View source for Félix Savón

{{Short description|Cuban boxer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{family name hatnote|Savón|Fabre|lang=Spanish}}
{{expand German|topic=bio|date=September 2022|Félix Savón}}
{{Infobox boxer
| total = 288
| wins          = 258
| losses = 10
| KO       = 158
| name = Félix Savón
| image = Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1987-0319-022, Michael Ernsz, Felix Savon.jpg
| caption = Savón (right) in 1987
| realname = Félix Savón Fabre
| nickname = ''Niñote'' ("Big Kid")
| weight = [[Heavyweight]]
| height = 6 ft 5 in<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/olympics/news/2000/03/30/savon_bio/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120716082907/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/olympics/news/2000/03/30/savon_bio/|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 July 2012|title=Olympic Bio: Felix Savón|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]|date=7 April 2000|access-date=24 January 2013}}</ref>
| reach = 82 in
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1967|9|22|df=y}}
| birth_place = San Vicente, [[Cuba]]
| style = [[Orthodox stance|Orthodox]]
| medaltemplates = 
{{MedalSport | Men's [[amateur boxing]]}}
{{MedalCountry | {{CUB}} }}
{{MedalCount
| [[Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]] | 3 | 0 | 0
| [[AIBA World Boxing Championships|World Championships]] | 6 | 1 | 0
| [[World Junior Amateur Boxing Championships|Jr World Championships]] | 1 | 0 | 0
| Central American Championships | 5 | 0 | 0
| North American Championships | 1 | 0 | 0
| [[Pan American Games]] | 3 | 0 | 0 
| [[Central American and Caribbean Games]] | 4 | 0 | 0
| [[Boxing World Cup|World Cup]] | 4 | 0 | 0
| [[Goodwill Games]] | 2 | 0 | 0
|'''Total''' | '''29''' | '''1''' | '''0'''}}
{{MedalOlympics}}
{{MedalGold | [[1992 Summer Olympics|1992 Barcelona]] | [[Boxing at the 1992 Summer Olympics – Heavyweight|Heavyweight]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[1996 Summer Olympics|1996 Atlanta]] | [[Boxing at the 1996 Summer Olympics – Heavyweight|Heavyweight]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[2000 Summer Olympics|2000 Sydney]] | [[Boxing at the 2000 Summer Olympics – Heavyweight|Heavyweight]]}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[World Amateur Boxing Championships|World Championships]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[1986 World Amateur Boxing Championships|1986 Reno]] | Heavyweight}}
{{MedalGold | [[1989 World Amateur Boxing Championships|1989 Moscow]] | Heavyweight}}
{{MedalGold | [[1991 World Amateur Boxing Championships|1991 Sydney]] | Heavyweight}}
{{MedalGold | [[1993 World Amateur Boxing Championships|1993 Tampere]] | Heavyweight}}
{{MedalGold | [[1995 World Amateur Boxing Championships|1995 Berlin]] | Heavyweight}}
{{MedalGold | [[1997 World Amateur Boxing Championships|1997 Budapest]] | Heavyweight}}
{{MedalSilver | [[1999 World Amateur Boxing Championships|1999 Houston]] | Heavyweight}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[World Junior Amateur Boxing Championships|Junior World Championships]]}}
{{MedalGold | 1985 Bucharest | Heavyweight}}
{{MedalCompetition | Central America and the Caribbean Championships}}
{{MedalGold | 1984 Managua | Heavyweight}}
{{MedalGold | 1985 Maturín | Heavyweight}}
{{MedalGold | 1988 Guatemala City | Heavyweight}}
{{MedalGold | 1995 Mexico City | Heavyweight}}
{{MedalGold | 1996 Guadalajara | Heavyweight}}
{{MedalCompetition | North American Championships}}
{{MedalGold | 1987 Toronto | Heavyweight}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Pan American Games]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[1987 Pan American Games|1987 Indianapolis]] | [[Boxing at the 1987 Pan American Games|Heavyweight]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[1991 Pan American Games|1991 Havana]] | [[Boxing at the 1991 Pan American Games|Heavyweight]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[1995 Pan American Games|1995 Mar del Plata]] | [[Boxing at the 1995 Pan American Games|Heavyweight]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Central American and Caribbean Games]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[1986 Central American and Caribbean Games|1986 Santiago]] | [[Boxing at the 1986 Central American and Caribbean Games|Heavyweight]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[1990 Central American and Caribbean Games|1990 Mexico City]] | [[Boxing at the 1990 Central American and Caribbean Games|Heavyweight]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[1993 Central American and Caribbean Games|1993 Ponce]] | [[Boxing at the 1993 Central American and Caribbean Games|Heavyweight]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[1998 Central American and Caribbean Games|1998 Maracaibo]] | [[Boxing at the 1998 Central American and Caribbean Games|Heavyweight]]}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Boxing World Cup|World Cup]]}}
{{MedalGold | [http://www.sport-komplett.de/sport-komplett/sportarten/b/boxen/hst/63.html 1987 Belgrade] | Heavyweight}}
{{MedalGold | [http://www.sport-komplett.de/sport-komplett/sportarten/b/boxen/hst/63.html 1990 Dublin] | Heavyweight}}
{{MedalGold | [http://www.sport-komplett.de/sport-komplett/sportarten/b/boxen/hst/63.html 1994 Bangkok] | Heavyweight}}
{{MedalGold | [http://www.sport-komplett.de/sport-komplett/sportarten/b/boxen/hst/63.html 1998 Chongqing] | Heavyweight}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Goodwill Games]]}}
{{MedalGold |[[1994 Goodwill Games|1994 Saint Petersburg]]|[[Boxing at the 1994 Goodwill Games|Heavyweight]]}}
{{MedalGold |[[1998 Goodwill Games|1998 New York]]|[[Boxing at the 1998 Goodwill Games|Heavyweight]]}}
| show-medals =
}}

'''Félix Savón Fabre''' (born 22 September 1967) is a Cuban former [[amateur boxer]] who competed from 1980 to 2000. Considered one of the all-time greatest amateurs,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics2000/boxing/949641.stm |title=Savon makes boxing history |work=[[BBC News]] |date=30 September 2000 |access-date=21 December 2012}}</ref> he became three-time [[Summer Olympics|Olympic]] gold medalist, and the [[World Amateur Boxing Championships|World Champion]] six times in a row,<ref>[https://newspaperarchive.com/kingston-gleaner-oct-01-2000-p-29/ Golden hat-trick for battered Savon], ''Kingston Gleaner'', 1 October 2000, p. 29.</ref> all in the [[heavyweight]] division. In 1988, when he was favored by many to win the gold medal at the [[1988 Summer Olympics]], the Cuban government [[1988 Summer Olympics boycott|boycotted]] the event.<ref name="AP">[https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/139955815/ Cuban Heavyweight] (Associated Press,) ''St. Louis Post-Dispatch'', 3 August 1990, p. 22.</ref> Savón is particularly known for having rejected numerous multimillion-dollar offers to defect and leave Cuba permanently to fight [[Mike Tyson]] as a [[professional boxing|professional]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Butler|first1=Brin-Jonathan|title=A Cuban Boxer's Journey: Guillermo Rigondeaux, from Castro's Traitor to American Champion|publisher=Picador|year=2014}}{{Page needed|date=November 2018}}</ref>

==Early life==
He was born in San Vicente, in [[Guantánamo Province]], [[Cuba]]. His ring debut occurred in 1980, in [[Guantánamo, Cuba|Guantánamo]].

Savón's inspiration to become a boxer was his renowned countryman, three-time Olympic champion [[Teófilo Stevenson]]<ref name="AP" /> (he later was perceived by the Western media as Stevenson's successor<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/100034489/ Goodwill] (United Press International,) ''Detroit Free Press'', 29 July 1990, p. 40.</ref>)

==Career==
During his career, in which he did not turn [[professional boxing|professional]], he managed a career record of 362–21, with the majority of his losses avenged.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/summer08/fanguide/athlete?athlete=12187 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104234023/http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/summer08/fanguide/athlete?athlete=12187 |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 November 2012 |title=Felix Savon - Olympics Athletes - 2008 Summer Olympics - Beijing, China|work=[[ESPN]] |date=2008 |access-date=21 December 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boxing-scoop.com/show_boxer.php?boxer_ID=3953|title=Felix Savon Amateur Boxing Record|website= Boxing-Scoop.com|access-date=24 January 2013}}</ref> The only boxers, who got away with knockout victories over Savón unavenged were [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] Usman Arsaliyev and [[North Korea]]n Li Dal-Chen, whom he met only once.

He won his first important titles in 1985. At 19 he beat America's [[Michael Bentt]] on his way to win the [[Boxing at the 1987 Pan American Games|1987 Pan Am games]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Moran|first=Malcolm |author-link=Malcolm Moran|url= https://www.nytimes.com/1987/08/21/sports/savon-of-cuba-dominates-bent.html?ref=felix_savon |title=Savon of Cuba Dominates Bent |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=21 August 1987 |access-date=21 December 2012}}</ref> Besides winning the Cuban heavyweight title (which he would win each year until his retirement, except 1999 and 2000 when he lost to [[Odlanier Solís]], who he would lose to twice and defeat once in their three meetings), he also won the Junior World Championships in 1985.<ref>{{cite news|last=Janofsky|first=Michael |url= https://www.nytimes.com/1990/08/03/sports/a-punching-patriot-from-cuba.html?ref=felix_savon |title=A Punching Patriot From Cuba |work=The New York Times |date=3 August 1990 |access-date=21 December 2012}}</ref>

This set off his career, in which he would win six 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/ie/daily/19980202/03350624.html |title=Sorry |publisher=Indianexpress.com |access-date=21 December 2012 }}{{dead link|date=October 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Chagaev was reinstated as an amateur the following year when these fights were declared exhibitions, but did not regain the gold medal.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Padgett |first=Tim |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,997930,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090702121139/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,997930,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2 July 2009 |title=Felix Savon |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=11 September 2000 |access-date=21 December 2012}}</ref>

{{quote box|width=15%|align=left|quote="He's just a great guy and he deserves everything he's got.|source=—Boxer [[Michael Bennett (boxer)|Michael Bennett]] on Savón.<ref>[https://newspaperarchive.com/doylestown-intelligencer-sep-27-2000-p-22/ Just happy to be free: Once jailed, American boxer Bennett can't complain after quarterfinal loss] By Tim Dahlberg (The Associated Press,) ''Doylestown Intelligencer'', September 27, 2000, p. 22.</ref>}}
In 1998 during the Heavyweight final of the Goodwill Games from New York, Savón had an amazing knockout over U.S. Amateur Champion [[DaVarryl Williamson]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJ6rL8ihrTI |title=YouTube |website=[[YouTube]] |access-date=29 November 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160423090747/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJ6rL8ihrTI |archive-date=23 April 2016 }}</ref> At the 1999 tournament, he was to fight American [[Michael Bennett (boxer)|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.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/08/27/sports/plus-boxing-world-amateur-championships-cubans-withdraw-in-angry-protest.html?ref=felix_savon |title=Plus: Boxing - World Amateur Championships; Cubans Withdraw In Angry Protest|agency=Associated Press |date=27 August 1999 |access-date=21 December 2012|work=The New York Times}}</ref> In their bout at the [[2000 Summer Olympics]] Bennett would lose 23–8 to Savón.<ref>{{cite web|last=Pennington|first=Bill |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2000/09/26/sports/sydney-2000-boxing-savon-is-easy-winner-over-benett.html?ref=felix_savon |title=Sydney 2000: Boxing: Savon Is Easy Winner Over Benett |work=The New York Times |date=26 September 2000|access-date=21 December 2012}}</ref>

Savón won three Olympic gold medals, a feat shared with only two other boxers, [[László Papp]] and compatriot [[Teófilo Stevenson]]. He could have been a four-time Olympic gold medalist, had the Cuban government allowed its team to participate in the 1988 [[Seoul, South Korea]].<ref name="AP" />

Savón's critics said that he is a puncher instead of a boxer who is not satisfied with a [[decision (boxing)|decision]], risking losses by going after knockouts even when he is far ahead on points. Roosevelt Sanders, a U.S. boxing coach, said Savon would have been immediately ranked between 5th and 10th in the world's professional boxing heavyweight division if he turned pro after the [[1990 Goodwill Games]].<ref name="AP" /> "Cuba, since 1974 has been the king of amateur boxing in the world", he said. "That is why the media of other countries keep asking why we don't box professionally. Professionalism will abolish humanism and society." Savon said amateur athletes are revered in Cuba. "Athletes are the most important thing in Cuba since Castro took over. We practice sports from the age of 8."<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/186661907/ Victorious Cuban Heats Up Cold War] by Les Bowen, ''Philadelphia Daily News'', 2 August 1990, p. 63.</ref>

===Highlights===
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-3}}
Local match-up (71&nbsp;kg), [[Guantánamo, Cuba]], 1980 (debut):
*Defeated (no data available) (Cuba) KO 
{{gold1}} XVI National Cadet Games (71&nbsp;kg), Cuba, July 1981:
*Finals: Defeated Lino Famide (Cuba) KO
{{bronze3}} National Youth Championships (71&nbsp;kg), Cuba, 1982:
*1/2: Lost to (no data available) (Cuba) KO
{{bronze3}} National Friendship Games (81&nbsp;kg), Cuba, 1983:
*(no data available)
{{gold1}} National Youth Championships (81&nbsp;kg), Cuba, 1983:
*(no data available)
{{gold1}} International Youth Tournament (91&nbsp;kg), [[Berlin, East Germany]], June 1984:
*Finals: Defeated Uli Klimm (East Germany) RSC 1
{{gold1}} XV Central America and the Caribbean Championships (91&nbsp;kg), [[Managua, Nicaragua]], 1984:
*(no data available)
{{gold1}} XXIV [[Campeonato Nacional de Boxeo Playa Girón|Playa Girón National Championships]] (91&nbsp;kg), [[Nueva Gerona]], Cuba, January 1985:
*1/2: Defeated Aurelio Toyo Pérez (Cuba) by decision
*Finals: Defeated Hermenegildo Báez (Cuba) by decision
{{gold1}} XXXVI [[Strandzha Cup]] (91&nbsp;kg), [[Sofia, Bulgaria]], February 1985:
*Finals: Defeated [[Deyan Kirilov]] (Bulgaria) by majority decision, 4–1
{{gold1}} XIV [[Chemistry Cup]] (91&nbsp;kg), [[Halle (Saale)|Halle, East Germany]], March 1985:
*Finals: Defeated Michael Ernst (East Germany) by unanimous decision, 5–0
{{gold1}} Trofeo Italia (91&nbsp;kg), [[Mestre]], [[Venice, Italy]], March 1985:
*Finals: Defeated [[Gyula Alvics]] (Hungary) by unanimous decision, 5–0
{{gold1}} XVIII [[Giraldo Cordova Cardin International Boxing Tournament|Giraldo Córdova Cardín Tournament]] (91&nbsp;kg), [[Ciego de Ávila, Cuba]], March 1985:
*1/2: Defeated [[Ramzan Sebiyev]] (Soviet Union)
*Finals: Defeated Hermenegildo Báez (Cuba) RSC 2
{{gold1}} National Youth Championships (91&nbsp;kg), Cuba, 1985:
*(no data available)
{{gold1}} XVI Central America and the Caribbean Championships (91&nbsp;kg), [[Maturín]], [[Venezuela]], September 1985:
*Finals: Defeated H. Hidalgo (Venezuela) RSC 1
{{gold1}} III [[World Junior Amateur Boxing Championships|Junior World Championships]] (91&nbsp;kg), [[Bucharest, Romania]], September 1985:
*1/8: Defeated Ilie Corbu (Romania) RSC 1
*1/4: Defeated Andrey Cholakin (Soviet Union) by majority decision, 4–1
*1/2: Defeated Attila Árvai (Hungary) by walkover
*Finals: Defeated [[Andrzej Golota]] (Poland) RET 2
{{gold1}} XXV [[Campeonato Nacional de Boxeo Playa Girón|Playa Girón National Championships]] (91&nbsp;kg), [[Havana, Cuba]], January 1986:
*Finals: Defeated [[Roberto Balado]] (Cuba) KO 2
{{gold1}} XXXVII [[Strandzha Cup]] (91&nbsp;kg), [[Sofia, Bulgaria]], February 1986:
*Finals: Defeated [[Rudolf Gavenčiak]] (Czechoslovakia) RSC 3
{{gold1}} XVII Chemistry Cup (91&nbsp;kg), [[Halle (Saale)|Halle, East Germany]], March 1986:
*Finals: Defeated Sven Lange (East Germany) RET 3
{{gold1}} Ústí Grand Prix (91&nbsp;kg), [[Ústí nad Labem]], [[Czechoslovakia]], March 1986:
*Finals: Defeated Anatoliy Savkin (Soviet Union) by unanimous decision, 5–0
{{gold1}} XIX Giraldo Córdova Cardín Tournament (91&nbsp;kg), [[Camagüey, Cuba]], May 1986:
*Finals: Defeated Renat Trishev (Soviet Union) by majority decision, 4–1
{{gold1}} [[1986 World Amateur Boxing Championships|IV World Championships]] (91&nbsp;kg), [[Reno, Nevada]], May 1986:
*1/8: Defeated [[Gyula Alvics]] (Hungary) by unanimous decision, 5–0
*1/4: Defeated [[Luis Castillo (Ecuadorian boxer)|Luis Castillo]] (Ecuador) KO 2 {{small|(the bout stopped for Castillo hitting below the belt; later ruled a knockout)}}
*1/2: Defeated [[Svilen Rusinov]] (Bulgaria) RSC 2
*Finals: Defeated [[Arnold Vanderlyde]] (Netherlands) by unanimous decision, 5–0
{{gold1}} [[1986 Central American and Caribbean Games|XV Central American and Caribbean Games]] (91&nbsp;kg), [[Santiago, Dominican Republic]], June–July 1986:
*1/4: Defeated Emilio Payne (Costa Rica) KO 1
*1/2: Defeated José Acosta (Venezuela) KO 1
*Finals: Defeated Rodolfo Marín (Puerto Rico) RSCH 1
National Team Championships (91&nbsp;kg), Cuba, October 1986:
*Lost to Juan Delis Causse (Cuba) KO
USA–Cuba Duals (91&nbsp;kg), [[New Orleans, Louisiana]], December 1986:
*Defeated Orbit Pough (United States) by unanimous decision, 5–0
USA–Cuba Duals (91&nbsp;kg), [[Sacramento, California]], December 1986:
*Defeated Huland Copeland (United States) RSC 1
{{gold1}} XXVI [[Campeonato Nacional de Boxeo Playa Girón|Playa Girón National Championships]] (91&nbsp;kg), [[Holguín, Cuba]], January 1987:
*Finals: Defeated [[Roberto Balado]] (Cuba) by decision
{{gold1}} XVIII Chemistry Cup (91&nbsp;kg), [[Halle (Saale)|Halle, East Germany]], March 1987:
*Finals: Defeated Sven Lange (East Germany) RSC 2
{{bronze3}} Ústí Grand Prix (91&nbsp;kg), [[Ústí nad Labem]], [[Czechoslovakia]], March 1987:
*1/2: Lost to Usman Arsaliyev (Soviet Union) KO 3
{{gold1}} XX Giraldo Córdova Cardín Tournament (91&nbsp;kg), [[Santa Clara, Cuba]], June 1987:
*Finals: Defeated Juan Delis Causse (Cuba) by unanimous decision, 5–0
{{gold1}} [[Boxing at the 1987 Pan American Games|X Pan American Games]] (91&nbsp;kg), [[Indianapolis, Indiana]], August 1987:
*1/4: Defeated Julio Sanchez (Puerto Rico) RSC 1
*1/2: Defeated [[Michael Bentt]] (United States) by unanimous decision, 5–0
*Finals: Defeated Juan Antonio Díaz Nieves (Argentina) KO 2 {{small|(1:48)}}
{{gold1}} North American Championships (91&nbsp;kg), [[Toronto, Canada]], August 1987:
*Finals: Defeated [[Michael Bentt]] (United States) by unanimous decision, 3–0 {{small|(Savón was given a standing eight count in the 1st rd)}}
{{gold1}} V [[Boxing World Cup|World Cup]] (91&nbsp;kg), [[Belgrade, Yugoslavia]], October 1987:
*1/4: Defeated Fred Kaddu (Uganda) by unanimous decision, 5–0
*1/2: Defeated [[Ramzan Sebiyev]] (Soviet Union) by unanimous decision, 5–0
*Finals: Defeated [[Arnold Vanderlyde]] (Netherlands) by majority decision, 4–1
Cuba–USA Duals (91&nbsp;kg), [[Santa Clara, Cuba]], December 1987:
*Defeated Jerry Goff (United States) RSC 1 {{small|(1:37)}}
{{gold1}} XXVII [[Campeonato Nacional de Boxeo Playa Girón|Playa Girón National Championships]] (91&nbsp;kg), [[Sancti Spiritus, Cuba]], January 1988:
*Finals: Defeated [[Roberto Balado]] (Cuba) by unanimous decision, 5–0
{{gold1}} Ústí Grand Prix (91&nbsp;kg), [[Ústí nad Labem]], [[Czechoslovakia]], March 1988:
*1/2: Defeated Henrik Satyka (Poland) RET 1
*Finals: Defeated [[Rudolf Gavenčiak]] (Czechoslovakia) RET 3
{{gold1}} Gee-Bee Tournament (91&nbsp;kg), [[Helsinki, Finland]], April 1988:
*Finals: Defeated Yevgeni Sudakov (Soviet Union) by unanimous decision, 5–0
USA–Cuba Duals (91&nbsp;kg), [[Caesars Atlantic City]], [[Atlantic City, New Jersey]], April 1988:
*Defeated [[Ray Mercer]] (United States) by split decision, 2–1
{{gold1}} XXI Giraldo Córdova Cardín Tournament (91&nbsp;kg), [[Las Tunas, Cuba]], June 1988:
*Finals: Defeated Juan Delis Causse (Cuba) by unanimous decision, 5–0
{{gold1}} Leningrad International Tournament (91&nbsp;kg), [[Leningrad, Soviet Union]], June 1988:
*Finals: Defeated [[Ramzan Sebiyev]] (Soviet Union) by unanimous decision, 5–0
{{gold1}} TSC Tournament (91&nbsp;kg), [[Berlin, East Germany]], July 1988:
*Finals: Defeated [[Maik Heydeck]] (West Germany) by unanimous decision, 5–0
{{gold1}} XIX Central America and the Caribbean Championships (91&nbsp;kg), [[Guatemala City, Guatemala]], October 1988:
*Finals: Defeated Luis Godoy (Guatemala) RET 1
{{gold1}} XXVIII [[Campeonato Nacional de Boxeo Playa Girón|Playa Girón National Championships]] (91&nbsp;kg), [[Guantánamo, Cuba]], January 1989:
*Finals: Defeated [[Roberto Balado]] (Cuba) by unanimous decision, 5–0
AIBA International Challenge (91&nbsp;kg), [[Casablanca, Morocco]], February 1989:
*Defeated [[Baik Hyun-man]] (South Korea) by unanimous decision, 5–0
{{gold1}} XXII Giraldo Córdova Cardín Tournament (91&nbsp;kg), [[Pinar del Río, Cuba]], June 1989:
*Finals: Defeated Yuri Vaulin (Soviet Union) by walkover
{{silver2}} VII Military Spartakiad of the Friendly Armies of the Socialist Countries (91&nbsp;kg), [[Sliven, Bulgaria]], June 1989:
*Finals: Lost to Li Dal-Chen (North Korea) KO 1
{{Col-3}}
{{gold1}} [[1989 World Amateur Boxing Championships|V World Championships]] (91&nbsp;kg), [[Moscow, Soviet Union]], September 1989:
*1/8: Defeated [[Arnold Vanderlyde]] (Netherlands) RSCH 1
*1/4: Defeated Hamayak Shabazian (Sweden) 32–1
*1/2: Defeated [[Axel Schulz]] (East Germany) by walkover
*Finals: Defeated Yevgeni Sudakov (Soviet Union) 18–8
Cuba–USA Duals (91&nbsp;kg), [[Havana, Cuba]], 1989:
*Defeated (no data available) (United States)
{{gold1}} Battle of Carabobo International Tournament (91&nbsp;kg), [[Venezuela]], 1989:
*(no data available)
{{gold1}} XXIX [[Campeonato Nacional de Boxeo Playa Girón|Playa Girón National Championships]] (91&nbsp;kg), [[Cienfuegos, Cuba]], January 1990:
*Finals: Defeated Alberto Almeida (Cuba) RSC 1
AIBA International Challenge (91&nbsp;kg), [[West Berlin, West Germany]], March 1990:
*Defeated [[Bert Teuchert]] (West Germany) 52–12 (5 rds)
{{gold1}} XXIII Giraldo Córdova Cardín Tournament (91&nbsp;kg), [[Manzanillo, Cuba]], June 1990:
*Finals: Defeated [[Freddy Rojas]] (Cuba) RET 1
U.S. Olympic Cup, North America–Europe Duals (91&nbsp;kg), [[Salt Lake City, Utah]], June 1990:
*Defeated Rafael Akopov (Soviet Union) RET 1 {{small|(Akopov's corner threw in the towel at 2:56)}}
{{gold1}} [[1990 Goodwill Games|II Goodwill Games]] (91&nbsp;kg), [[Seattle Center Coliseum]], [[Seattle, Washington]], July 1990:
*1/4: Defeated Javier Álvarez (United States) by unanimous decision, 5–0
*1/2: Defeated Viktor Akshonov (Soviet Union) by unanimous decision, 5–0 {{small|(Savón reportedly elbowed Akshonov the groin while rising from a crouch in the 2nd rd)}}
*Finals: Defeated Yevgeniy Sudakov (Soviet Union) by unanimous decision, 5–0
{{gold1}} VI [[Boxing World Cup|World Cup]] (91&nbsp;kg), [[Dublin, Ireland]], August 1990:
*1/4: Defeated Sean O'Regan (Ireland) RSC 1
*1/2: Defeated [[René Monse]] (East Germany) RET 1
*Finals: Defeated [[Bert Teuchert]] (West Germany) 29–3 (5 rds)
Cuba–USA Duals (91&nbsp;kg), [[Havana, Cuba]], 1990:
*Defeated (no data available) (United States)
{{gold1}} XVI [[1990 Central American and Caribbean Games|Central American and Caribbean Games]] (91&nbsp;kg), [[Mexico City, Mexico]], December 1990:
*1/2: Defeated Víctor Alarcón (Colombia)
*Finals: Defeated José Marrero (Puerto Rico)
{{gold1}} XXX [[Campeonato Nacional de Boxeo Playa Girón|Playa Girón National Championships]] (91&nbsp;kg), [[Camagüey, Cuba]], January 1991:
*Finals: Defeated [[Freddy Rojas]] (Cuba) on points
{{gold1}} King's Cup (91&nbsp;kg), [[Bangkok, Thailand]], February 1991:
*Finals: Defeated [[Bert Teuchert]] (Germany) by unanimous decision, 5–0
{{gold1}} XXIV Giraldo Córdova Cardín Tournament (91&nbsp;kg), [[Sancti Spiritus, Cuba]], June 1991:
*Finals: Defeated Joel Donatien (Cuba) RSCH 2
USA–Cuba Duals (91&nbsp;kg), [[Fort Bragg, North Carolina]], August 1991:
*Defeated [[John Bray (boxer)|John Bray]] (United States) RSC 1
{{gold1}} [[Boxing at the 1991 Pan American Games|XI Pan American Games]] (91&nbsp;kg), [[Havana, Cuba]], August 1991:
*1/2: Defeated [[Tom Glesby]] (Canada) RET 1 {{small|(2:15)}}
*Finals: Defeated [[Shannon Briggs]] (United States) RSC 1 {{small|(Briggs knocked down at 2:08; referee stopped the contest at 2:45)}}
{{gold1}} [[1991 World Amateur Boxing Championships|VI World Championships]] (91&nbsp;kg), [[Sydney, Australia]], November 1991:
*1/4: Defeated [[Kirk Johnson]] (Canada) RET 2
*1/2: Defeated [[David Tua]] (New Zealand) KO 1 {{small|(0:22)}}
*Finals: Defeated [[Arnold Vanderlyde]] (Netherlands) 39–15
{{gold1}} XXXI [[Campeonato Nacional de Boxeo Playa Girón|Playa Girón National Championships]] (91&nbsp;kg), [[Pinar del Río, Cuba]], January 1992:
*Finals: Defeated [[Freddy Rojas]] (Cuba) on points
{{gold1}} BOXAM Cup (91&nbsp;kg), [[Barcelona, Spain]], February 1992:
*1/2: Defeated [[Aleksey Chudinov]] (Russia) RET 2
*Finals: Defeated [[Kirk Johnson]] (Canada) 14–5
AIBA International Challenge (91&nbsp;kg), [[Tampa, Florida]], April 1992:
*Defeated [[Chae Sung-bae]] (South Korea) RSC 1
{{gold1}} XXV Giraldo Córdova Cardín Tournament (91&nbsp;kg), [[Santiago de Cuba, Cuba]], May 1992:
*Finals: Defeated [[Freddy Rojas]] (Cuba) on points
{{gold1}} [[Boxing at the 1992 Summer Olympics – Heavyweight|XXV Summer Olympics]] (91&nbsp;kg), [[Barcelona, Spain]], July 1992:
*1/32: Defeated Krzysztof Rojek (Poland) RSC 2
*1/16: Defeated [[Bert Teuchert]] (Germany) 11–2
*1/4: Defeated [[Danell Nicholson]] (United States) 13–11
*1/2: Defeated [[Arnold Vanderlyde]] (Netherlands) 23–3
*Finals: Defeated [[David Izonritei]] (Nigeria) 14–1
{{gold1}} XXXII [[Campeonato Nacional de Boxeo Playa Girón|Playa Girón National Championships]] (91&nbsp;kg), [[Matanzas, Cuba]], January 1993:
*1/16: Defeated Dagoberto Ordoñez (Cuba) RET 2
*1/8: Defeated Esteban Fuentes (Cuba) RET 1
*1/4: Defeated Alexis Echeverría (Cuba) RET 1
*1/2: Defeated Pedro Montalvo (Cuba) 20–6 (4 rds)
*Finals: Defeated [[Freddy Rojas]] (Cuba) RSC 1
AIBA International Challenge (91&nbsp;kg), [[Istanbul, Turkey]], February 1993:
*Defeated Sergei Sakharov (Russia) RSC 4
Europe–North America Duals (91&nbsp;kg), [[Berlin, Germany]], March 1993:
*Defeated [[Vojtěch Rückschloss]] (Czech) RSC 3
{{gold1}} XXVI Giraldo Córdova Cardín Tournament (91&nbsp;kg), [[Sancti Spiritus, Cuba]], May 1993:
*Finals: Defeated Diosdado Ortega (Cuba)
{{gold1}} [[1993 World Amateur Boxing Championships|VII World Championships]] (91&nbsp;kg), [[Tampere, Finland]], June 1993:
*1/8: Defeated [[Derrell Dixon]] (United States) KO 3
*1/4: Defeated [[Alexei Lezin]] (Russia) 13–7
*1/2: Defeated Stéphane Allouane (France) RSC 2
*Finals: Defeated [[Georgi Kandelaki]] (Georgia) by walkover
USA–Cuba Duals (91&nbsp;kg), [[Biloxi, Mississippi]], September 1993:
*Defeated [[Derrell Dixon]] (United States) by unanimous decision, 5–0
{{gold1}} [[1993 Central American and Caribbean Games|XVII Central American and Caribbean Games]] (91&nbsp;kg), [[Ponce, Puerto Rico]], November 1993:
*1/2: Defeated Julian Skeete (Guyana) RSC 2
*Finals: Defeated [[Edgardo Santos]] (Puerto Rico) RSC 2
{{gold1}} XXXIII [[Campeonato Nacional de Boxeo Playa Girón|Playa Girón National Championships]] (91&nbsp;kg), [[Ciego de Ávila, Cuba]], January 1994:
*Finals: Defeated [[Freddy Rojas]] (Cuba) on points
AIBA International Challenge (91&nbsp;kg), [[Dublin, Ireland]], March 1994:
*Defeated [[Georgios Stefanopoulos]] (Greece) RSCI 2
{{silver2}} XXVII Giraldo Córdova Cardín Tournament (91&nbsp;kg), [[Cienfuegos, Cuba]], May 1994:
*1/2: Defeated [[Santiago Palavecino]] (Argentina) RSC 1
*Finals: Lost to [[Freddy Rojas]] (Cuba) 8–9
{{gold1}} VIII [[Boxing World Cup|World Cup]] (91&nbsp;kg), [[Bangkok, Thailand]], June 1994:
*1/2: Defeated [[Georgi Kandelaki]] (Georgia) 19–4 (5 rds)
*Finals: Defeated [[René Monse]] (Germany) RSC 4
{{gold1}} [[1994 Goodwill Games|III Goodwill Games]] (91&nbsp;kg), [[Saint Petersburg, Russia]], July–August 1994:
*1/4: Defeated [[Christophe Mendy]] (France) 8–6
*1/2: Defeated Peter Müller (Germany) RSC 2
*Finals: Defeated Sergei Mochalov (Russia) KO 1
USA–Cuba Duals (91&nbsp;kg), [[Ledyard, Connecticut]], October 1994:
*Defeated Robert Greer (United States) RSC 1 {{small|(1:40)}}
{{gold1}} XXXIV [[Campeonato Nacional de Boxeo Playa Girón|Playa Girón National Championships]] (91&nbsp;kg), [[Manzanillo, Cuba]], January 1995:
*Finals: Defeated [[Freddy Rojas]] (Cuba)
{{gold1}} XXVIII Giraldo Córdova Cardín Tournament (91&nbsp;kg), [[Matanzas, Cuba]], February 1995:
*Finals: Defeated Luis Álvarez (Cuba) RSC
{{gold1}} [[Boxing at the 1995 Pan American Games|XII Pan American Games]] (91&nbsp;kg), [[Mar del Plata, Argentina]], March 1995:
*1/4: Defeated Angus Lewis (US Virgin Islands) KO 1
*1/2: Defeated [[Santiago Palavecino]] (Argentina) RSCH 1
*Finals: Defeated [[Lamon Brewster]] (United States) RET 2 {{small|(2:15)}}
{{gold1}} [[1995 World Amateur Boxing Championships|World Championships]] (91&nbsp;kg), [[Berlin, Germany]], May 1995:
*1/8: Defeated Joon Hyon Yoon (South Korea) RSC 1
*1/4: Defeated [[Georgi Kandelaki]] (Georgia) by walkover
*1/2: Defeated [[Christophe Mendy]] (France) 9–6
*Finals: Defeated [[Luan Krasniqi]] (Germany) RSC 2 (9–0) {{small|(Krasniqi knocked down at 0:08 of the 1st rd; Krasniqi was given a standing eight count at 2:25 of the 1st rd, and at the 1:08 of the 2nd rd; Krasniqi disqualified for holding at 2:45 after being repeatedly warned by the referee)}}
National match-up (91&nbsp;kg), [[Havana, Cuba]], July 1995:
*Defeated Luis Álvarez (Cuba) RSC
{{gold1}} XXI Central America and the Caribbean Championships (91&nbsp;kg), [[Mexico City, Mexico]], September 1995:
*1/2: Defeated O. Vasquez (Venezuela) RET 1
*Finals: Defeated Julio Pacheco (Mexico) RET 1
{{Col-3}}
AIBA International Challenge (91&nbsp;kg), [[Macon, Georgia]], October 1995:
*Defeated [[Sinan Şamil Sam]] (Turkey) 11–2 (5 rds)
USA–Cuba Duals (91&nbsp;kg), [[Ledyard, Connecticut]], November 1995: 
*Defeated [[Nate Jones (boxer)|Nate Jones]] (United States) 6–2
{{gold1}} XXXV [[Campeonato Nacional de Boxeo Playa Girón|Playa Girón National Championships]] (91&nbsp;kg), [[Santiago de Cuba, Cuba]], January 1996:
*Finals: Defeated [[Freddy Rojas]] (Cuba) on points
{{gold1}} XLVII [[Strandzha Cup]] (91&nbsp;kg), [[Sofia, Bulgaria]], February 1996:
*1/4: Defeated Nedjadi Belahouel (Algeria) RET 3
*1/2: Defeated Gioacchino Mocerino (Italy) RET 2
*Finals: Defeated [[Christophe Mendy]] (France) by walkover
{{gold1}} Ústí Grand Prix (91&nbsp;kg), [[Ústí nad Labem]], [[Czech Republic]], February 1996:
*1/4: Defeated Peter Müller (Germany) RET 1
*1/2: Defeated [[Wojciech Bartnik]] (Poland) 14–0
*Finals: Defeated [[Sergey Dychkov]] (Belarus) RET 2
{{gold1}} XXVII Chemistry Cup (91&nbsp;kg), [[Halle (Saale)|Halle, Germany]], February–March 1996:
*1/2: Defeated Oleg Belikov (Ukraine) RSC 1
*Finals: Defeated [[Luan Krasniqi]] (Germany) RET 3
{{gold1}} XXIX Giraldo Córdova Cardín Tournament (91&nbsp;kg), [[Camagüey, Cuba]], April–May 1996:
*1/4: Defeated Juan Delis Causse (Cuba) RSC 3
*1/2: Defeated Roberto Camilo (Cuba) RSC 2
*Finals: Defeated [[Michel López Núñez]] (Cuba) RSC 2
{{gold1}} XXII Central America and the Caribbean Championships (91&nbsp;kg), [[Guadalajara, Mexico]], May 1996:
*Finals: Defeated Benjamín García (Mexico) RSC 1
{{gold1}} [[Boxing at the 1996 Summer Olympics – Heavyweight|XXVI Summer Olympics]] (91&nbsp;kg), [[Atlanta, Georgia]], July–August 1996:
*1/32: Defeated [[Andrey Kurnyavka]] (Kyrgyzstan) 9–3 {{small|(Kurnyavka was given a standing eight count at 0:48 of the 2nd rd)}}
*1/16: Defeated [[Kwamena Turkson]] (Sweden) RSC 1 {{small|(2:29)}}
*1/4: Defeated [[Georgi Kandelaki]] (Georgia) 20–4 {{small|(Kandelaki was given a standing eight count at 0:54 of the 3rd rd)}}
*1/2: Defeated [[Luan Krasniqi]] (Germany) by walkover
*Finals: Defeated [[David Defiagbon]] (Canada) 20–2
{{gold1}} Copenhagen Cup (91&nbsp;kg), [[Copenhagen, Denmark]], November 1996:
*1/4: Defeated Sergei Volodin (Russia) KO 1
*1/2: Defeated [[Mark Simmons (boxer)|Mark Simmons]] (Canada) by walkover
*Finals: Defeated Rune Lillebuen (Norway) RET 2
XXXVI [[Campeonato Nacional de Boxeo Playa Girón|Playa Girón National Championships]] (91&nbsp;kg), [[Holguín, Cuba]], February 1997:
*1/4: Lost to Juan Delis Causse (Cuba) KO 2 {{small|(1:35)}}
{{gold1}} XXX Giraldo Córdova Cardín Tournament (91&nbsp;kg), [[Pinar del Río, Cuba]], June 1997:
*1/4: Defeated Benjamín García (Mexico) RSC 2
*1/2: Defeated [[Mark Simmons (boxer)|Mark Simmons]] (Canada) 12–8 (5 rds)
*Finals: Defeated [[Freddy Rojas]] (Cuba) 14–4 (5 rds)
National match-up (91&nbsp;kg), [[Havana, Cuba]], August 1997:
*Defeated Juan Delis Causse (Cuba) on points (5 rds)
{{gold1}} Pan American Tournament (91&nbsp;kg), [[Medellín, Colombia]], September 1997:
*1/2: Defeated Leo Simonis (Argentina) RSC 2
*Finals: Defeated John Arroyo Escobar (Colombia) RSCH 1
{{gold1}} [[1997 World Amateur Boxing Championships|World Championships]] (91&nbsp;kg), [[Budapest, Hungary]], October 1997:
*1/16: Defeated [[Kwamena Turkson]] (Norway) 4–2 (5 rds)
*1/8: Defeated [[Igor Kshinin]] (Russia) 25–4 (5 rds)
*1/4: Defeated [[Mark Simmons (boxer)|Mark Simmons]] (Canada) 15–4 (5 rds)
*1/2: Defeated [[Tue Bjørn Thomsen]] (Denmark) RSC 3
*Finals: Lost to [[Ruslan Chagaev]] (Uzbekistan) 4–14 (5 rds)
:{{small|On 8 February 1998, the AIBA stripped the championship of Chagaev for having 2 professional bouts in the United States before the tournament.}}
{{gold1}} XXXVI [[Campeonato Nacional de Boxeo Playa Girón|Playa Girón National Championships]] (91&nbsp;kg), [[Villa Clara, Cuba]], January–February 1998:
*1/4: Defeated [[Michel López Núñez]] (Cuba) RET 3
*1/2: Defeated Yusmel García (Cuba) RSC 2
*Finals: Defeated Juan Delis Causse (Cuba) 19–6 (5 rds)
{{gold1}} Ahmet Cömert Memorial (91&nbsp;kg), [[Istanbul, Turkey]], February 1998:
*1/4: Defeated Zoltán Kiss (Hungary) RET
*1/2: Defeated Roman Sukhoterin (Kazakhstan) RSC 1
*Finals: Defeated [[Giacobbe Fragomeni]] (Italy) by walkover
{{gold1}} Beijing Open Tournament (91&nbsp;kg), [[Beijing, China]], March 1998
*Finals: Defeated Ma Jing Wei (China)
{{gold1}} XXXI Giraldo Córdova Cardín Tournament (91&nbsp;kg), [[Havana, Cuba]], June 1998:
*1/4: Defeated José Gonzalez (Venezuela) RSC 1 {{small|(0:55)}}
*1/2: Defeated Leo Simonis (Argentina) RSC 1 {{small|(0:57)}}
*Finals: Defeated Juan Delis Causse (Cuba) 19–2 (5 rds)
{{gold1}} IX [[Boxing World Cup|World Cup]] (91&nbsp;kg), [[Chongqing, China]], June 1998:
*1/4: Defeated Georges Akono (Cameroon) RSC 1
*1/2: Defeated Ma Jing Wei (China) RSC 1
*Finals: Defeated [[Giacobbe Fragomeni]] (Italy) by walkover
{{gold1}} [[1998 Goodwill Games|IV Goodwill Games]] (91&nbsp;kg), [[New York City]], July 1998:
*1/4: Defeated Dmitry Gerasimov (Russia) RSCO (11–2)
*1/2: Defeated [[Malcolm Tann]] (United States) RET 3 {{small|(1:20)}}
*Finals: Defeated [[DaVarryl Williamson]] (United States) KO 1 {{small|(0:55)}}
{{gold1}} [[Boxing at the 1998 Central American and Caribbean Games|XVIII Central American and Caribbean Games]] (91&nbsp;kg), [[Maracaibo, Venezuela]], August 1998:
*1/2: Defeated Alejandro Virgen (Mexico) 26–8 (4 rds)
*Finals: Defeated Jhony Molina (Venezuela) RSC 2 {{small|(1:00)}}
{{silver2}} XXXVII [[Campeonato Nacional de Boxeo Playa Girón|Playa Girón National Championships]] (91&nbsp;kg), [[Sancti Spiritus, Cuba]], January 1999:
*1/8: Defeated [[Luis Ortiz (Cuban boxer)|Luis Ortíz]] (Cuba) RET 4
*1/4: Defeated Alexis Castillo (Cuba) RSC 4
*1/2: Defeated [[Freddy Rojas]] (Cuba) 17–2 (4 rds)
*Finals: Lost to [[Odlanier Solís]] (Cuba) 2–4 (4 rds)
{{silver2}} [[Strandzha Cup]] (91&nbsp;kg), [[Plovdiv, Bulgaria]], February 1999:
*Finals: Lost to [[Ruslan Chagaev]] (Uzbekistan) 2–7 (4 rds)
{{bronze3}} Ústí Grand Prix (91&nbsp;kg), [[Ústí nad Labem]], [[Czech Republic]], March 1999:
*1/4: Defeated Zoltán Kiss (Hungary) RSC 2
*1/2: Lost to Radim Marovski (Czech) 2–4 (4 rds)
National Tournament of Champions (91&nbsp;kg), [[Havana, Cuba]], April 1999:
*1/4: Lost to Noel Pérez Bió (Cuba) KO 2
{{gold1}} XXXII Giraldo Córdova Cardín Tournament (91&nbsp;kg), [[Villa Clara, Cuba]], June 1999:
*1/2: Defeated Noel Pérez Bió (Cuba) 15–3 (4 rds)
*Finals: Defeated [[Mohamed Azzaoui]] (Algeria) RSC 2
{{silver2}} [[1999 World Amateur Boxing Championships|X World Championships]] (91&nbsp;kg), [[Houston, Texas]], August 1999:
*1/16: Defeated Deividas Nekrašas (Lithuania) RSCH 3 {{small|(1:46)}}
*1/8: Defeated Andrei Kombarov (Russia) 7–5 (4 rds)
*1/4: Defeated [[Ruslan Chagaev]] (Kazakhstan) 9–1 (4 rds)
*1/2: Defeated Kevin Evans (Wales) RET 4 {{small|(0:51)}}
*Finals: Lost to [[Michael Bennett (boxer)|Michael Bennett]] (United States) due to boycotting the final
{{silver2}} XXXVIII [[Campeonato Nacional de Boxeo Playa Girón|Playa Girón National Championships]] (91&nbsp;kg), [[Guantánamo, Cuba]], January 2000:
*1/8: Defeated Alexis Castillo (Cuba) RSC 1
*1/4: Defeated [[Freddy Rojas]] (Cuba) RSC 4
*1/2: Defeated Alberto Almeida (Cuba) RSC 1
*Finals: Lost to [[Odlanier Solís]] (Cuba) 3–6 (4 rds)
{{gold1}} Ústí Grand Prix (91&nbsp;kg), [[Ústí nad Labem]], [[Czech Republic]], March 2000:
*1/2: Defeated [[Sultan Ibragimov]] (Russia) 10–4 (4 rds)
*Finals: Defeated [[Alexander Povernov]] (Germany) by walkover
Ukraine–Cuba Duals (91&nbsp;kg), [[Kyiv, Ukraine]], March 2000:
*Defeated [[Alexandr Yatsenko]] (Ukraine) (4 rds)
*Defeated Vitali Nayasov (Ukraine) by unanimous decision, 3–0 (4 rds)
National Olympic Trials (91&nbsp;kg), [[Havana, Cuba]], June 2000:
*1/4: Defeated Yusmel García (Cuba) RSCO 3
*1/2: Defeated Alexis Castillo (Cuba) RSC 3
*Finals: Defeated Noel Pérez Bió (Cuba) 6–4 (4 rds)
{{gold1}} XXXIII Giraldo Córdova Cardín Tournament (91&nbsp;kg), [[Las Tunas, Cuba]], July 2000:
*1/4: Defeated Yusmel García (Cuba) by walkover
*1/2: Defeated Mahomed Adamov (Kazakhstan) RSC 3 {{small|(1:10)}}
*Finals: Defeated [[Odlanier Solís]] (Cuba) 4–3 (4 rds)
{{gold1}} [[Boxing at the 2000 Summer Olympics – Heavyweight|XXVII Summer Olympics]] (91&nbsp;kg), [[Sydney, Australia]], September 2000:
*1/16: Defeated Ojemaye Rasmus (Nigeria) RSCO 2 (18–3)
*1/4: Defeated [[Michael Bennett (boxer)|Michael Bennett]] (United States) RSCO 3 (23–8)
*1/2: Defeated [[Sebastian Köber]] (Germany) 19–8 (4 rds)
*Finals: Defeated [[Sultan Ibragimov]] (Russia) 21–13 (4 rds) {{small|(Savón suffered a deep cut under his left eye at 1:41 of the 4th rd)}}
{{Col-end}}

===Retirement===
Savón announced his retirement from the ring, but helped train Cuba's fighters for the [[2004 Summer Olympics|2004 Athens Olympics]].<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.nytimes.com/2001/01/07/sports/plus-boxing-cuban-champion-to-become-a-coach.html?ref=felix_savon|title=Plus: Boxing; Cuban Champion To Become a Coach |agency=Reuters|work=The New York Times|date=7 January 2001|access-date=21 December 2012}}</ref>
After winning his third Olympic gold at the [[2000 Summer Olympics]] in [[Sydney]], Savón announced his retirement at age 33.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://edition.cnn.com/2008/SPORT/05/01/felixsavon/index.html|title=Felix Savon |website=[[CNN.com]] |date=7 July 2008| access-date=21 December 2012}}</ref>

==Later life==
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 world|western]] [[Rock and roll|rock]] band to play in Cuba.

In 2018, Savón was arrested amid accusations that he had raped an underage boy.<ref>{{cite news|last=Castillo |first=Elisinio |url= https://www.boxingscene.com/felix-savon-jail-allegations-sexual-assault-minor--133504|title=Felix Savon in Jail, Allegations of Sexual Assault of a Minor |agency=Boxing Scene |date=8 November 2018|access-date=15 November 2019}}</ref> The Cuban authorities never officially disclosed any details about his trial and conviction. In January 2025 it was reported that Savón was released on parole at the end of 2024 with about two years left on his original sentence.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.cibercuba.com/noticias/2025-01-25-u1-e199894-s27061-nid296145-tricampeon-olimpico-felix-savon-libertad-condicional|title=Tricampeón olímpico Félix Savón en libertad condicional después de seis años preso|trans-title=Three-time Olympic champion Félix Savón released on parole after six years in prison |language=es |date=25 January 2025|access-date=28 December 2025}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Portal|Cuba}}
* {{Boxrec|id=905723}}
* {{Olympics.com profile}}
* {{Olympedia}}
* [http://www.geocities.ws/pedrinet/savon.html Amateur career of Félix Savón (in Spanish) compiled by Pedro Cabrera Isidrón of the Cuban Olympics Committee. Last updated: September 17, 2008]
* {{IMDb name|1742444}}

{{Footer Olympic Champions Boxing Heavyweight}}
{{Footer World Amateur Champions Heavyweight}}
{{Footer Pan American Champions Heavyweight}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Savon, Felix}}
[[Category:1967 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:IBA Men's World Boxing Championships medalists]]
[[Category:Boxers at the 1987 Pan American Games]]
[[Category:Boxers at the 1991 Pan American Games]]
[[Category:Boxers at the 1992 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Boxers at the 1995 Pan American Games]]
[[Category:Boxers at the 1996 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Boxers at the 2000 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Central American and Caribbean Games gold medalists for Cuba]]
[[Category:Competitors at the 1986 Central American and Caribbean Games]]
[[Category:Competitors at the 1990 Central American and Caribbean Games]]
[[Category:Competitors at the 1993 Central American and Caribbean Games]]
[[Category:Competitors at the 1998 Central American and Caribbean Games]]
[[Category:Cuban male boxers]]
[[Category:Heavyweight boxers]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1992 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1996 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2000 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic boxers for Cuba]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists for Cuba]]
[[Category:Olympic medalists in boxing]]
[[Category:Pan American Games gold medalists for Cuba]]
[[Category:Pan American Games gold medalists in boxing]]
[[Category:People from Guantánamo Province]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Olympic Order]]
[[Category:Central American and Caribbean Games medalists in boxing]]
[[Category:Competitors at the 1998 Goodwill Games]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1987 Pan American Games]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1991 Pan American Games]]
[[Category:20th-century Cuban sportsmen]]
[[Category:People convicted of child sexual abuse]]