Félix Savón

This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Savón and the second or maternal family name is Fabre.
Félix Savón

Savón (right) in 1987
Statistics
Real name Félix Savón Fabre
Nickname(s) Ninote
Rated at Heavyweight
Height 6 ft 5 in (196 cm)[1]
Reach 82 in (208 cm)
Nationality Cuban
Born (1967-09-22) September 22, 1967
San Vicente, Cuba
Stance Orthodox
Medal record
Men's boxing
Competitor for  Cuba
Olympic Games
1992 Barcelona Heavyweight
1996 Atlanta Heavyweight
2000 Sydney Heavyweight
World Amateur Championships
1986 Reno Heavyweight
1989 Moscow Heavyweight
1991 Sydney Heavyweight
1993 Tampere Heavyweight
1995 Berlin Heavyweight
1997 Budapest Heavyweight
1999 Houston Heavyweight
Pan American Games
1987 Indianapolis Heavyweight
1991 Havana Heavyweight
1995 March del Plata Heavyweight[2]
Central American and Caribbean Games
1986 Santiago Heavyweight
1990 Mexico City Heavyweight
1993 Ponce Heavyweight
1998 Maracaibo Heavyweight
World Cup
1987 Belgrad Heavyweight
1990 Dublin Heavyweight
1994 Bangkok Heavyweight
1998 Chongqing Heavyweight

Félix Savón Fabre (born September 22, 1967) is a Cuban former amateur boxer who won three gold medals in the heavyweight division at the Olympic Games. He is considered a legend in the amateur ranks and won six world titles.[3] Savón is also famous for rejecting numerous multimillion-dollar offers to leave Cuba and fight Mike Tyson as a professional.[4]

Early life and career

Born in San Vicente, in the Guantánamo Province, Savón began his boxing career in 1980. During his career, in which he did not turn professional, he managed a career record of 362-21, with all of his losses avenged.[5][6]

He won his first important titles in 1985. At 19 he upset America's Michael Bentt on his way to win the 1987 Pan Am games.[7] Besides winning the Cuban heavyweight title (which he would win each year until his retirement, except 1999 and 2000 when he lost to Odlanier Solis, who he would lose to twice and defeat once in their 3 meetings), he also won the Junior World Championships in 1985.[8]

This set off his career, in which he would win 6 World Championships; his victory at the 1997 tournament was the result of the disqualification of an opponent, future professional world champion Ruslan Chagaev (whom Savón had previously beaten), who beat Savón in the final, but was later stripped of the gold medal for having two professional fights prior to the championships.[9] Chagaev was reinstated as an amateur the following year when these fights were declared exhibitions, but did not regain the gold medal.[10]

In 1998 during the Heavyweight final of the Goodwill Games from New York, Savón had an amazing K.O. over U.S. Amateur Champion DaVarryl Williamson.[11] At the 1999 tournament, he was to fight American Michael Bennett in the final, but the whole Cuban team retired from the competition to protest the result of another Cuban boxer in the tournament whom they considered had been "robbed" by the judges, meaning that Bennett won the final on default.[12] In their bout at the 2000 Summer Olympics Bennett would lose 23-8 to Savón.[13]

Savón also won three Olympic gold medals, a feat shared with only two other boxers, László Papp and compatriot Teófilo Stevenson.

After winning his third Olympic gold at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Savón announced his retirement at age 33.[14]

In February of the following year with Fidel Castro also present, Savón had the song "You Love Us" dedicated to him by the Manic Street Preachers, who became the first western rock band to play in Cuba.

Retirement

Savon announced his retirement from the ring, but helped train Cuba's fighters for the 2004 Athens Olympics.[15]

Results

Olympic Games

1992

1996

2000

Pan American Games

1987

1991

1995

References

  1. ↑ "Olympic Bio: Felix Savón". cnnsi.com. Sports Illustrated. April 7, 2000. Retrieved 2013-01-24.
  2. ↑ Jere Longman (1995-03-26). "Pan American Games: 2 Powerful Rights Give Third Title To Savon". The New York Times. Retrieved 2012-12-21.
  3. ↑ "BBC SPORT | BOXING | Savon makes boxing history". BBC News. 2000-09-30. Retrieved 2012-12-21.
  4. ↑ Butler, Brin-Jonathan. A Cuban Boxer's Journey: Guillermo Rigondeaux, from Castro's Traitor to American Champion. Picador.
  5. ↑ "Felix Savon - Olympics Athletes - 2008 Summer Olympics - Beijing, China - ESPN". Sports.espn.go.com. ESPN. 1967-09-22. Retrieved 2012-12-21.
  6. ↑ "Boxing-Scoop.com :: Felix Savon Amateur Boxing Record". Retrieved 2013-01-24. Amateur Boxing Records Database
  7. ↑ "Savon of Cuba Dominates Bent". Nytimes.com. New York Times. 1987-08-21. Retrieved 2012-12-21.
  8. ↑ "A Punching Patriot From Cuba". Nytimes.com. New York Times. 1990-08-03. Retrieved 2012-12-21.
  9. ↑ "Sorry". Indianexpress.com. Retrieved 2012-12-21.
  10. ↑ Padgett, Tim (2000-09-11). "Felix Savon". TIME. Retrieved 2012-12-21.
  11. ↑
  12. ↑ "PLUS: BOXING - WORLD AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIPS; Cubans Withdraw In Angry Protest". Nytimes.com. New York Times. 1999-08-27. Retrieved 2012-12-21.
  13. ↑ Bill Pennington (2000-09-26). "Sydney 2000: Boxing: Savon Is Easy Winner Over Benett". Nytimes.com. New York Times. Retrieved 2012-12-21.
  14. ↑ "Felix Savon". CNN.com. Retrieved 2012-12-21.
  15. ↑ "PLUS: BOXING; Cuban Champion To Become a Coach". Nytimes.com. New York Times. 2001-01-07. Retrieved 2012-12-21.

External links

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