Martial Arts And Combat Sports Codexery

Félix Savón

Cuban amateur boxing legend, three-time Olympic gold medalist.

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In the heavyweight division, he earned three Olympic gold medals and was World Champion six consecutive times.[1] Savón is famous for turning down many offers worth millions of dollars that would have required him to leave Cuba and fight Mike Tyson as a professional.[2]

Life and work

Savón's inspiration to box was three-time Olympic champion Teófilo Stevenson.[3] His career record was 362–21, with most losses avenged.[4] He helped train Cuba's fighters for the 2004 Athens Olympics.[5] His first significant championships were secured in 1985, one of which was the Junior World Championships.[6]

Only two other boxers, László Papp and Teófilo Stevenson, have also achieved three Olympic gold medals.[7] According to critics, he was a puncher who would go for knockouts even when leading on points, thereby risking defeat.[7]

What the cited sources add

The BBC reported that Savón punched Russian boxer Sultanahmed Ibzagimov during the 91 kg finals in 2000.[8] CNN stated Savón earned his first Olympic gold with a 14-1 win and dominated the amateur heavyweight division from 1986 to 2000.[9] CNN noted his final fight in Sydney at age 33 was one of his toughest.[9] The same source stated Savón maintained closeness with the late dictator Fidel Castro.[10]

References

  1. Wikipedia, "Félix Savón" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Savon makes boxing history", BBC News, 30 September 2000; Golden hat-trick for battered Savon, Kingston Gleaner, 1 October 2000, p. 29. (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  2. Wikipedia, "Félix Savón" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Cuban Heavyweight (Associated Press,) St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 3 August 1990, p. 22.; Butler, "A Cuban Boxer's Journey: Guillermo Rigondeaux, from Castro's Traitor to American Champion", Picador, November 2018 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  3. Wikipedia, "Félix Savón" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Cuban Heavyweight (Associated Press,) St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 3 August 1990, p. 22.; Goodwill (United Press International,) Detroit Free Press, 29 July 1990, p. 40. (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  4. Wikipedia, "Félix Savón" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Felix Savon - Olympics Athletes - 2008 Summer Olympics - Beijing, China", ESPN, 2008; "Felix Savon Amateur Boxing Record", Boxing-Scoop.com (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  5. Wikipedia, "Félix Savón" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Plus: Boxing; Cuban Champion To Become a Coach", The New York Times, 7 January 2001; "Felix Savon", CNN.com, 7 July 2008 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  6. Wikipedia, "Félix Savón" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Moran, "Savon of Cuba Dominates Bent", The New York Times, 21 August 1987; Janofsky, "A Punching Patriot From Cuba", The New York Times, 3 August 1990 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  7. Wikipedia, "Félix Savón" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Cuban Heavyweight (Associated Press,) St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 3 August 1990, p. 22. (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  8. "Savon makes boxing history", BBC News, 30 September 2000. facts only, no text reused. news.bbc.co.uk
  9. "Felix Savon", CNN.com, 7 July 2008. facts only, no text reused. edition.cnn.com
  10. "Tricampeón olímpico Félix Savón en libertad condicional después de seis años preso", 25 January 2025. facts only, no text reused. cibercuba.com

Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Félix Savón (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.

Career statistics and honours

Medals

Tables copied from the source article, totals included as the source gives them: Wikipedia: Félix Savón (CC BY-SA 4.0). Wide tables scroll sideways.

Related entries

Named in this entry

Amateur boxingSydney

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Sources

Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.

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