Cuban boxer Teofilo Stevenson is well known in the sports field. He achieved world fame thanks only to his desire to be the best among the best. Until the age of 9, Teofilo Stevenson, whose fights can be called one of the most colorful in boxing, was an ordinary guy who spent his free time without much benefit. But everything changed just then. Theofilo Stevenson, whose biography will be given in the article, ended up in a sports school, in which his father also attended for some time. Thus began the story of the famous boxer.
Theofilo Stevenson Lawrence Biography
The boxer was born into an ordinary working-class family in Powert Padre (Cuba). The athlete is known for his merits at the Olympics, where he won three gold medals. Such achievements have not been observed by anyone else in the boxing world either earlier or later.
Theofilo Stevenson Family
His father was an immigrant who moved to Cuba in 1923. For a long time he was interrupted by inconsistent earnings, one of which was the tutoring of the English language. Having large dimensions, his father was respected among his entourage. Once he was invited to boxing classes, where he spent seven fights. After the last of these, Stevenson Sr. gave up training. According to him, the reason was a high level of corruption in the sports field. And it was no accident. Dirty business management was at that time inherent in sports clubs.
Mother Teofilo was a native Cuban born and raised in Powerto Padre. Being a woman with character, she had considerable authority in the family. Sometimes, even Father Teofilo tried to avoid clashes with her. The athlete himself in his young years for some time hid his passion for boxing, as his mother was against practicing this sport.
Athlete's childhood
Theofilo Stevenson was not particularly talented in his youth. As a lazy teenager, he just simply killed his time until he got to the boxing section at the age of 9. The hall in which he was engaged was the same as his father had previously visited. The father was aware of his son's hobbies, but helped him hide it from his mother. Finally, when the time came, he volunteered to notify his wife, which he regretted very much, since she was simply furious. But in the end, she gave the go-ahead for training.
The first coach of Teofilo was the former Cuban champion John Herrera. He saw in the young man much greater potential than in his father. Therefore, he paid special attention to training with young Stevenson. And they were not in vain. As a teenager, Teofilo won several fights, coming out against rivals superior in strength, speed and years of training. The best boxers came across a guy who achieved such achievements only through desire and an experienced mentor. And this clash ended in defeat for them.
So it came to victory in the junior competition, where the fighter won the cup, and then went to take courses in Havana.
Boxing. Teofilo stevenson
While studying in Havana, Teofilo met with Andrei Chervonenko, who had specially arrived from Moscow to improve the boxing school in Cuba. In view of the decree of 1962, boxing was a prohibited activity on the island, and in order to fight, it was necessary to obtain permission from the administration. Chervonenko also organized a real boxing school from the dilapidated refuge of fans to wave their hands.
With the new coach, boxing classes Teofilo gained a new level, which allowed him to participate in more serious battles. However, on the first of these, the young boxer failed. He was defeated by Gabriel Garcia, the famous heavyweight of the time. But this only encouraged Teofilo, pushing him to even more persistent training. And the time was not wasted. Following the defeat, the boxer won two victories in a row over Perez and Carrilo. These fighters were considered the best and excelled Teofilo in many ways. However, this did not prevent the young capable fighter from sending them to the ring. The best boxers in the world - that’s with whom the famous boxer was to face the ring.
Championship of Central America
Victories over Perez and Carrilo allowed Teofilo to take his place in the Cuban national team and go to the championship held in Central America. There, the boxer won one battle after another until he was defeated in the final. However, this recommended him as the best fighter in Cuba, where Teofilo was honored by fellow countrymen upon his return. Having returned, the athlete continued his training. In addition to Chervonenko, Stevenson has a second coach. It was Alcides Saggaro - an experienced Cuban boxer.
In constant training, Teofilo was able to put a crushing jab, which became his crown in a number of fights. After the Central American Championship, Teofilo enters the ring in Berlin, where Bern Andern went against him. The fight was quick and without significant damage to the Cuban athlete. He easily coped with a German fighter, putting him into the ring in a fairly short time.
Munich Olympic Games
When Teofilo was 20 years old, he and his team went to Munich, where the Olympics took place. The first battle fell to the Cuban with the Pole Denderis and did not take a minute. Having laid the enemy on the shoulder blades, Teofilo went to the next stage. It turned out to be much more complicated. This fight was the most memorable in the history of the boxer, as he had to show what he was capable of for three whole rounds. His opponent, American Dwayne Bobik, was probing the Cuban defense as best he could. But in the third round, Teofilo began to literally smash the enemy in the ring. After the third fall of the American on the ropes, the judges declared Teofilo the winner.
In the semifinal battle against the Cuban boxer, the German Peter Hassing came out. The battle ended very quickly in Teofilo's favor. The final fight was the shortest for the entire Munich Olympics. It simply did not take place for the reason that the opponent Teofilo could not enter the ring due to injury.
The Cuban team has never brought home so many awards at a time. These were three gold medals and one silver. There was also a bronze medal. Cuban boxers rightfully earned respect for themselves as professional fighters, and were no longer dismissive of them, as happened before.
Victory at the World Cup and refusal to fight with Muhammad Ali
In 1974, Stevenson again received gold, after which he was awarded the medal at the Olympic Games in Montreal. By 1976, Stevenson had three gold medals, so it is not surprising that he was offered a contract to fight with Muhammad Ali. Teofilo refused the offer, despite the fact that in case of loss he receives five million dollars. What promised him a win? However, the Cuban fighter argued that it is important for him to respect the population of Cuba more than money.
Moscow Olympics
In 1980, Stevenson goes to the Moscow Olympic Games, where he defeats his opponents. This is the third Olympics in which he emerged victorious. Nobody could beat this record for twenty years until it was repeated by Felix Savon, who is also a native of Cuba.
The opportunity to participate in the fourth Olympics
Closer to the Olympics, which was supposed to be held in Los Angeles, the Cuban worked hard. This would be the fourth Olympics, where he could win, but he could not get on it. The reason was another manifestation of the Cold War, which was fought between the USSR and the USA. The Soviet Union boycotted an invitation to participate in games taking place in the United States. Being a faithful ally of the USSR, Cuba followed suit and also refused to participate.
Teofilo had every chance to win, because the winner of the final was Bigz, a former Cuban opponent who was defeated. Many sports analysts had no doubt that Stevenson would win again in this fight.
Boxing Leave
1988 is famous for hosting the next Olympics, but Cuba, yielding to the influence of the USSR, again announced a boycott to the organizers. But this time, Teofilo did not even try to get on her. This year is known to the boxer as the year when he left the sport.
Stevenson was defeated only 22 times in his long career. And this is from his 302 fights. No one managed to defeat the Cuban twice, with the exception of Igor Vysotsky. But you can’t say that it was easy for the Russian athlete. His image misled opponents, because Teofilo did not have the serious dimensions characteristic of boxers of that time. However, this has become a fatal mistake of many. The main feature of the Cuban boxer is his willpower and thirst for victory, which he developed in himself with every minute spent in the ring.
In 2012, it became known about the death of a boxer. At that time, Teofilo was 60 years old.