Ruben Olivares vs Jeff Fenech

What weight?

 

At Bantam I'd probably go with Olivares by close UD or maybe SD, but at SB or FW, Fenech by late stoppage.

 

That's fair. Fenech was somewhat fresh at Bantam and Olivares is in contention for the best ever there. At
Feather Jeff would be a decent chance and in between is up for debate. I'd take Olivares at Bantam, Jeff maybe at Feather and undecided at Jr Feather.

 

This would not suck.

Olivares among with Saad Muhammad is IMO the most entertaining fighter ever. Fenech also was a ferocious competitor and his intelligence was underrated. That would mean a war with both taking turns and shifts in momentum.

I think Olivares at 118 wins handily but at 126 it’s closer. Olivares at his best (at 126) was still great but he was a bit less consistent. He’d need to be at his best to hold off Fenech at this weight. I envisage Olivares puking up points and then Fenech spring his way in and hurting him down the stretch but Olivares (barely) holding on at 126.

 

Fenech at 126, much stronger and Olivares would have to be very consistent over 15 or get consumed by Fenech’s ferocity.

At 118 Fenech struggled to maintain his pace at times, and light hitting McCrory got his attention. Jerome Coffee also had little issues hitting him. Fenech was so strong but I think the weight cut must have been arduous, whereas although Olivares had a terrible cut towards the end he was at one stage in his absolute prime at 118, so I have little doubt he wins it.

Fenech’s optimum weight was 122 IMO. As strong as he ever was but not as tight at the weight. Shame he didn’t spend very long there.

 

Ruben Olivares was a far more skilled fighter than Mathew Saad Muhammad. I also think that Ruben was a better fighter than Jeff Fenech.

- Chuck Johnston

 

Excellent.

 

Why thank you

 

Olivares was skilled, more so than Saad, but not ‘far more skilled’, Saad had an excellent jab and every punch in the book.

Olivares had better footwork and was able to blend offence and defence better, but didn’t adapt during fights all that much. Either boxed and punch picked, or came out to destroy.

Saad on the other hand would try to box, get clipped and then brawl it out. Olivares would continue to try and box if stung. So yeah, Olivares is better and greater, but in terms of overall skill set it’s not night and day IMO

 

The obvious knee jerk reaction is Olivares, Olivares, Olivares but Fenech brings a lot to the table as well given he was probably more natural at 126 and i dare say 122.

 

Bump.
At Bantamweight the younger Ruben Olivares beats a green Fenech. Any weight above that is all Fenech. At any weight though it would have been a sight to behold in brutality.

 

The fans win. It's a cop out i know just too difficult for me to decide.