Savon was the Cuban's " captain " for his entire life and a " devoted " communist so it seems. He had a good house and good life in Cuba with " unparalleled fame ", with no reasons for him to defect... Savon was an awesome fighter, he had one of the strongest right hands ever in the heavyweight division, he actually " moved like a welterweight " in there and then WHAMM!!! Savon was 6'5, and just 205lbs of " pure raw muscle ", and I have never ever seen a more " defined and muscular " heavyweight... He would have been a great World Professional Champion guaranteed. His resume is the most impressive of all the Heavyweights. Savon also fought at age 18 and 19 and beat up everybody so please leave that " excuse " that he was fighting " undeveloped kids " at home...:bart
i think that's the problem for me about only knowing about his later amateur career. when did he start? who did he beat in his first few years?
Great amateur doesn't always equal great pro. Guys with Stamina problems in pro's often didn't have that issue as amateurs 'cause they don't fight as many rounds. Oscar De La Hoya is a good example of that. He was a very good pro, but he was a Legendary Am.
Ray Mercer was on his way to knocking out Felix Savon if not for referee intervention in Savon's favor (inexplicably). Some of you cuban fans (this includes you too Gamboa Express) need to realize perhaps it was a GOOD thing Felix Savon didn't go pro, as he might have ended up exposed faster than Jorge Luis Gonzalez. I have no doubt if Ray Mercer was able to crack Felix Savon's chin not once, but TWICE, in the Olympic trials he would have knocked him the **** out in the pro's. "Ray Mercer, a soldier stationed in Germany, twice staggered Felix Savon, Cuba's fighter in the 201-pound class, but was impeded from doing further damage by questionable intervention by the referee, Alfredo Toledo, who is from Cuba." http://www.nytimes.com/1988/05/01/sports/olympics-us-outslugged-by-cuban-boxers.html?pagewanted=1 Felix Savon saved from an ass whipping from Ray Mercer by a Cuban referee...go figure :roll:
savon real stud but fact is all gold medals legit but #2,3 he was man fighting boys an i dont care for oscar but if he stuck around for three oly he probably wins three but i guess 100+millons he turned pro after 1st in american ameture boxing much different standards an you cant discount any of there acomplishments oscar was brillant amature in his own right multiple world champ pro ranks an class of 84 usa ranks with any cuban team with mark breland an american who you can p[ut in any argument in gratest ameture discusion
The guy that covered '88 Olympic boxing for the NY Times is a well known boxing historian and author. He wrote Joe Frazier's autobiography which you can still buy here: [ame]http://www.amazon.com/Smokin-Joe-Autobiography-Heavyweight-Champion/dp/002860847X[/ame] I'm sure he knows the difference between getting hit cleanly and getting wobbled
It sounds like you're scrambling to make excuses and discredit the article's first hand account. Why? Because it ruins this perceptual aura you have of the "great" Felix Savon? This was during the 88 Olympic trials. Bottom line I guess Roy Jones really lost in the Olympic final and wasn't robbed. Add Roy Jones Jr to Park Si Hun's list of victims.
Savon didnt have a solid chin..it just was hard to get to it and he will hit like a mule. like a black version of Wlad Klits
Savon was a fantastic fighter. I remember a friend saw him in Atlanta in 96 from the front row, along with all his obvious physical attributes he also had a very calm caocky arrogant demeanor, but not overly offensive. Said Savon just glided to the ring for each of his totally relaxed and laid back as if it was a mere workout. No stress, pressure or anxiety, jsut total control and self assuredness that he would win. I always remember that description, for Savon it was n't like it was an Olympic competition, it was like a workout. he was that far superior.
Now you're just being stupid, or blindly ignorant with bias. Which one is it? As good as any of the heavyweight pro's of the 90's? Do you really believe that? If so, you're an idiot, and you've just wasted my time. No wonder you refused to acknowledge the article, even from others who mentioned it prior before I even put up the link. Savon would have had his ass handed to him by Bowe, Lewis, Tyson, Holyfield, Moorer, Tua, Ibuchea, Mercer (and without a Cuban referee to save Savon this time), Briggs, Ruddock, etc... Basically any of the top tier heavyweights. Why? Becaused those fighters PROVED themselves after rising beyond the basics of amateur boxing and rules. Savon fought an overwhelmed, inexperienced Tua who had no defense and froze. Put Savon against the more physically developed Tua that developed his lethal left hook, Savon would be seeing lights out (he was stunned by Chagaev lol). Same with Briggs. Tyson, Bowe, Holyfield, Lewis would all have Savon on ***** street...the guy was an amateur fighter...A-M-A-T-E-U-R. Only fools like yourself equate amateur success with automatic professional success, especially when you place Savon on a pedestal with the 90's best heavyweights .
So that's what it was really all about, eh? You have some bias against American fighters/American media in general? You would rather take the words of "blind Freddy" rather than a well respected boxing historian (American)? (That's another emoticon for you). It seems you've only exposed your own ignorance, my friend. After all, only someone with a hidden bias would come up with the conclusion Felix Savon was as good as any of the 90's heavyweights. I was wondering to myself what sane boxing fan with an ounce of knowledge would actually believe such rubbish. This discussion has suddenly become much more enlightened now that you've admitted yourself. Now we know why your posts in this thread were so laughably far from reality. You wouldn't even acknowledge rationalizing that winning Olympic gold medals consecutively is not actually a sensational feat to compare against professional boxing. How many Gold medals do you think Oscar De La Hoya could have won if he stayed amateur all his life? Or Lennox Lewis? You just don't get it, do you? Of course not, you're not intelligent enough to understand winning a gold at age 33 against young competition gives a false sense of superiority in a sport where experience and growth matters. It just leads to stupid statements from simple individuals as yourself, like "... was as good as any of the pros who campaigned in the heavyweight ranks during the 1990s. " Felix Savon just as good as the 90's pro heavyweights? Really? Let's take this one step further. EXPLAIN to me how Felix Savon would fare against the following heavyweights in a full 12 round fight: 1. Larry Holmes (the Holmes that fought Holyfield) 2. Big George Foreman (again the one that fought Holyfield) 3. Evander Holyfield 4. Mike Tyson (Pre prison or Post prison up to 2000) 5. Riddick Bowe You break down to me exactly how Felix Savon would fare against these heavyweights. You want to make a fool of yourself by making foolish statements, because of some bias against Americans in general, be my guest. Feel free to consult "blind Freddy" in your breakdown as well.
He was gay and while gay people are not my cup of tea, i do work with 2 of them and i have to say they are extremely dedicated and loyal.
I ask this question: Why would he? He would have risked being a nobody, a perennial contender, in the era of Tyson, Lewis, Bowe, Holyfield ect. Making the choice he did, he is beloved, chilling at the beach, and having no worries in the world. Maybe my goals in life are not the most ambitious, but I'd be completely satisified if I were him.