“Teofilo: Boxing's Most Revolutionary Champion” is a new documentary by director Ethan Higbee that offers a fresh perspective on the life and career of three-time Olympic gold medalist Teofilo Stevenson, a Cuban heavyweight amateur legend who never turned pro out of loyalty to president Fidel Castro and the political and economic rivalries that were omnipresent at the time.

The film premiered at the Pan African Film Festival last month at the iconic Culver Theater in Los Angeles and was nominated for Best Documentary Feature. (Watch the trailer here)

“This is a story that goes far beyond sports. At its heart, it's really a love story – about a man whose deep connection to his homeland, Cuba, outweighed all the fame and fortune the world could offer,” Higbee told The Ring in an interview.

“I was inspired by Teofilo Stevenson's unwavering dedication and integrity, which is beautifully captured in Mike Tyson's powerful statement from the film when he says, ‘Everyone has a price, but not everyone’s price is money.’”

In addition to Tyson, Higbee recruited an all-star cast featuring George Foreman, who passed away on Friday, as well as Bob Arum, Max Kellerman, and Stevenson's family members to shed light on the late hero's world-class talent and convictions for his country. The documentary is narrated by Cuban actor Alberto Guerra and features a wide array of both archival and exclusive footage.

“Before working on this film, I hadn't been involved in boxing at all, but exploring Stevenson’s story opened up a fascinating new world for me,” said Higbee. “It introduced me to this passionate global community connected through boxing’s unique history. As part of making this film, I traveled to Moscow for two weeks, where I interviewed legendary Soviet boxer Igor Vysotsky and spoke extensively with the former head of the Soviet Boxing Federation. While there, I also had the chance to visit the Torpedo Boxing Club, founded by Andrei Chervonenko, who was Stevenson’s Russian trainer. These experiences allowed me not only to immerse myself deeply in boxing’s rich culture but also to appreciate firsthand how the sport transcends borders, politics, and cultures.”

Stevenson won gold medals in the 1972, 1976, and 1980 Olympics. Stevenson was set to make a run for a fourth medal in 1984 but Cuba boycotted the Olympics, and by 1988, Stevenson had retired with a reported amateur record of 322 wins, 22 losses and 8 draws.

In addition to covering Stevenson’s career, the documentary highlights the political and economic turmoil of the times led by the Cold War and the Cuban Missile Crisis and how Stevenson was loyal to Castro’s revolution while being perceived as the perfect poster child for the country’s propaganda.

Stevenson ultimately scrapped an anticipated pro career and a much-discussed fight against Muhammad Ali, which Arum shed light on in the documentary.

Stevenson died at the age of 60 in 2012 after suffering a heart attack.

In recent years, filmmakers made attempts at covering Stevenson's story. In 2014, ESPN's “30 for 30” series released Brin-Jonathan Butler’s short film "Ali vs Stevenson: The Greatest Fight That Never Was." In 2018, Peter Berg debuted "The People's Fighters: Teofilo Stevenson and the Legend of Cuban Boxing" on the Olympic Channel.

After receiving rave reviews at the Pan African Film Festival, Higbee is in the process of securing distribution for Stevenson’s documentary. He’s also in post-production on another doc called "The Cardiac Kids," which tells the story of the 1975 Golden State Warriors, a team that went on an improbable run to win the NBA title.

“My hope is that this film contributes meaningfully to Stevenson's legacy,” said Higbee. “It's challenging to promote a narrative or share a story authentically when it's rooted in Cuba, a non-aligned nation struggling under a 65-year embargo. Stevenson's victory in 1972 ended America's Olympic dominance in the heavyweight division – an outcome that was uncomfortable for many in the United States. Since then, Cuba has undeniably become the most successful Olympic boxing nation on Earth, and Stevenson was central to that transformation. In Cuba, I believe he'll forever be remembered as an icon who inspired countless generations – not just of boxers, but of athletes and everyday Cubans who looked up to him as a symbol of dignity and pride. Internationally, especially among boxing fans, Stevenson will be remembered as the first postmodern heavyweight … if Stevenson had turned professional, he undoubtedly would have been champion for a very long time.”