Teofilo Stevenson was a Cuban Heavyweight fighter. He remained an amateur because Cuban law prohibited professional athletics. He won three Olympic Gold Medals. He would have won four, had Cuba not have boycotted the 1984 Olympics. He was called Muhammad Foreman. He had the speed of Ali and the power of Foreman. In 1977 Stevenson was offered $5 million to turn pro and fight Ali. He declined because he was a loyal Cuban. If he had done it, who would have won? 1977 was shortly before Ali lost to Leon Spinks. He was slowing down and may have been showing early signs of Parkinson's. Stevenson was mid way through his career- still in top form. I would bet on Stevenson. What do you say?
I'd have to say Ali. The pro game is completely different, we've seen excellent amateur heavyweights like Solis not have much success at pro. Obviously Stevenson is on another level and has all the tools but he would have to be brought along gradually and a guy as crafty as Ali is not who you start with.
Stevenson may have beaten Ali in 77 thru 80. Ali was not even a shell of his former self but a shadow . But prime vs prime, or Ali prior to 1975? A total mismatch. Ali would've ruined Stevenson without pro seasoning.
Again read my lips, Stevenson fought in a Communist nation, Cuba. In Cuba it was ruled by Fidel Castro, $5million dollars would have gone to Castro, or Teofilo would have been imprisoned for fighting for money, in the communist world everyone gets the same amount of money, 1 box of food for the month. 4 families have to live in the same home, those families are given a vehicle for transportation, the vehicle is probably a 1959 used model vehicle, they do not have modern vehicles in that imprisoned country. Castro assigns you an occupation, and you had better do it. In 1977 Fidel Castro was in full power. Amateurs had to remain amateurs, only 3 round fights, no way to turn pro, that could be a long prison sentence. So is Teofilo going to risk all that for $ 5 million dollars that he will never see? That is why that supposed fight never happened, do you think that President Jimmy Carter could have gotten Muhammad Ali out of a Cuban prison? Cuba became Communist on Jan 1 1959, still is communist along with North Korea.
You do not know how to think youngster, I think that your Lobotomy has the best of you, Duh. Only 82 likes.
Immature words from a twelve year old. Ha, Ha. Is mommy and daddy going to stuff you into bed tonight little clown after you put on your night gown Buffy?
