Stevenson, Teófilo
Stevenson, Teófilo,
1952–2012, Cuban heavyweight boxer, b. Puerto Padre. One of the greatest amateur boxers ever to enter the ring, he won gold medals at the Munich (1972), Montreal (1976), and Moscow (1980) Olympics, three world amateur championships (1974 and 1978 as a heavyweight and 1986 as a superheavyweight), and gold medals in the Pan-American Games (1975, 1979). With his crushing right hand, stinging left jab, and gentlemanly demeanor in and out of the ring, he became a Cuban national hero. Stevenson, loyal to the Castro regime, which forbade professional boxing, refused requests to turn pro, despite offers of multimillion dollar purses and the opportunity to fight Muhammad AliAli, Muhammad, 1942–2016, American boxer, b. Louisville, Ky. Born Cassius Marcellus Clay, he was a 1960 Olympic gold medalist. Shortly after upsetting Sonny Liston in 1964 to become world heavyweight champion, he formalized his association with the Nation of Islam (see
..... Click the link for more information. . He retired in 1987.