Stevenson and Savon

[JAB5239]

I like to think I have a decent grasp of pro boxing and its history. Unfortunetly I am not so confident in my knowledge of Amatuer stars, especially ones who for various reasons never went pro.

John Scully put up a bunch of links on the NSB board of amatuer fights and I was watching some of Teofilo Stevenson's and Felix Savon's fights. Both of these guys were stars in the amatuer ranks and speculated upon as to how they would of done as pro's.

My question of course is 1, how would they have fared had they been allowed to fight professionaly? 2, who would have been the better pro? Both defeated a laundry list of top professionals in the amatuers. Would they have progressed to be top pro's? And 3, who who have won a head to head match up? I think popular opinion will say Stevenson. But Savon was nothing to sneeze at and just as dominant an amatuer, if not more so.

Educate me.

[LondonRingRules]

My question of course is 1, how would they have fared had they been allowed to fight professionaly? 2, who would have been the better pro? Both defeated a laundry list of top professionals in the amatuers. Would they have progressed to be top pro's? And 3, who who have won a head to head match up? I think popular opinion will say Stevenson. But Savon was nothing to sneeze at and just as dominant an amatuer, if not more so.

Educate me

** Me, like you, I'm hardly the last word in pro boxing, and maybe the last word nobody might never want to hear on the amas, but here's my take:

Had Teo been allowed his natural progression to an Ali fight in 77, I give him a 50/50 chance of victory. He was naturally bigger than Big George, perhaps not a strong or powerful, but he was intelligent and the Cubanos had access to a wealth of pro trainers who could have prepped him for his pro debut.

Had Teo won, there'd be no end to the rants of his greatness. Had Ali won, it would've been no big deal, but those in the know knew he was in shaky straights as played out.

Savon a "division" down, surely must have a frame close to the same size. The man is cut from ebony he's so tight and a Cubano who was hungry enough to starve himself for glory. Figure he'd be a natural 225-235 lb pro cut near the same with an atomic right hand and very efficient, relaxed boxing lead jab style, perfect pro style for every ring occasion. See Vitali for how that works.

We don't know how either would react to success, money, and women, though they had no shortage of success and women in Cuba, but I see a lot more in the well for Savon than Teo. Both are pro HOF potential, and more certainly, ama HOF locks.

So, it's Savon for me between the two, he literally blew me out of the water with all the rest of his unfortunate ama hopefuls. Gives me a similar buzz as young Tyson without the frenzy of activity.

You could feel it coming.........***BooM)))

Cheers..........

[Kid McCoy]

Veering off topic slightly, I recall a story of Roberto Duran traveling to Cuba to meet Castro in the mid-70s. The conversation eventually turned to how Stevenson would fare against Ali. Duran, tactful as ever, opined that "Ali would kill him". There ended the diplomatic mission.

[JAB5239]

Veering off topic slightly, I recall a story of Roberto Duran traveling to Cuba to meet Castro in the mid-70s. The conversation eventually turned to how Stevenson would fare against Ali. Duran, tactful as ever, opined that "Ali would kill him". There ended the diplomatic mission.

Funny story. Not many replies to this one, but thank you to you an LRR for your contributions.

[Silencers]

They could have been great pros but it's hard to say if they would have actually been great because it's very hard to tell if a fighter can adapt from the amateur ranks to the professional ranks.

On an off note, Richie Woodhall once asked Stevenson about the circumstances around the proposed Ali fight, Stevenson said that he was willing to fight Ali but it had to be 3 rounds a day over a 5 day period, Ali insisted it be one 15 round fight.

[ICEMAN JOHN SCULLY]

You know...Stevenson was an amateur boxer, period. For anyone to say that he could have beaten MUHAMMAD ALI at any point is borderline INSANE. The legend of Teo is strong, definitely...but PROFESSIONAL BOXING is a much different game...and you are not talking about some four round local club fighter, you are talking about MUHAMMAD... ALI. It would have been a one sided ridiculous matchup

[them_apples]

You know...Stevenson was an amateur boxer, period. For anyone to say that he could have beaten MUHAMMAD ALI at any point is borderline INSANE. The legend of Teo is strong, definitely...but PROFESSIONAL BOXING is a much different game...and you are not talking about some four round local club fighter, you are talking about MUHAMMAD... ALI. It would have been a one sided ridiculous matchup

I'd don't really think that, Stevenson decked guys that gave a lot of pro fighters trouble, or were turned into good pros themselves.

I guess you could say though that he had a lot more experience than them in the Olympics though.

[LondonRingRules]

You know...Stevenson was an amateur boxer, period. For anyone to say that he could have beaten MUHAMMAD ALI at any point is borderline INSANE. The legend of Teo is strong, definitely...but PROFESSIONAL BOXING is a much different game...and you are not talking about some four round local club fighter, you are talking about MUHAMMAD... ALI. It would have been a one sided ridiculous matchup

** Sorry Ice, but we are talking about MUHAMMAD... ALI and it ain't borderline insane that Leon whooped the stuffing out of him, it's the height of ridiculousness that boxing under his reign finally ended up at.

How one of the greatest legends of history reached such ridiculousness is a volatile non-politically correct story that no writer yet dare broach given the respect most have for his fragile condition.

At any rate, this thread a tribute to a pair of probable pro boxing greats denied the choice.

[¿?枯葉剤¿?]

I'd don't really think that, Stevenson decked guys that gave a lot of pro fighters trouble, or were turned into good pros themselves.

I guess you could say though that he had a lot more experience than them in the Olympics though.

That's true. But in the defense of the Cubanos, Cuba has a population of 11 million people, and their training equipment is out right terrible. Maybe Cassius Clay may have beat up Tefilo terribly, but Ali was more of ring tactician. Ali the ring tactician would match up better against some opponents, but worse against others. Ken Norton had a lanky frame similar to Stevenson, and he gave Ali a tough fight on more than one occasion. Plus Stevenson had immense power.

Stevenson's power on display:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uBF-...eature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifex6...eature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOB7_BFqUeU

You are right about the experience factor, with age comes wisdom, but with age also comes wear n' tear, less speed, and less energy.

[The Jackal]

Stevenson by far timing combined with power his Olympic record says all that need be said