Savon vs Tyson?!?!?!?

[Flea Man]

Quote from an Amazon synopsis of a book.

'John Duncan, sports correspondent with the "Guardian", needs a change: he leaves his job and moves to Havana, with a deal from Frank ****** to arrange a fight between Mike Tyson and Cuban double Olympic champion Felix Savon, the world's two greatest living heavyweights. However, professional boxing is illegal in Cuba, Castro having banned it in 1961, and Felix Savon had already turned down the $25 million purse offered by Don King to fight Tyson.'


Thoughts?

[junior-soprano]

well i don't know in what year it should have taken place if savon had said yes. but the tyson from 85 to 90 would have beaten savon. ko'd him within 7 rounds

[Flea Man]

I'd just never heard of that before. I assume he was going to get a Rademacher-esque shot. Tyson would've battered him I reckon, though Savon could've done something in the pro ranks with the correct transition period.

[PowerPuncher]

Doesnt sound like he had any chance of making this fight, Frank ****** was a nobody then and would never have any pull over Mike Tyson. Maybe Frank was hoping to sign and smuggle the Cuban out via this journo and get a piece of the pie that way. The journo probably got paid to write a piece on meeting the great Savon, I half doubt he ever left his job to do it

[ChrisPontius]

I rank Savon as one of the greatest amateurs ever, but i think Tyson would destroy him in the pros. Savon, as great as he was, had an amateur-based style which is great for 3 rounds, but 12 rounds without constant referee interference is a whole different story. Remember that he was only 200 lbs, at 6'5 and had a few stoppage losses.

For instance, if you look at the Chagaev fight, you can see that he is a bit too dependent on that right hand, and it appeared to me that he would've crumbled late in the fight, had it gone 12 rounds. One might say he was past his best in that bout, but Chagaev was just as much green as he was old.

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[Flea Man]

Doesnt sound like he had any chance of making this fight, Frank ****** was a nobody then and would never have any pull over Mike Tyson. Maybe Frank was hoping to sign and smuggle the Cuban out via this journo and get a piece of the pie that way. The journo probably got paid to write a piece on meeting the great Savon, I half doubt he ever left his job to do it

I might have to get the book. ****** was known then and has worked with Tyson in the past, not then mind so I assume he was trying to get Savon as bargaining to get a slice of a Tyson fight (which was obviously worth MASSIVE $$$$'s in '87)

[Beeston Brawler]

The transition period required then wasn't half as radical, nor as time consuming as it is now.

You have to completely re-invent your style, footwork, defence.... the lot.

[Flea Man]

The transition period required then wasn't half as radical, nor as time consuming as it is now.

You have to completely re-invent your style, footwork, defence.... the lot.
True.

[lefthook31]

I had heard they tried twice to get Savon. Once when Tyson came back after the Douglas fight and also after prison. Tillman was ultimately chosen for Tyson after Douglas. (Tillman beat Tyson in the amatuers) Savon never wanted any part of pro boxing or to leave Cuba. Im sure Castro promised him he would always be taken care of as he is their ultimate boxing hero.

[Bad_Intentions]

According to many Cuban Boxing fans in the Island...Savon never had a strong chin....

He had skills, but 1 punch and he's on the floor...

Tyson TKO5

[Bad_Intentions]

I had heard they tried twice to get Savon. Once when Tyson came back after the Douglas fight and also after prison. Tillman was ultimately chosen for Tyson after Douglas. (Tillman beat Tyson in the amatuers) Savon never wanted any part of pro boxing or to leave Cuba. Im sure Castro promised him he would always be taken care of as he is their ultimate boxing hero.

It's actually true, Savon now works as a judge in Cuban Boxing, just like Castro takes care of Stevenson...

they don't offer them a luxury house or anything like most celebrities in the US have, but the Cuban Government gives them a house he and his family can laid back with, raise pigs, and that's how he makes a living, just like alot of of Cubans do in the Country side.

They raise animals, and sell em for a living.

[Flea Man]

I rank Savon as one of the greatest amateurs ever, but i think Tyson would destroy him in the pros. Savon, as great as he was, had an amateur-based style which is great for 3 rounds, but 12 rounds without constant referee interference is a whole different story. Remember that he was only 200 lbs, at 6'5 and had a few stoppage losses.

For instance, if you look at the Chagaev fight, you can see that he is a bit too dependent on that right hand, and it appeared to me that he would've crumbled late in the fight, had it gone 12 rounds. One might say he was past his best in that bout, but Chagaev was just as much green as he was old.

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Good post

[Stevie G]

Savon's probably the best Cuban amateur boxer since Teofilo Stevenson,and there have been a lot of good ones from that country. The Tyson fight would have been a no no though.

[dmille]

From 85 to 87, Savon won gold at the Jr world, the world, the pan-american, and the world cup. Without the boycott, he would have gone to the 88 olympics.

IF he was gonna turn pro, late 88 or early 89 was the time for it. That would have made him a contemporary of Mercer, Bowe & Lewis.

[lefthook31]

Maybe he would have been as good as Fraudley Harrison as a pro?

[DudeGuyMan]

Jorge Luis Gonzalez won a lot of amateur fights too, know what I mean? Tyson by murder.

[Boilermaker]

From 85 to 87, Savon won gold at the Jr world, the world, the pan-american, and the world cup. Without the boycott, he would have gone to the 88 olympics.

IF he was gonna turn pro, late 88 or early 89 was the time for it. That would have made him a contemporary of Mercer, Bowe & Lewis.

Given his status, maybe he would have got his shot at Tyson, around about the Tyson Douglas fight?

Also, it is a bit unfair to have a pro fight, what about if Savon, only agreed to fight Tyson under amateur rules. I am guessing by all the predictions that we all see it going the distance. Does Savon's style see him throw more scoring punches and actually get the win, at some point in time.

[Flea Man]

I think Tyson would smash Savon to pieces to be honest.

[mrben1977]

have actually read the book by John Duncan. It's a good read. The author soon realises it's never going to happen but instead writes some interseting stuff about Cuban Boxing. Well worth a read if you're interested in some of the great Cuban Bowers through history and the Cuban boxing squad at the time.

[dmille]

Given his status, maybe he would have got his shot at Tyson, around about the Tyson Douglas fight?

Also, it is a bit unfair to have a pro fight, what about if Savon, only agreed to fight Tyson under amateur rules. I am guessing by all the predictions that we all see it going the distance. Does Savon's style see him throw more scoring punches and actually get the win, at some point in time.

As I said, without a boycott, Savon's first Olympics would have been in 88. AND as I said, IF he had won the gold and turned pro immediately after (like a non-commie figher would), his fighting for a belt only 2 years after would be rushing him too soon.

He would have most likely ended up like Tyrell Biggs. IF he won, he would probably have ended up like Leon Spinks. The pattern for success with Olympic champions and the heavyweight division is four years between the gold and the number one ranking. Look at Lewis and Bowe, for example.

[anarci]

If they fought under pro rules,and It was Savons debut. He d ge kod pretty soon id say in 2. This would have been a helluva a matchup when Tyson was 17 and still in the amatuers.