I'm not talking about the head-to-head thing here, though it is intriguing. I refer instead to the idea that Olivares could be rated above Sanchez in your list of greats in a simple "which guy was better" question. If you list him as such, why is this? I really can't see any reasonable explanation for it, and need to see your side of things. Given his inconsistencies, how could anyone possibly rank him above Sanchez?
It would have to be in terms of resume and longevity. His resume is pretty deep: Lionel Rose Chucho Castillo Jose Luis Ramirez Bobby Chacon Salvatore Burruni Takao Sakurai Alan Rudkin Jesus Pimentel Goddfrey Stevens Effren Torres Kazuyoshi Kanazawa Art Hafey I think he gets a lot of props for outboxing Arguello too when past his absolute best. Having said that, you could mount a good case for Sanchez based on his dominance (though even there you might put a dint on Sal depending on how you saw his fights with Castillo and Ford). As far as H2H ability goes, I think they are roughly on par. Sanchez had a slight difficulty with slick boxer types, and Olivares with hard-nosed work-horses. Given the completion of his career, I think Sanchez could have potentially gone down as the best Mexican fighter of all time, or at least with a good case to displace the likes of Saldivar and Chavez. I have him just below Ruben as it stands, but I have no beef with those that place Sal above Ruben.
Actually, if you watch Olivares' rematch with Hafey one can see why I pick Olivares over Sanchez in a head to head scenario. Sanchez always had problems with boxers such as Becerra, Cowdell, Ford and Castillo. In the second Olivares-Hafey fight Olivares turned matador and showed how diverse he actually was. His name resonated KO but he could box quite well when he wanted to. Trying to take out Sanchez would never work. Sanchez had a great set of whiskers. I would pick Olivares on a 15 round decision at his featherweight peak. Scartissue
Olivares also boxed beautifully in regaining the bantam title from castillo in '71. The man could box when he wanted to...he wasn't just a one dimensional slugger...but he definitely was a bit inconsistamt.
Yup. I have always believed that if Olivares wasnt so incosistence, he would of been undefeated at 118lbs, and would be the greatest Mexican boxer of all time without question. At his very best and fully focused, he was a monster.
This is absolutely correct. By this time he would take non-title fights for granted (Hafey I, Mendoza) or lesser opposition (Kotey) and train in the cantinas and sometimes pay the price. When he was focused after a loss or a tough opponent he would whip himself into immaculate condition. The Utagawa and first Chacon fights showed how expertly he could break a fighter down body and then head (Utagawa said, "I always thought my countryman Sho Saiyjo had the best jab ever until I felt Olivares' jab."). The second Hafey fight showed how well he could box. And let's face it, although he walked into one in the 13th, how many 5'5" fighters could say they were ahead on points and beating the crap out of Alexis Arguello? It was downhill from there for him although he would still produce some nice wins (Chacon II, Cabanela, Ramirez) from time to time. But his featherweight peak was something as well as abused. Scartissue
By the way does anybody know if Olivares-Alan Rudkin exists on film? Heard that was one of the best if not the best Olivares' performances.
Rudkin buzzed him early then Olivares caught him in the 2nd. Doesn't exist: Alan Jr has looked for it for years. His old man was relieved he didn't see it again when he was still alive! Understandable, but even as a big admirer or Rudkin Sr, would love to see that fight!
I've been talking to a friend of mine on facebook who was actually at the fight. He reckons he saw it recently on tv in California, he said it was shown on the Spanish channel. In light of all the Jofre stuff that has surfaced recently I'm hoping with mixed feelings that it is about, can't see why it wouldn't be. Highlights of Castillo-Cruz from the undercard are on youtube.