More Skilled: Chavez or Olivares?

I think that Julio Caesar Chavez Sr was more skilled than Ruben Olivares. Julio had better form, he applied constant pressure, wore down his opponents and had better stamina. Olivares could hit and put many to sleep with his right hand, but could be out boxed and stopped as he was against Alexis Arguello on Nov 23 1974, when he was stopped late. Meldrick Taylor was out boxing Chavez on March 17 1990, but Julio's tenacity and stamina prevailed in scoring the necessary knockout to win the bout.

 

Blimey ! I may have to disagree with my pal Richard M. Sorry mate. The original incarnation of Olivares was surgical. He threw that big right only when he had seen the gap.
Chavez was fantastic close up. The way he used his shoulders and upper body to move an opponent to where he needed him to be was brilliant. He was also a great ring general. He could make you stand and fight his fight but you never saw him effective at range or being first on the jab.
Olivares in his early career was never even in a hard fight. He looked born to do it.

 

To me, there's not much, if anything, separating them. Both guys could press the action very effectively, both guys could box intelligently, they could both hurt you with either hand, both were tremendous body punches. I think that Chavez was better defensively.
Incidentally, I thought that Olivares was winning the fight when Arguello caught him in the 13th round.

 

I think Ruben was the more naturally talented of the two while Chavez of course had the greater discipline.

 

That is okay my friend, that is what these forums are all about, I respect your views,

 

As said, not much at all separating their talent level. The difference, and what makes Chavez greater overall, was his superior durability.

 

Chavez is just more solid all around with less weaknesses. Olivares has more obvious and eye catching/exciting talent but was more up and down and his flaws were easier to expose.

 

This. I think people are being fooled a bit because Olivares was more dynamic.

Chavez was overall more skilled.

 

Sometimes I don't know how fare it is to use the Olivares we see in the Arguello fight and beyond as big/negative detractors from his skill set or determining how he might fare in head to heads and all that. I probably see more positives than most as regards Ruben's venture into the featherweight division as when I watch those fights I am kinda amazed he was competitive because he looks like he really has no business being there sizewise. One of THEE biggest punchers at bantam in history looks to be firing a peashooter against Arguello, David Kotey, Danny Lopez, Pedroza, etc. Look at those names! Fights he lost, but fights where he was competitive when others his size surely wouldn't have been.