How Big a Threat Could Teofilo Stevenson have been

let me just put it this way. there were a lot of dynamics to nick wells' failure as a pro . it wasn't as if he thought that it was going to turn out that way. he was young and misguided and needed direction. he was the oldest of nine children and left home at the age of 15 or 16 to go and live in high school science lab, feeding the and taking care of the animals as payment for this.he raised himself and fended for himself. his parents were too busy dealing with liitle children to be able to give proper advice and eager for him to leave meaning that it was one less mouth to feed. he was introduced to boxing in high school, never had any kind of background in it. he was also offered a full ride scholarship to the university of nebraska for football but declined that as well taking the boxing route instead,another poor decision made by a naive youthful wells. he made his mark as an amateur boxer and i can see why everyone is so taken back as to why he didnt succeed as a pro. he was courted by some of the best im sure but did not have a mentor whispering in his ear saying yea or neah . his decline of lou duva had a lot to do with the location of being in new jersey , he didnt want to be in a cold environment and didnt want to be in a concrete jungle. he was extremly naive when it came to this and was probably thinking that it was a good thing that someone in his home state wanted to take him on. when in reality it was the worst thing that could have ever happened to him.

 

That man was Igor Vysotsky. Vysotsky was a thunderous puncher with either hand. He KO'd Stevenson, and won a points decision from him in their second meeting.

 

I would have loved to see the fight between stevenson and wells in the 1972 olympic games but it never happened but should have.

 

If Stevenson can't handle Vysotsky, who Jimmy Clark beat, I don't see him doing great, maybe lower top ten at best.

 

There's nothing to suggest he wouldn't, but some amateurs stay amateurs for too long and cannot make the transition. They never really get out of the amateur way of fighting...

 

well vysotsky wasnt a bad fighter. the russians were possibly the most powerful team at the time. remember that stevenson was one of the first elite fidelite amatuers. before and during castro, cuba had some good ams but by the 70's they had a system that is still used today, which still produces the best 8min fighters.

he would of gone pro by the late to mid 70's so norton,ali,frazier,foreman,quarry are starting to go into recline. also this is before the crack epidemic of the 80's which got rid of a load of talent. meaning a 5 year weak period (which still has some solid fighters) that could be used to his advantage.

the stamina issue could be applied to any fighter. but stevenson never smoked, wasnt a big drinker, and a dedicated athlete. so i can guess that he wouldnt burned his candle at both ends, he wouldnt of been put in a 12 rounder in his first pro fight and most of the cubes that gone pro are good 12 round fighters casamayor being the most notable.

him and cooney would of been an interesting fight with the winner fighting holmes.

he shoudl be abe to blast away spinks. get rid of a shot unwilling quarry or/and a ken norton whos chin and athletic abilty's seem to be leaving him by then.

he would be pushed to contendership early then held at the top 10 mark where he would be groomed. would of fought another turn of the decade contender. possibly lose, come back and do the same for another 3 years before fighting for a title....a respectable 25-2-0 (20koes) which i dont think he can win against a wiley guy like holmes.

stevenson while a good offensive fighter with a booming hook and a sledgehammer right cross with a nice jab. his defence was pretty basic. and he usually seemed to take the punches and trade rather than block and move. his movement is good but he doesnt seem crafty enough to put it to good use.

being koed and outhustled by shorter guys. damiani did a good job on him looking back at it.

 

I agree. I can imagine Stevenson defeating Quarry, Norton, Shavers, etc.

But I can't see him defeating Holmes

 

I also understand that Angel Milian gave him hell.

 

Thanks on the name, that's the guy. He was an animal, fast hands, very hard punch. He was stocky guy, but not fat or muscle bound. About 5'-11" 200 pounds.

 

Vyotsky faded by time he fought Clark. I don't think Stevensons style, which was very upright and stuff, woulld have translated well to pros.

 

I think Clark stopped Vysotsky on cuts prior to Igor stopping Stevenson.

 

Not as big a threat as people seem to think. Amateur greatness does not equal pro success.

 

You may be right. Woody Clark was great amateur. Like many others, he dd not do well in transition to pros. Like Duane Bobick. He beat Larry Holmes by stoppage, among other wins, to make Olympic team, flopped as pro.

 

Sorry I thought it was refering to Jimmy Clark. Ooops

 

Clark stopped Vysotsky on a cut i believe. Igor had Jimmy down and was in control of the fight from what I heard and there was confusion over the cause of the cut. No headgear back then.
Igor did beat Clark on points when they met again.

I do concur about Stevenson as a pro however, i have doubts about him being the dominant force many believe he would have been