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	*NEWS*

Old Master does it again

By Winsor Dobbin SYDNEY, Sept 30 (Reuters) - The Old Master managed to produce one last great performance. Felix Savon, now 33 and fighting at his last Olympics, emulated his great compatriot and inspiration, Teofilo Stevenson -- the only other man to win three straight Olympic titles in the same division. Savon won Cuba's fourth boxing gold medal at the Sydney Games with a 21-13 points win over Sultanahmed Ibzagimov of Russia in the heavyweight division. Savon, who is now expected to retire, finished the bout rocked back on his heels by a late assault from the Russian and with a deep cut under his left eye -- but he had still done more than enough to earn the gold. It wasn't the prettiest performance of his career, but Savon bowed out a winner and maintained one of the most remarkable records in the sport. The man who turned his back on untold riches as a professional to fight for the honour of his country, won six world titles in a row, three Olympic golds and four Pan Am Games gold medals. He has suffered only one defeat in a major tournament over the last 14 years. His career will end with a magnificent record of 379 wins and just 17 losses -- but there was still a heart-stopping moment for him with 14 seconds remaining in the final. A cut he suffered under the eye in the semifinals reopened late in the first round. CLOSE LOOK By late in the fourth, the wound was open and bleeding. Australian referee Wayne Rose took a close look and wiped the cut, but he decided not to stop the contest. Savon, calling on all his years of experience, got up onto his toes and danced out of danger until the final bell. The verdict was greeted by a mixture of cheers and jeers, but Savon has always known exactly how to plan his fights under amateur rules and had piled up the points in the second and third rounds. Ibzagimov had no complaints about the verdict. ``My tactics were to be defensive and that was a mistake because I usually attack,'' he said. ``Today I wasn't able to fight like that. I say to Savon: 'Wait until our next fight'.'' It is unlikely, however, that Ibzagimov will get another crack at the man who grew up in poverty in a shack without electricity but became one of the legends of Olympic sport. There was an air of expectancy in the crowd as Savon entered the ring, jogging on his toes, and he took a rapid 4-0 lead against his shorter, stocky opponent. The Russian was penalised two points for punching after the bell to end the first round. Savon, incensed, had responded in kind, but escaped censure. Savon, aware of the danger of the cut and of the many controversial decisions that have bedevilled amateur boxing, set about piling up the points with his pace and poise. The Russian fell behind 17-9 as Savon's hands flashed -- but then came the cut and seconds of uncertainty before the fighters were ordered to continue. The Cuban looked bemused by the mixed reaction to his win, but milked the applause at the medals ceremony, holding both hands high in the air as a tiny smile creased his face. He danced around at ringside, waving a Cuban flag and showing off his medal. ``I'm really happy. I dedicate this to the people of Cuba,'' he said.