Felix Savon?

[danny stash]

How good was he? If he tried could he have been the champ here? My money says 100% yes. Anyone?

[Steelhammer86]

I don't know for certain how good he was, but he was defeated by an 18 year old named Ruslan Chagaev in 1997, and Ruslan beat him a second time as well.

Savon would have at least been a top contender, and probably won a title or two in the pros.

[danny stash]

yeah but the chagaev loss was reversed becasue he was not an amateur.

[Steelhammer86]

yeah but the chagaev loss was reversed becasue he was not an amateur.

But Chagaev was just 18 at the time, and his amateur status was later restored. Most of Savon's young opponents in the 1996 and 2000 Olympics and other international tournaments were inexperienced and not fully developed, while Savon was at his physical peak.

[pesticid]

Savon was a great amateur I think he won the olympics 3 times, the 4th time I think he lost to Chagaev and he was rather badly hurt even though points-wise it was a controversial decision. I never liked his style though.