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One of Cuba's boxing heroes Teofilo Stevenson was laid to rest on Tuesday after passing away on Monday at the age of 60.

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Cuban boxing legend Teofilo Stevenson was laid to rest in the country's capital Havana on Tuesday having passed away at the age of 60 from heart disease.

Stevenson, who had his first fight aged 14, will go down in history as just the third man to have ever won three consecutive Olympic gold medals, winning his first in Munich in 1972.

The man nicknamed "Pirolo" went on to finish atop the podium in 1976 in Montreal and 1980 in Moscow

After his Olympic success there was talk he would take on Muhammad Ali in what was billed as 'the fight of the century'.

However, Cuba refused to allow Stevenson to drop his amateur status and the bout never took place as he missed out on millions by not turning pro..

Stevenson also won three amateur world titles before he retired in 1988 after Cuba decided not to attend the Seoul Olympics.

After his retirement Stevenson served as vice president of Cuba's boxing federation and at the island's national sports institute.

Stevenson, who's funeral was attended by hundreds of friends and loyal fans, will be remembered for not only his boxing skills but also his commitment to Cuba's communist cause.