I am amazed at how Ruben is really overlooked on this forum. for a man with his record (77 KO's in 88 wins) he does not capture the imagination like other greats with lesser KO percentages He could box is well and beat some of the best bantamweights in history The guy was a great, compelling character is well outside the ring If he was in a higher weight class, he would be one of the most talked about boxers ever
................I agree, to the point that I started a thread on him not at all long ago. He's one of my favorites.
He's definitely an all time great one of my favourite fighters I think the Oliveras that beat Rose would probably beat any bantamweight.
Ruben Oliveras record of 88 wins (77 by KO), 13 losses (9 by KO) & 3 Draws alone places him amongst the very most elite. 77 KO's is a staggering statistic in itself. As stated on another thread, he beat some special fighters along the way as well. In 1969 Oliveras (51-0-1) defeated Lionel Rose (34-2-0) by KO winning Rose’s WBC & WBA titles. Oliveras was not only undefeated, but had only twice been taken the distance in his 52 fights to that point! Rose the reigning champ had never been stopped prior to this fight. Not sure what it is about Mex bantams? They certainly fight as though their next meal depends on it (perhaps it often does?).
Lot of Ruben's fights were on the West Coast where he was a legend. Many times I had to read the results of "boxing" in the bottom of the Austin sports page 5 days later. If "then" was "now", we would have Boxing from the LA Forum via weekly PPV, and get to see Olivaries, Chacan, Ramos, Castillo, Pimental, etc. duking it out. Check out this guy too (last fight Olivares: boxer: Jesus Pimentel Global ID 12629sexmalebirth date1940-03-17divisionbantamweightnationality Mexico aliasLittle Poison / ChuchoresidenceSayula, Jalisco, Mexico This content is protected + This content is protected + This content is protected = 84 rounds boxed 397 : This content is protected biography This content is protected
imagine if we had a heavyweight with rubens record, charisma and style? the reason he wasn't popular every where is because he was a mexican bantamweight. bantams have never caught the imagination of the mainstream
Rock-A-Bye Ruben is one of my favourite fighters. This man`s resume is stacked, I mean STACKED with world class opposition throughout his career and he defeated almost every big name he faced and even when far past his prime and undersized he still managed to give two future featherweight greats in Arguello and Pedroza two terrific battles before succumbing late to his younger, stronger foes. What a character and fighter this man was, the likes of him we are unlikely ever to see again unfortunately. Ruben loved to have a good time and was a notorious prankster, drinker and womanizer and while this lifestyle cost him some fights he had no business losing it is also remrkable that he managed to beat some good opponents even after a night of carousing and drinking. One of a kind ol` Ruben was thats for sure and it is too bad he isn`t around today along with some of the other great bantams of that era... they are the ones who ought to be making some serious coin instead of those pathetic heavyweights and over the hill name fighters who are doing so today.