Three-time Olympic boxing gold medalist Félix Savón has reportedly been filmed searching through trash for food in Cuba, nearly two years after his release from prison following a conviction for a sexual offense involving a minor.
The 59-year-old former heavyweight champion, who won Olympic gold in 1992, 1996 and 2000, appears in footage circulated on Cuban social media in October.
A man filming from a vehicle recognizes Savón and asks what he is doing. The former champion approaches and replies that he is collecting food to eat.
The 17-second video circulated widely on October 11 and had attracted more than one million views by the following afternoon, according to independent Cuban outlet CubaNet.
The recording’s precise date and location remain unconfirmed.
Olympic Champion Searching for Food
Savón was among the most decorated amateur boxers in history, winning six world championships alongside his three consecutive Olympic gold medals.
His achievements placed him alongside fellow Cuban Teófilo Stevenson and Hungary’s László Papp as one of only three men to win three Olympic boxing gold medals.
The footage has prompted widespread reaction, although Savón’s current financial circumstances remain unclear.
Cuban journalist Ricardo Celis initially expressed sadness after seeing the video shared by Willie Suarez, who highlighted Savón’s influence on generations of Cuban boxers.
However, Celis subsequently said he had been unaware of Savón’s criminal history and condemned his actions after another social media user raised the case.
El boxeador legendario cubano Félix Savón pasó de medallista olímpico a recogedor de comida en las calles para poder comer. Ese es el comunismo cubano del cual me resingo en la madre de todo el que lo quiere para Estados Unidos y defiende el cubano. #cuba https://t.co/FrpOArj1W5
— Willie Suarez (@boxeocubanocom) October 12, 2026
Savón’s Prison Record
Savón was arrested in Cuba in 2018 following allegations of sexual assault involving a male minor.
BoxingScene reported at the time that the allegations had been made by the family of a boy under 12, citing Cuban journalist Abraham Jiménez Enoa.
According to CubaNet, Savón spent approximately six years in prison before being released on parole in late 2024.
The Cuban authorities did not publicly disclose the full circumstances of his trial or sentence.
However, a purported prison record circulated by the Facebook account El Chivo in June 2025 identifies Félix Savón Fabré and lists an 11-year sentence connected to a sexual offense involving a minor.
The document, subsequently reported by independent Cuban outlets, describes allegations involving two minors in Havana in 2018. It also lists a separate case involving a 2018 road accident, although it does not establish how the recorded sentences were combined.
WBN has not independently authenticated the original record, and the full court judgment has not been made publicly available. The accompanying image is a reconstructed presentation of the circulated document.
Help Arrives for Savón
Cuban comedian and humanitarian Limay Blanco subsequently visited Savón to provide food, money and a Bible.
CubaNet reported on October 13 that Blanco had offered to help after seeing the footage.
The comedian, who carries out charitable work through the church Cristo Cambia Vidas, later shared a video showing how he found Savón in a street near his home.
Blanco delivered food donated through the church, along with money and a Bible.
The assistance addressed an immediate need without establishing the full extent of Savón’s financial or living circumstances.
Life After Olympic Glory
Savón’s three Olympic gold medals and six world amateur titles remain extraordinary sporting achievements.
But his criminal history is an essential part of his story, regardless of the concern generated by the latest footage.
The video offers a troubling glimpse of his present circumstances without establishing whether he is homeless, financially destitute or regularly searching for discarded food.
For a man once celebrated among Cuba’s greatest Olympic athletes, the contrast with his years of dominance could hardly be more striking.
Yet the reaction to Savón’s apparent hardship cannot be separated from the serious offense that led to his imprisonment and the victims whose experiences must not be overlooked.
About the Author
Phil Jay is the Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News (WBN), a BWAA-acknowledged boxing news website founded in 2010. A veteran boxing reporter with 16 years of experience, he has interviewed world champions, broken international exclusives, and reported ringside from major events. His work is published worldwide through WBN and distributed on platforms including Apple News.
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