Ruben Olivares - As great as Monzon?

Another great post in a thread of great posts. Thank you

 

I wrote an article on Gamboa vs Crawford https://imgur.com/gallery/PSKt9

 

Loved Olivares...probably, no...definitely a warmer, more human, more likeable guy...more entertaining, exciting fighter...but no, he wasn't in the same league as,..on the same level as Monzon....who was also probably his opposite in every way boxing-wise, as well as personality-wise.

 

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Olivares was a great fighter. I think at his best he may have been the best fighter to come from Mexico. An excellent boxer who could bang like hell. His left hook is among the best in history. His crazy party lifestyle obviously affected his consistency but add to his charm.

I remember reading about him partying like crazy the night before he fought Al Hafey in Monterey, Mexico and he said he was coming into the hotel lobby and Hafey was stretching before going on a run. He said he knew he was in trouble then and ended up getting KO’d on a bodyshot. He boxed really well in the re-match but Hafey came close to beating him again.

I consider him to be alongside Matthew Saad Muhammad the most entertaining fighter these eyes have ever seen. I rate him #2 in Bantamweight history and the same in Mexican history. I’d have him between around 40 all-time in my pound for pound ranking. I like him a lot more than Monzon (as the OP question who was better) but Monzon is a greater fighter.

 

Olivares didn’t ‘move up to fight Arguello’, I think our perception of Arguello skews this fight somewhat; he was a dangerous contender, not some P4P scalp for Olivares to claim.

In a P4P/ATG sense I’d probably have Olivares and Monzon in the same bracket: anywhere between 31-45.

 

Pretty sure Gamboa did a load of ‘roids to pack on muscle and move up in weight in search of bigger paydays.

Went off the boil for a bit so never got himself in the Mayweather/Pacquiao conversation, so had to settle for Bud and of course was just a blown-up feather past his prime so got smoked.

 

Greater IMO.

 

You'd think Monzon was undefeated the way people talk about him being unbeaten and unhumbled….

 

Olivares is at least 2 levels below Monzon and Chavez

 

At least.

 

Ludicrous.

 

Your opinion.