Tribute to Teofilo Stevenson Lawrence

Fri, Jun 15. 2012

(March 29, 1952-June 11, 2012)

by Kingsley C.A. Layne
Ambassador of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
to the Republic of Cuba (1992-2001)

I have learnt, with sadness, of the death of the great Cuban heavyweight boxing champion, Teofilo Stevenson, on June 11th, 2012, of a heart attack, at the relatively young age of sixty, and I wish to convey, through you, my profound condolences to his family, colleagues, and the relevant authorities.

His historic exploits, at three successive Olympic Games, in Munich (1972), where he won Cuba’s first gold medal, defeating the favourite Duane Bobick, Montreal (1976), outclassing a future world champion, John Tate, and Moscow (1980), where he equaled the feat of the Hungarian, Lazlo Papp, by winning a third gold medal, will remain part of the legend of the sport of amateur boxing forever. His countryman, Felix Savon, would continue this elite tradition at the Sydney Games in 2004, when he, too, won triple heavyweight boxing gold. Stevenson also captured the World Amateur Championship in 1986 in Nevada, United States of America, thereby sending a clear message to the world about what could have been, had Cuba not skipped the 1984 and 1988 Games, in Los Angeles and Seoul respectively.

After retiring in 1988, “Pirolo,” as he is affectionately and popularly known in his beloved homeland, remained engaged in the sport he loved, sharing his experience and expertise with the younger generation of Cuban boxers, whom he inspired to a record-breaking haul of four (4) gold and three (3) silver medals at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. He was also Vice- President of the Cuban Boxing Federation.

In the Caribbean we shared in his achievements with pride, in the same way as we did with those of Haseley Crawford, Alberto Juantorina, and now Usain Bolt and colleagues, who have blazed and maintained a path of excellence for the region in the international sports arena.

For us, in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), the attachment to the great champion is even more intimate. Teofilo’s father hails from the Biabou/Bridgetown area, on the Windward side of the main island, St Vincent, and, like many Vincentians of his era, the elder Stevenson immigrated to Cuba in the first half of the 20th century. I will always remember meeting the Olympic Champion for the first time, during a familiarization visit he made to the country to check out his family roots. Thereafter, during my tenure as SVG’s Ambassador to Cuba (1992-2001), I took the opportunity to meet him personally during my visits to Havana, whenever possible.

In Teofilo Stevenson, Cuba has given the world not only an athlete of the finest physical and technical qualities, but an iconic individual, who exemplified resolute commitment to his high ideals, in the face of lucrative alternatives. He will be remembered for this, as much as his path-breaking exploits in the boxing ring.