Final bell sounds for legend

By PETER JESSUP

Felix Savon achieved his dream by bringing glory to Cuba with his third Olympic gold but had to survive a stuttering end that showed his time is up.

Savon out-pointed Russian southpaw Sultan Ibraghimov 21-13, surviving a last-second scare that the final would be stopped when a big cut was opened under his left eye.

Australian referee Wayne Rose wiped the blood away, told the pair to box on, and Savon back-pedalled his way to victory, staying out of the Russian's reach.

Then he smiled for the first time at this tournament, and spoke to reporters for the first time.

"I am really happy," he said. "I dedicate this victory to the people of Cuba. I have won to create history for Cuban sport."

It was the last of his nation's four boxing golds on Saturday.

Bantamweight Guillermo Rigondeaux set the tone when he celebrated his twentieth birthday by pointing-out Russian Raimkoul Malakhbekov 8-12 in a fierce contest. The two fighters had similar reach and were snapping one another's heads back with jabs, but the Cuban was harder and faster.

World champion lightweight Mario Kindelan and Ukrainian Andriy Kotelnyk danced around each other for most of their eight minutes, each wary of the other, but the 19-year-old Cuban southpaw had a big right hand that won it for him 14-4.

Middleweight Jorge Gutierrez won the island's third gold, sneaking one 17-15 in a brawl against Russian Gaidarbek Gaidarbekov.

Savon was never in doubt. After round two he had landed sufficient blows to be 10-1 ahead, even if the Russian did not look hurt or worried.

Savon knew he would match his idol Teofilo Stevenson, a compatriot who won three straight Olympic golds in boxing. The only other fighter who has done that was Hungarian Laszlo Papp.

So Savon started taunting the Russian, dancing in front of him, arms apart, inviting danger.

The Russian obliged, quickly landing a flurry that took the points to 11-7.

With his corner yelling at him, Savon started moving away from trouble. He held that tactic for the last round but with 14 seconds to go Ibraghimov landed a bomb.

Savon put on a stumble to mock the Russian and show him it did not hurt.

The Russian's reply was a big right that cut deep under the Cuban's eye.

The crowd held its collective breath, wondering if the great warrior's career would end in controversy with a stoppage seconds from glory.

Rose, though, never looked like calling it off and Savon reached his nirvana.

He wants to go home to become a boxing trainer but said he was happy that the state would reassess his future, and he would do whatever the Government asked of him.

There were no questions about his turning pro after yesterday's effort.

He looked like a man at the end of his range, like a man who did not really want to fight any more.

There have been plenty or rumours that his cigar-smoking boss would turn up for the last bout of Savon's career, but there was no sign of Fidel Castro yesterday.

Savon is hoping the generalissimo will be at the airport to greet him on the team's return.

Kazakhstan had the chance to match the Cubans' four golds when their fighters fronted up in the 51kg, 71kg and superheavyweight finals but fell short, winning two.