Stevenson, Teófilo

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Teófilo Stevenson, 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 Ali. He retired in 1987.

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Stevenson, Teófilo

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