didn't throw combos. He'd measure his opponents up with his jab, and then lay in a perfectly clean right cross. When it hit, they went down and stayed down. They were not only out, they were hurt. I only saw him throw one combo over three punches in the entire highlite...because all he needed was the 1,2.

Picture a slightly slower and less agile, but far stronger version of Ali. That's Teofilo Stevenson.

Wether he had the character, chin, and will of Ali is another story. He was just never tested in any fight I saw him in. Too dominant.

 

[Biff Hardbody]

Here's an article on his career and what he's up to now, "The Cuban Ali"-

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/osm/story/0,6903,641858,00.html

Holy shit, that's what I was calling the guy in my head "The Cuban Ali". Really, he seemed just like him...just allot stronger and with slightly less speed.

 

[DJ_Tet]

I believe you totally Biff.

I hope you aren't slamming Bobby Jones though. BJ didn't think that golf was legit when it was played for cash, therefore he never turned pro.

I find athletes off of America fascinating. I'll be on the lookout for Stevenson's ESPN profile. It's a shame that some of the best athletes have been taken away from our eyes. What's sad is that time has passed these athletes by, and it's just too late to decide what these athletes could add to our history.

Once the time to fight is gone, it's gone. Tyson's time to fight was when he was in jail. One could argue that Ali's time to fight was when he was prohibited from fighting by our own govt

I can only surmise that Stevenson's heyday was taken by Cuba's govt.

 

[Biff Hardbody]

No, I'm not slamming Jones.

I didn't read the article yet, so it may tell something different. But, I got the sense that Stevenson was completely at ease with himself and the choice not to turn pro.

I don't know if they'll ever have a sports century about him, but they damn well should. Friggin awesome. That's it. No olympic boxing performance compares IMHO.

So damn calm. I watched how he trained. It was almost like he wasn't trying.

 

[ZombieSupaStar]

guy I knew in high school

http://www.usaboxing.org/content_athletes_vargas.html


I think he made the olympic team.



and I LOL at nobody likes a cocky person, devin........cmon......

 

[Biff Hardbody]

Bumping this thread because I finally found media on Teofilo Stevenson. I know most people here aren't interested in this type of thing, but for the few who are I figured the post is worth it. Today I bought this.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...1/104-1231857-8534335?v=glance&s=dvd&n=507846

If you are into Sports at all, you need to own this. It has footage of Yamashita, Owens, and all great Olympic champions (except very little on Karelin, drat). I took the chance that it would have footage on Teofilo, and it does. This is the only place I've been able to find footage of him. Not even the boxing dvd sites I know have it.

Anyhow, the footage is only 5 or ten minutes, but its incredible. I've never seen anyone make it look as easy as Teofilo. Watching again tells me my first impressions were right on. Teofilo has the best right hand I've seen. Ever.

 

[Pochacco]

I thought this thread was going to be about underwear - what a dissapointment.

 

[Outlaw]

I thought this thread was going to be about underwear - what a dissapointment.

Boxer briefs>>>>boxers

 

[Matlock]

Jack Dempsey > Cuban Ali

...but only because we share a birthday!

 

[Shinobi]

Does that Olympic DVD have anything on the Ben Johnson race at Seoul? Cause for my money that's still one of the greatest athletic feats I've ever seen, juiced or not (he was hardly the only one juiced that day anyhow).