Legendary Cuban Boxer Teofilo Stevenson Passes Away at Age 60

Cuban boxer Teofilo Stevenson has passed away at the age of 60. The Associated Press reported the news of his passing and shared this statement, which was read on the news: "The Cuban sporting family was moved today by the passing of one of the greatest of all time."

They also passed along that the report said he died of heart disease.

Stevenson has a legitimate claim to be called the most decorated amateur boxer the sport has ever seen. He is one of three people to win a boxing gold medal in three straight Olympic games. 

He accomplished the feat in 1972, 1976 and 1980. There is also a good chance that he could have pushed this to four straight had Cuba not boycotted the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

He retired from boxing in 1988 and was denied a chance at more Olympic hardware that year when Cuba passed on the Olympics in Seoul. Along with his Olympic glory, he also won world amateur titles in 1974, 1978 and 1986

Stevenson was a big, skilled fighter who was light on his feet and carried a right hand that could punch through concrete. 

Boxing fans once longed for a fight between Stevenson and Muhammad Ali, but it never materialized. Cuba did not want Stevenson to lose his amateur status, and Stevenson had no intention of leaving the communist country. 

Had he defected, he would have been able to make millions as a professional fighter. He was later asked if he regretted his decision, and the Associated Press passed along his response: "I prefer the affection of 8 million Cubans."

Stevenson had recent troubles with his heart. The AP reported that in January he spent 15 days in intensive care after "a clot in an artery near his heart" was detected. 

Stevenson had two children and countless fans.