how would he have done http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOB7_BFqUeU http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teófilo_Stevenson
Looks as though he would have been the Cuban Cassius Clay. However, he might not have been able to take a punch so you never know. But he looked the real deal
Stevenson will beat all of them. He was the best fighter ever. Only profesional needs this guy to demolish all former champions, includin Ali, Forman....
The guy was a pro am. Meaning he spent many years beatting up kids..Had he turned pro and fought other of his era he wouldnt have faired well. Stevenson had wars as an amatuer with Duane Bobrick who never amounted to much as a pro, Stevenson would have been in that same range. He was offered over 5 million US to turn pro in 76 I believe and he turned it down. He was later quoted as saying that was the biggest mistake of his life.
Igor Vysotsky owned Teofilo, in addition, Jimmy Clark gave Teo Hell, so I'm going with Ali and co. to beat him.
He got ko'd twice in prime years by a Soviet fighter who did not go to Olympics becuase of fear of defection. He had the edge over guys he fought, as did other Cuban and Soviet boxers of that time, because since they could not turn pro, they stayed amateur, yet lived like pros, and trained under best conditions. Stevenson did not show enough to beat any great fighter, especially since he could not beat that Russian guy (anyone have name?)
I tend to think Teofilio Enjoyed something of a chamed life by staying Simon Pure, if for no other reason then he enjoyed Full Physical Maturity over embryonic talents of the Many Future US Stars he Met, of Course his Right Hand garnered him a Rep for Sudden, Terminations which when allied to the youthful Mindset of these Fledgelings, well thats just say some fought for survival only, - But that Mindset does not, and Did Not Prevail in the Fully Mature, Mean Junk-Yard Dog world of The Pro's, particularly in the 70's Teofilio's Jab was not really an offensive Weapon, More a Prodded out Measureing Stick, to act as a Marker Beacon for his Big Right Hand, Unless he was Rebuilt pretty much from the Ground Up, his upright Chin in the Air Stance would i feel be found out, as would his Extended Left arm Style, to be sure he would probably get the Big Mac Foster/Big frank Bruno nurturing and an impressive Early Run ko Record Accrued, But What happens when he fights a, Not Ali, Holmes or Young, - But a Leroy Caldwell, Larry Middleton or Henry Clark Type, Guys who can Slip That Prodding Jab and Counter, Draw Teofilio's Sting Early and Make a Meal of that upright Stance Late, - Could be Foreman - Peralta Again with Teofilio not quite having the Foreman strengh, Resiliance and Heavy Density momentum to wade through the Counters and Fatique ?? even someone Like Little Bob Stallings may of provided Stevenson an interesting nights work ? ( Well Bob did notch up wins over Big Mac Foster, Al Blue Lewis and Earnie Shavers...so may of provided an adequate test ?) it is indeed interesting to speculate who might of done the actual "Smash An Grab" on Him ? i would certainly expect a fast-track 1st 18 - 24 months or so through the 4th - 3rd tier...the Milk Run...but when you get to the second Tier ..whos the Bannana Skin looking to land the lottery shot Unless they Cashed Teofilio in Quickly. or Steered him well through the Shark infested Waters of the Seventies Heavy Scene....i think the all conquering Ko King Mystique would be Ripped apart sometime after Dipping a Toe into the Second Division tier, at that stage questions start to get answered, Like can he Take It as well as give it out,? Can he Win Late ? Does he Have a Left Hook ? Can he Slip a Good Jab ? Can he Take it to the Body ? whats his Stamina like,The Heavyweight Division at this time was quite bountiful with Heavies who could certainly Punch if little else, Al Jones, Jeff Merritt, Ted Gullick, Al Lewis, Mac Foster, Jose Urtain, Jose Garcia, and Morris Jackson to name a Few, But they had part of the Jigsaw Missing, and Failed to make it all the way to the Summit, and its only a personal opinion, but I think Tefilio would have Joined Them, Perhaps i am being a bit Harsh, in that certain trainers can indeed work wonders with raw material, and particularly Raw Material that is disiplined and focused, lets Say Stevenson, as far as the pro's go was very unpolished ? when buffed up for 18 months or so could he still be fools gold ? Not financially, i think once the hype-wagon got rolling it would be a very attractive lucrative ride (immense these days with PPV) Stopping off at points/types such as Luis Pires, Levi Forte Bill Dover ( well he did upset hot Prospect Forest Ward ) and Roberto Davilia, a well worn track in fact, the foothills, but its the steep incline to top world class that i have some difficulty in picturing, somewhere i feel a gasket would blow, there would be a loss of steam and momentum, A bad man would Rob the Gravy Train..."Stand and Deliver" ?...Hell,."Fall and I'm taking it" more like... It would nonetheless of been an interesting Journey. But ultimately the Transition to Genuine Top Flight Level, and consolidation there, i think would of been a step beyond Tefilio, we have to remember that with Teofilio's Rep, even So-So / Journeyman opposition will be Financially incentivised to become the first to Knock Teofilio off his perch, and would probably fight out of their Skins to hit the Jackpot ! It might make Teofilio's Job Easier most of the Time...But Every now and Again... Certainly he's the type opponent Jerry quarry alone would probably have been licking his lips at.... Its only a personal opinion, no more valid then anyone else's but for me its a case of... Perhaps Close...But No Cigar....and if he steps on that Bannana skin early, ..perhaps not evan a cigerette !?
Stevenson was a good fighter, couldn't stand watching him beat our amateurs in the olympics. Dang, it was unfair. He stood up straight, and jab jab, then pow!!! He learned from those Soviets how to fight. But I would have loved to see Ali knock him out. Foreman too. Hopefully Frazier and Tyson.
I couldn't give someone who has never fought in the pro ranks the benefit of the doubt, so he loses to all of them.
When you think about it, Teofilo Stevenson was the first PBF. He didn't fight the really great fighters of his time, so the grandeur lives on.
