How do you think he would've done as a pro if he'd started after either Munich (72), Havana (74), or Montreal (76)? Imo he would've shook things up large in the mid 70's. I could see him winning the title eventually at some point in the 70's.
we know him at amateur, tons of fighters were great in a 4 rounder but they were crap in long distances
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 (pre) Tysonesque Rep for Sudden, if Cleaner, 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 Measuring 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 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 ?) 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, the Transition to Genuine Top Flight Level, and consolidation there, i think would of been a step beyond Tefilio, we have to remember also that with Teofilio's Rep, that even So-So / Journeyman opporsition will be Financially incentiveised 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 its the type opponent Jerry quarry alone would probably have been licking his lips at.... Perhaps Close...But No Cigar....perhaps not evan a cigerette !?
He would turn pro, meet up with the pro version of Igor Vysotsky, and disappear, never to be seen again.
It's hard to say when it really comes down to it, i guess. All the points mentioned are certainly valid, but i'm of the opinion that he was in fact a really good fighter with ATG potential. If he started his pro career in lets say 72/73 or 73/74, he'd have had a decent shot at ruling the ranks in the late 70's/early 80's. It would've been perfect timing for him too imo. I could see him being managed such that he accrues a nice 30-0 unbeaten record in the same fashion Holmes did, and then finally fights Holmes for the title at some point in 79. I think at the very least he would've did reasonably well in the pros. To use an analogy, i could see him being the late 70's/early 80's version of Lennox Lewis. He would've probably either retired or crapped out around 84-85.
Jerry Quarry, Oscar Bonavena, Jimmy Young, and of course, Ali, Frazier and Foreman, would all have added his pelt to their collections.
I disagree. By the time Stevenson is hot on the scene, Ali was shot, Foreman would've been gone, and if his management was smart, they'd have avoided Frazier in the late 70's. He wasn't really around anyway. I think Teo beats the other guys you mention.
