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Stevenson's successor? Savon's not invincible, but be careful
Posted: Saturday August 01, 1998 06:26 PM
NEW YORK (AP) - When American heavyweight DaVarryl Williamson crashed to the canvas, he landed in Felix Savon's past. Not the recent past, but back when the Cuban was the unquestioned and worthy successor to countryman Teofilo Stevenson as the best-known and most-feared amateur boxer in the world. The 30-year-old Savon still wore his cloak of invincibility, woven out of arrogance and disdain, when he vaulted over the top rope and into the ring for his 201-pound Goodwill Games final against Williamson Friday night in The Theater at Madison Square Garden. People in and around amateur boxing knew, however, that there were some recent holes in the cloak worn so long by the two-time Olympic champion and four-time world champion. Savon was outpointed 14-4 by Rustam Chagaev of Uzbekistan in the heavyweight final at the world championships last October at Budapest, Hungary. In January, Savon was knocked out in a tournament in Cuba. So the gold medal at the Goodwill Games, a good if not top flight international competition, did not look like a lock for Savon. He had no trouble reaching the final, but neither did the 29-year-old Williamson of Aurora, Illinois, a three-time U.S. champion with an 11-3 record in international competition. Williamson was believed capable of testing Savon's legs, reflexes and chin. The fight was over before the test could be completed. Williamson did land a straight right and backed up Savon shortly after the match started. Then he again backed up the Cuban with a leaping left to the head. Savon missed with a left, but as Williamson started to throw a right, Savon landed a right to the American's jaw. The Russian referee counted, but there was no need. It was over with 55 seconds left in the first round. The winning right was a punch that would have made Stevenson proud. It was a counter punch - the way Stevenson liked to throw his right when was he was the sport's hero from his first Olympic title until his last world championship gold medal in 1986. Like Stevenson, Savon often has been asked about defecting and fighting professionally. There were rumors last week that Savon would defect. ”I love my country,” Savon said through a translator. As for turning pro, Savon, like Stevenson, thinks pro boxing is exploitative. When Stevenson was boxing, he often was asked would he box Muhammad Ali, even in an exhibition. Talk was all it was. Stevenson probably would not have been a top pro, and it is unlikely Savon would be either. First, his age is against him, and secondly he's been a amateur too long to learn what is entirely a different game. Savon, like Stevenson, is satisfied with being what he is - a Cuban hero, whose fame has spread far from the island. As for going after a third Olympic title, Savon said it was a possibility. But the Cuban heavyweight at Sydney might be that guy who knocked out Savon. Sentiment goes only so far, even in amateur boxing.
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