Soviet Amateur Champion Igor Vysotsky Dies at 69, Fought Muhammad Ali and Beat Teofilo Stevenson Twice
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Moscow, Russia (April 4th, 2023)– Soviet Union 1978 amateur heavyweight champion Igor Vysotsky, the number one ranked amateur Soviet heavyweight of the 1970’s, best known for being the only man to defeat Cuba’s Olympic champion Teofilo Stevenson and the only man to stop him, has died in his native Yagadnoye, Russian Federation at the age of 69.
Vysotsky’s 161-24 amateur record between 1973 and 1980 included a second round stoppage of future World Heavyweight champion Tony Tubbs, and a three round split decision loss to future World heavyweight champion Greg Page. Vysotsky decisioned Stevenson in July 1973, and stopped Stevenson in the third round in April 1976.
In June 1978, Vysotsky sparred several rounds with Muhammad Ali during Ali’s ten day traveling tour of the Soviet Union. Vysotsky last fought in the 1980 Soviet amateur championship tournament. In retirement, Vysotsky worked as a boxing trainer, coach and remained active in the sport as the vice-president of the Boxing Federation of Moscow Oblast.
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