In the context of today’s world, Teofilo Stevenson, the Cuban Olympic boxing legend, would have been termed ‘crazy’ or a loser. But to the Cubans at large and their former president Fidel Castro, he remains a hero.
Lured by mega bucks and even compared to the great Muhammad Ali, Teofilo had his moments to make it big. But the handsome giant of a boxer, who waltzed through heavyweight bouts to win gold at Munich (1972), Montreal (1976) and Moscow (1980) Olympics, spurned them all.
Teofilo Lorenzo Stevenson, born in Delicias, Puerto Madre, Cuba, on March 29, 1952, became the first boxer to win three successive Olympic gold medals in the same division.
Consequently he was called the best amateur boxer of the century.
Even as a 22-year-old, after his first Olympic gold, Teofilo was offered one million dollars to migrate to the US and turn professional. The offers kept mounting in the following years but the Cuban remained firm. “I would rather remain in my country and be in the ‘red’ than be ‘read’,” said Teofilo of his decision. And he became an instant hero in his homeland.
Castro was so impressed with him that he gifted Teofilo a two-storeyed house, a car and a five-bedroom villa in appreciation.
At the 1972 Games, Teofilo packed off Duane Bobick of the US followed by Germany’s Peter Hussing, who later admitted: “You don’t see his right hand… and all of a sudden it’s on your chin.” The final was not on as Ion Alexe of Romania forfeited the bout due to a thumb injury.
At Montreal, Teofilo’s first three opponents lasted just seven minutes and 22 seconds in all — a record. In the final, Mircea Simion of Romania survived three rounds before throwing in the towel.
At Moscow, Hungary’s Istvan Levai ran around the ring to avoid Teofilo’s right to become the first boxer in the Olympics to go the distance against the Cuban.
Teofilo then disposed of Pyotr Zayev of the USSR for his third gold. Teofilo could not participate in the Los Angeles Olympics following the Soviet-led boycott of the Games.
At the 1983 World Championship, Italian Francesco Damiani floored Teofilo in the first round and it seemed to be the end of an era then, but the ‘gentle giant’ was not finished.
He worked harder and bounced back in a telling manner to win the world amateur heavyweight title in 1986 at the age of 36. Ali’s manager Angelo Dundee had said: “I had the champ (Ali) but all others wanted him.” Teofilo, however, turned them all down.
Today, as the vice president of the Cuban Boxing Federation, Teofilo is still adored by the Cubans.
Avinash Nair
Comments
SHARE