If Savon and Stevenson had gone pro...

[CHEECH]

my speculative guess on vysotsky woulda been some kinda injury keepin him out of the olympics. he musta been a helluva fighter cuz u know how Stevenson was. i think we all agree amateur and pro r very different and many a great amateur has gone on to be at best an above average pro but i think teo woulda been one of the exceptions. i wouldnot have picked him against holmes but the others mentioned earlier i would have.

[Build That Wall]

Yes, they would have been Champions.

[dchampishere]

There is such a difference in the pro and amateur game. Many great amateurs have been knocked off before the even get in the rankings. My first impression is that the would do well because they were great amateurs but you never can tell. Take Jorge L Gonzalez for example. He wasn't quite Savon or Stevenson but he did beat Rid**** Bowe and Lennox Lewis in the amateurs.
Jimmy Clark beat Stevenson in the amateurs but never cracked the top ten as a pro.
I guess it would depend on how they handled as a professional and how well they were managed. But you never know.

Jorge L Gonzalez is a very good friend of mine and he was not on the same level as Stevenson and Savon, not to mention training was not his "forte" once he got to America. Coming from where he came from to have the lifestyle and temptations thrust on him once he turned pro was overwhelming. I did not have the same experience but the culture shock was still huge

[greynotsoold]

I think they would have done ok, but world champions? Probably not. It is a curious thing...In those days, the amateurs fought in a more pro style, but there was a huge difference between being a pro and being an amateur. These days, everybody fights like an amateur.
Something else worth mentioning. In those days, they could not have been successful in the pro ranks training in the Cuban amateur style. The difference was too great, and there were still a lot of real top flight teachers training at the pro level. Guys that really knew fighting and boxing. That isn't the case so much any more. At least, it doesn't seem to be so, because you don't see too many real pro fighters any more.
I don't think the eastern Europeans would have had the success they enjoy now, not back then when there were real pros around.

[rightsideup]

I think they would have done ok, but world champions? Probably not. It is a curious thing...In those days, the amateurs fought in a more pro style, but there was a huge difference between being a pro and being an amateur. These days, everybody fights like an amateur.
Something else worth mentioning. In those days, they could not have been successful in the pro ranks training in the Cuban amateur style. The difference was too great, and there were still a lot of real top flight teachers training at the pro level. Guys that really knew fighting and boxing. That isn't the case so much any more. At least, it doesn't seem to be so, because you don't see too many real pro fighters any more.
I don't think the eastern Europeans would have had the success they enjoy now, not back then when there were real pros around.

Interesting before Castro Cuba was a haven for quality pro's Dundee claim's he was approached to move there. He did train some remarkable fighters from there.

[TBear]

Jorge L Gonzalez is a very good friend of mine and he was not on the same level as Stevenson and Savon, not to mention training was not his "forte" once he got to America. Coming from where he came from to have the lifestyle and temptations thrust on him once he turned pro was overwhelming. I did not have the same experience but the culture shock was still huge

Yes, I mentioned Gonzalez wasn't on Stevenson's or Savon's level but I was also thinking of alot of other great amateurs that never reached the same levels as a professional. Guys like Howard Davis and Mark Breland.

But what you said about adjusting lifestyles,
It happens alot, the culture shock. Those temptations and lifestyle changes have affected so many fighters and from various backgrounds.
It has also been said before is like winning the lottery. Suddenly you have alot of money and free time. When the average person wins the lottery, they quit their job and working. Many athletes in all sports do this too.

[dchampishere]

Yes, I mentioned Gonzalez wasn't on Stevenson's or Savon's level but I was also thinking of alot of other great amateurs that never reached the same levels as a professional. Guys like Howard Davis and Mark Breland.

But what you said about adjusting lifestyles,
It happens alot, the culture shock. Those temptations and lifestyle changes have affected so many fighters and from various backgrounds.
It has also been said before is like winning the lottery. Suddenly you have alot of money and free time. When the average person wins the lottery, they quit their job and working. Many athletes in all sports do this too.

This is very true, i still think to this day had Jorge been at least half as dedicated to the craft as he was on the island he would have been a World Champion and could have been in many marque fights during his career. But we saw what happened, talent without sacrifice and dedication is nothing.

[TBear]

This is very true, i still think to this day had Jorge been at least half as dedicated to the craft as he was on the island he would have been a World Champion and could have been in many marque fights during his career. But we saw what happened, talent without sacrifice and dedication is nothing.

Completely agree.

[Ray Corso]

I don't see why not!!! Stevenson is the early precurser of the Klitz bros. Above average height and reach and basicly use the jab to score and range find to be able to drop right hands in!!! The questions would come about over all defense and being able to manage against solid pressure. Learning to tie up and walk off and turn out instead of moving back in a straight line! The over sized guys always seem to be very stiff in their motion and moving forward more than a short quick step at a time seems to negate balance.
They had the power and certainly dominated the division as amatuers for a long while!!!
Then theres nevigating the distances from working in 3 rounds and that is a transition if you've boxed 3 for so long!!! I think they'd both hold their own!
Ray

[CHEECH]

Dundee was quoted saying something like if he had teo, he'd b champ in no time. the transition from 3 to 10 rounds is something dam near all pros done made so I don't see it as an obstacle for either savon or teo. bfor u get too excited, what I mean is that I believe they would adjust as the others adjust. ali adjusted, Floyd did it and yadda yadda yadda. difference is while they was getting adjusted they'd b whackin out one trial horse after another on the way to the big time. maybe not but just as a speculation, teo woulda got a belt maybe even got ken Norton before holmes thereby getting the main lineal whatever u call it belt. but again, no I woulnt bet on teo to beat holmes