Félix Savón

Félix Savón Fabre (born September 22, 1967) is a Cuban heavyweight boxer, a winner of three gold medals at the Olympic Games. Savón is 6 ft 5 in (196 cm) [ [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/olympics/news/2000/03/30/savon_bio/ Olympic Bio: Felix Savón - Sport Illustrated] ] tall.

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.

He won his first important titles in 1985. 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), he also won the Junior World Championships in 1985.

This set off his career, in which he would win 6 World Championships (though one of these was the result of the disqualification of an opponent) and three Olympic gold medals. The latter feat is 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.

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.

Olympic Results

1992
*Defeated Krzysztof Rojek (Poland) RSC 2
*Defeated Bert Teuchert (Germany) 11-2
*Defeated Danell Nicholson (United States) 13-11
*Defeated Arnold Vanderlyde (Netherlands) 23-3
*Defeated David Izonritei (Nigeria) 14-11996
*Defeated Andrei Kurnyavka (Kyrgyzstan) 9-3
*Defeated Kwamena Turkson (Sweden) RSC 1
*Defeated Georgi Kandelaki (Georgia) 20-4
*Defeated Luan Krasniqi (Germany) points
*Defeated David Defiagbon (Canada) 20-22000
*Defeated Ojemaye Rasmus (Nigeria) 18-3
*Defeated Michael Bennett (United States) 23-8
*Defeated Sebastian Köber (Germany) 19-8
*Defeated Sultan Ibragimov (Russia) 21-13

References

External links

* [http://www.geocities.com/pedrinet/savon.html Overview of Savón's most important bouts]
* [http://www.olympic.org/uk/athletes/profiles/bio_uk.asp?par_i_id=66971 International Olympic Committee profile]