Editing Teófilo Stevenson (section)

== Early life ==

Teófilo Stevenson Lawrence was born in [[Puerto Padre]], Cuba.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.periodico26.cu/english/faces/stevenson.htm |title=Las Tunas-born Teofilo Stevenson: a Legend that Lives on |access-date=2011-06-22 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060820040414/http://www.periodico26.cu/english/faces/stevenson.htm |archive-date=20 August 2006}}. Periodico.</ref> His father, Teófilo Stevenson Patterson, was an immigrant from [[Saint Vincent (island)|Saint Vincent]]. His mother Dolores Lawrence was a native [[Cubans|Cuban]], but her parents were immigrants from the [[English-speaking world|Anglophone]] island of [[Saint Kitts]]. Teófilo senior arrived in Cuba in 1923, finding work wherever he could, before settling in [[Camagüey]] with Dolores, where he gave English lessons to top up his meagre earnings. Due to his large size, Teófilo senior was encouraged into boxing by local trainers, fighting seven times before becoming disillusioned by the corrupt payment structure on offer to young fighters.<ref name="young">''In the Red Corner''. John Duncan. pp. 77–79.</ref>

Teófilo junior was a shiftless but bright child who at nine years old soon found himself sparring at the makeshift open-air gym his father had frequented.<ref name="young"/> Under the tutelage of former national light heavyweight champion John Herrera, Teófilo junior began his career fighting far more experienced boxers, but according to Herrera, "had what it took". Despite his growing involvement in the sport, Stevenson had yet to tell his mother about his activities. Eventually Teófilo Sr. broke the news to his wife, who was furious; but she agreed to acquiesce on the provision that the boy was accompanied by his father.<ref name="young"/>