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Right cross, right time Savon continues Cuban heavyweight dominance
Posted: Sunday July 26, 1998 11:32 PM
NEW YORK (CNN/SI) -- When you talk about great heavyweight boxers from Cuba, the list begins with three-time Olympic gold medalist Teofilo Stevenson, continues with the late Roberto Balado and culminates with present-day sensation Felix Savon. On Monday night, Savon hopes to show the world and specifically New Yorkers just how good he is as he looks to 'threepeat' at the Goodwill Games. Savon is widely considered the best boxer in the world who is not fighting professionally. Due to Cuba's political structure, its boxers do not turn pro unless they defect from the homeland. "I don't like professional boxing," Savon said through an interpreter. "There is a tremendous difference between Olympic style and professional boxing. "In professional ranks, the athlete is not at all. They don't take care of him and the main interest is making money. It is a very dirty sport." Savon has amassed an incredible record of 383-13 as an amateur. He is the two-time reigning Olympic heavyweight gold medalist and has not lost a match in the Goodwill Games. He has won all six of his bouts in Goodwill Games competition en route to placing first in 1990 in Seattle and four years later at St. Petersburg, Russia. In the 1994 Games, Savon breezed through the competition after his opening bout, a close decision over France's Christophe Mendy. He stopped Peter Mueller of Germany in the first round on head blows before knocking out Russia's Sergei Mochalov in the opening round of the gold-medal bout. But the 31-year-old Savon has slowed down over the last year. After winning his second Olympic gold medal in Atlanta in 1996, Savon lost for the first time in almost 10 years when he was knocked out in a tournament in Cuba in January 1997. Nine months later, in the finals of the 1997 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Savon dropped a 14-4 decision to Rustam Chagaev of Uzbekistan. Chagaev later was stripped of his world championship when it was proven that he fought professionally in the United States years earlier. But is Savon now vulnerable with his recent setbacks, or will the international platform of the Goodwill Games restore his invincibility and further solidify his greatness? Seven boxers hope to get a crack at trying to beat Savon, and the American trio of DaVarryl Williamson, Stanley McClain and Malcom Tann await the chance. "He is a tremendous specimen of an athlete," Williamson said. "He works hard and is tall and rangy and packs a good punch. But I think I am ready to test the waters to see what we are made of." The 30-year-old Williamson is the United States' best hope for a medal. He served as an alternate at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta and saw Savon up close. "I followed him quite a bit," said Williamson. "He won the '96 Games very impressively. "I was an alternate in the 1996 Olympic Games but this is my makeup exam and I'm treating it like a major exam," added Williamson, who recently obtained his master's degree from Northern Michigan University. "This is my second chance in terms of the Olympic movement. This a high-profile event and the top guys are here." Williamson, who took up boxing to stay in shape after being cut from a tryout with the NFL's Indianapolis Colts, has made a name for himself on the boxing amateur scene in his brief five-year career. Earlier this year at the U.S Championships, he became the first American heavyweight to win three consecutive titles. And with all his success as an amateur, turning professional is not in the immediate future for Williamson as he hopes to earn a spot on the U.S. team for the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. The 30-year-old McClain learned to box while serving his country in the U.S. Army and also was a late bloomer. But last year was a banner year for him as he won All-Army Championship for the second time and also was the Armed Forces champ. The other contenders include three fighters who competed at last year's World Championships and currently are ranked in the top 10 by International Amateur Boxing Associaton. Mark Simmons of Canada has first-hand experience against Savon as he dropped a one-sided 15-4 decision to the Cuban superstar. Germany's Mike Hanke and Giacobbe Fragomeni of Italy, who both lost to Chagaev, seek to correct the injustice that transpired at the World Championships. And the Russians send 1996 Olympian Igor Kshinin and Dmitri Gerasimov to the ring in hopes of derailing Savon. For the rest of the field, it's beware of Savon and watch out for the right cross.
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