Probably the greatest boxer I ever saw. I think he would have kicked Ali’s ass.
But at least the healthcare was free.
RIP
The Greatest Fight that never happened was him and M. Ali in their prime.
He was good. I always thought that he seemed beatable—but he always won. He was deceptively good. I think that Ali in his prime, before the three-year layoff, would have beaten him more often than not. After the three-year layoff, I would have given the advantage to Stevenson.
60?....yikes.....way too young....RIP....
RIP.
One of the best boxers, ever. And, in an era of great heavyweights, he would have won the title...he was that good.
Probably would have kept Ali from becoming so popular...and probably would have kept George Foreman (first world title), Leon Spinks, and Larry Holmes from ever being world champ
Too bad Castro was such a Commie back then...and would not let Stevenson defect. He would have brought back millions to Cuba with all the prize money he would have won.
Great amateur boxer who never would have had a chance at title if it were not for Castro and the Olympics. He never could have stood toe to toe with Ali or Joe. As far as Foreman goes, all Olympic fights are short, 4 rounds maximum which was Foreman’s forte.
It was distance George couldn’t take, as Ali proved in his rope a dope fight that wore foreman down. Truth is, Ali’s problems today stem from him taking everything King George had to offer. When George wore himself out by punching Ali on the ropes, Ali danced ans dropped the big man.
Only one man in history would have ever beat Ali in a prime against prime fight, Rocky Marciano. Rocky was used to taking a beating like Ali did against George, but Rocky did it while fighting toe to toe in every fight. He never did it while leaning against a rope to tire the opponent out as Ali did his last great comeback fight. Yes, Rocky was the original Italian Stallion that could take the best from the best and survived it all as the only undefeated boxer in history.
However, never ever compare the commie to Ali. Because long before he was Ali, he was Cassius Clay, and there ain’t never been a greater amateur fighter in the history of boxing. I will never fall for the story that Teofilo Stevenson would have been one of the great ones if he had the chance to go pro. His greatness is and always will be compared to the amateurs he boxed.
For everyone who thinks he would have been a great one if he turned pro, I suggest you study the film and compare his fights to the true greats. Stevenson was nothing but an amateur, and Castro knew it. You don’t think Castro would have loved to see his boxer beat the American pros? get real, he would have relished it, but he and hi people knew that Teofilo was an amateur and would not last two rounds.
Met him and got his autograph when the Cuban national baseball team played the Orioles in Baltimore.