Olivares vs Inoue

****... Forget about him!

Nah, I'd have Oba at two. Jiro, three. Same as from there.

Still, top five already is damn good (unless ive forgot another one)

 

You could make a case for Shibata due to his win over Saldivar IMO, and his two weight reign, but Inoue is really storming up there right now, and Japan has had a lot of good fighters from 60s onwards (excluding Shirai).

 

Shibata and Shirai are both really good mentions mate. Although I'd genuinely pick Inoue to KO both. Obviously that's not the be all and end all, but my first thought was a bit jokey (literally just Inoue KO1) then I actually agreed with myself and thought Inoue probably would KO both.

 

You think Inoue KOs a proven 130lber who fought Ben Villaflor?

 

I think that with the weight Inoue comes to on fight-night (125ish iirc) that he could KO the version who lost to Clement (it is Clement, right? I forget the guys name, been ages since I even glimpsed at his record).

 

Tbh I can't see him beating the Shibata who beat Saldivar. I think he would get outsped and outpointed. Shibata had a better defense than Inoue and was all around faster. Inoue would have to go for it early before Shibata got in a groove if he wanted to win.

 

I'm not like 100 percent on it or anything. I just think that Inoue definitely has the power to KO him, and that it'd be hard to avoid it. Plus, Inoue is very capable of going after someone early.

It's interesting how this has gone from Olivares vs Inoue to Inoue vs all japanese fighters

 

Yeah, it should probably be a different thread lol.

 

Bujia is right that old man Donaire, way past his best, is still the most dangerous opponent that Inoue has beaten. I said before that fight that I could see even the old version of Donaire putting up a real fight if he could come in sharp and motivated and that the 2009/10 version would be the favourite to win. A prime Donaire was no better a fighter than the likes of Medel, Rudkin, Sakurai, Caraballo etc and the still dangerous version who faced Inoue certainly isn't on their level. Inoue beating someone of that calibre would answer a lot of questions in itself tbh. Or even Pimentel maybe.

Inoue does deserve credit for taking the amount of flush punches he did from a precise counterpuncher with ko power like Donaire and gutting it out to even win his fair share of the countering exchanges with a dangerous counterpuncher.

There were plenty of occasions though where Donaire was slow to pull the trigger when opportunities presented themselves compared to when he was younger, and the boat sailed. And Inoue had to leave the gaps himself rather than Donaire creating and manipulating them; such was the way even when Donaire was prime. An excellent but reactive counterpuncher as opposed to a proactive one. Swap Donaire for Medel, and if Inoue wasn't able to just blast through him with size and power or outwork him (though he well may do just that) then he might well be in a world of shyte against such a sneaky, proactive trapsetter with two-fisted no power.

Olivares was also a brilliant proactive counterpuncher and could feint the living daylights of opponents with his left to draw and forge openings. Inoue has faster hands but not the timing and accuracy that Olivares had. He'd really have to drive Olivares back and consistently dent and smother him but I don't think that's his style tbh, and he's too upright and easy to hit in a firefight. The danger for Olivares would be Inoue pulling some of those surprise guard splitting power punches he's capable of (usually after looking predictable for a stretch to add to the shock value) inside of some of Olivares's wider, slower hooks or overhands. Herrera threaded such shots brilliantly against Olivares when the latter was pished up and off key but I think he (Rafa) was a tighter, more cultured and varied puncher than Inoue if possibly not quite as fast or powerful.

I like Inoue but have long thought he gets by more on speed, size, chin and power rather than an advanced skill set. Not too bad in that regard, especially his good footwork, but definitely a physical talent rather an all round high level boxer puncher.

 

Perfect breakdown, good post.

 

Do you really think?

 

His overall career is probably more impressive than their respective careers but I’m not sure Donaire beats all those guys. Caraballo is a tricky enough and good enough boxer to pile up points and stay out of harms way. Medel is a great counter puncher, something Donaire struggles with. Rudkin being a very sound and durable boxer who got stronger as the fight wore on is there or thereabouts in a fight with Nonito. Bare in mind Donaire would have to weigh in on fight day and that’s losing a huge edge for him.

 

I have to agree, especially since you and BadBone were the only ones I remember correctly predicting the Donaire bout. IMO Donaire does his best against boxer - punchers stylistically like Inoue. It's also my opinion that Inoue has a very, very good, not great, skillset, but is very refined. I think his true danger lies in his truly excellent judge of distance and his ability to read the opponent, which tbh I think is understated by both the guys here on Classic and the Inoue fans, since it is a hard quality to judge in H2H match ups.

I can easily see Rudkin, for example, taking a decision, if he wasn't KOd however, after considering your analysis, especially since Rudkin was so proven in regards to his skills. But Inoue definitely has the potential to develop into (or show he already is) an extremely intuitive fighter with an excellent grasp of distance and adjustments. He just needs more opposition to challenge him, of all styles. I am excited to see how his career goes forward.

 

I would have to agree. Donaire fits into the type I think I discussed with you months ago. The 'Skilled but one dimensional' type. If he cannot get someone to settle down into a rhythm that he can then counter, then he really falls out of his element. This is why Boxer punchers, on the aggressive side, are best for Donaire, and why he was so difficult for Inoue (and bear in mind he was 36). Meanwhile, all those guys were either excellent at changing rhythms (Medel, Rudkin) or were extremely skilled outboxers who weren't tied down or drawn easily (Caraballo and especially Sakurai).

 

Kind of what Chris said mate. In terms of all round ability and effectiveness, yes. I sort of view him in roughly similar fashion to Inoue tbh. Fierce physical attributes in terms of size, power and speed but a more basic technical skill set and one dimensional approach. Inoue quicker of hand and foot, Donaire with better form, timing and counter punching skill.

Obviously as a weight draining cheat and with multiple belts in a weaker era he's had a chance to accrue a more eye catching record on the surface (though in fairness he did beat plenty of good fighters in impressive fashion) than the likes of Rudkin, Caraballo etc. I'd class him as a genuinely excellent type fighter at his peak, similar to the others, falling into a broad range that people might interpret as somewhere between very good and near great. Medel has a greater CV imo and was widely tested and proven against a far greater range of good to great fighters (with the losses to balance out the wins, no doubt not helped by his bone rodney attitude, rough start/finish and ridiculous schedule).

Like Chris said, I could see him losing to any of those guys, though I could see him winning too if he could make the weight and not be crippled. He'd more likely be facing Saldivar, Laguna, Elorde etc tbf.

I rate Rudkin, Caraballo, Medel and co higher than most though. Rudkin for example fighting Rose to the wire, giving Harada a very tough fight, beating McGowan etc counts highly in my book. A very complete and well schooled all round classic stand up boxer just lacking on the physical gifts other than outstanding championship stamina and endurance. Very comparable to someone like Davila and a genuine champ in most other eras type fighter.