Panama Al Brown vs. Ruben Olivares

Perhaps the founder of the Panamanian style.

 

Definitly has that Panamanian traditionalism in him, although he seems to be much more unorthodox than his later compatriots.

 

I think he generated power as he moved back and brought his man onto the punch. In the footage I have seen he never really showed a full offensive arsenal IMO.

 

I'd favor Brown owing to his greater height/reach and straighter punching.

 

Yes but his defensive arsenal is much more potent than his offence IMO.

 

Brown looks terrific on film,my problem is many of his opponents are unfamiliar to me,I know Baldock,and Tarleton,Perez etc ,but a lot of the the others are just names .Brown dropped quite a few decs along the way so he was not invulnerable,No disgrace losing to a fine fighter like Freddie Miller . I guess I just don't know enough about the obscure names on his record.
Olivares was not a faithfull trainer, he was a latter day Carlos Ortiz, a party animal, but when he was on, he was something else.
Olivares wrecked a fine fighter in Alan Rudkin in just 2 rds, Ruben's left hook could paralyse you, and he could box when he had to.
I remember watching him on Saturday afternoon fights , battling with Chucho Castillo, great scrap.
I will go against the tide and vote for Olivares, because I know a little about him.And he was straight

 

Comparative to big hitting peers he can't, IMO. It's all relative, but his overall stoppage record over a long period, especially considering his greatness, timing and accuracy is strictly average. We can take footage of near any boxer (especially one with many fights) and put forth where they have ko'd people and hurt them etc. I'd accept he's a decent puncher (based on power ) but that's about it.

 

I wouldn't go strictly by KO record when it comes to old time fighters. Benny Lynch had an average KO record, but hit like a mule, and so on. Olivares, despite his amazing KO record, wasn't necessarily a one punch artist himself. He wore down opposition with heavy, thudding blows to the body and head.

Brown didn't always go after the KO's either and was accused of carrying some of his foes. On film, which we actually don't have much of despite the amount of fights he had, he displays good punching power. You didn't have to be a huge puncher to catch Olivares's attention, as Chucho Castillo and Rafael Herrera showed. Both had an inferior KO record compared to Brown, if you go by that.

 

I'm sticking to "decent" for power. I certainly won't debate his other assets tho.

 

Oh, and cheers for the footage, excellent :good

 

I think 'decent' power is a fair description. Especially if you are meaning 'decent' for a world class fighter.

 

Decent it is then, but decent punchers have been able to hurt and take out Olivares.