Who was the fighter of the 1960s

If not for a huge upset, Jofre would have taken the bantamweight title from Jose Becerra, which would have enhanced his legacy.

 

Absolutely but I didn't think he was a clear choice. You have him, Joey Giardello, Griffith, and Benvenuti as possibles.

 

Funny, I'm actually watching the first Jofre/Medel fight right now.

I've seen it before, but I'll forever be impressed by effortlessly Jofre controls the flow of the fight. Medel was very complete and Jofre out-did him in every aspect. Impeccable footwork (really liking how he shifted around Medel, he also has that Robinson-esc bounce in his step when throwing his combinations) great jab, probing feints and an awesome defence with wicked power, fast hands and a genius ring IQ. Nasty inside game too.

His only weakness was he could be a little bit complacent/minimalist, which was no doubt from having issues with weight.

I'd say he was the best fighter of the 60s, but not the greatest imo.

Of the guys you mentioned here, I would actually place Ali around 3rd. Harada and Griffith are the locks for 1&2 imo. There résumés and moving around in weight is way too deep to be argued against imo.

My list would be Griffith/Harada, Ali/Jofre then Ortiz and Saldívar. Very very stacked decade.

 

I rewatched Jofre-Medel last week. I watch it all the time lol. Jofre was such a complete fighter. Masterful from the oustide, and a phenomenal infighter.

Two-fisted power, handspeed, could throw every punch in the book, and on top of that a granite chin. What more do you want in a fighter?

 

Oh, and I feel like an idiot for omitting Harada from my list. Let me add him.

 

Yep, the only think I could want from him is a higher level of competition to waste. And it's not like his competition was weak anyway.

 

Which is why it sucks that Jose Becerra got upset by Eloy Sanchez. Becerra would have been a nice scalp for Jofre to add to his bantamweight legacy.

Accomplishments aside, I don't see the Jofre that beat Medel losing to anybody at 118. He'd blast out both Olivares and Zarate.

 

Purely in terms of quality, Jofre is the second best Latin fighter of all time behind Duran.

Monzon shades him in accomplishments, but Jofre was a better fighter than Monzon. Jofre was DEFINITELY a better fighter than Chavez.

 

Yeah, would've been a great little scalp on his roster.

I don't know about him blasting them out, but I'd pick him to beat Zárate clearly. Olivares is the only guy (Harada aside) I think is right there with him at the top. Jofre on that night was a monster, I reckon he'd pick Olivares apart, and possibly drop him enroute to a clear decision. However, if anyone is beating Jofre (again, Harada aside), it's Olivares.

I think a peak Harada would beat any Jofre though. Too bad a style match up imo.

 

I can't see Olivares beating Jofre at all. I know it's almost sacrilegious to say this but, I often find Olivares overrated. Overrated in that people let his losses slide too easily.

I'm in the controversial group that believes Zarate would have beaten Olivares. I know, I know, I'll get flack for that... but I've always felt that.

But when comparing Jofre to Olivares... I just think Jofre was plain better. Every bit as good, if not better as a technician, every bit as powerful, but mainly... Jofre was MILES better in the chin department. Add to that the fact that I think he had a higher IQ than Olivares.

 

Love Harada, but I can't see him beating the Jofre of 1960. The weight-drained Jofre that he twice faced fought him razor close. I'd have to believe that the younger, sharper, and quicker Jofre beats him.

 

Yeah, it would have been ideal to win the title off Becerra. Sanchez absolutely dominated Becerra, multiple knockdowns, sent him to the hospital. Sanchez, though having a spotty record and minimal longevity, also held a win over Medel, Ignacio Pina, Eduardo Guerrero etc; so was a worthy opponent who could do good things. Becerra of course was a wonderful champion but also it opened up for Caldwell to really earn a strong reputation with his meteoric rise and wins over Halimi.

I think Zarate and Olivares are his toughest matches. Harada too since those fights were very close and difficult but Eder had also gone two years with just one relatively short bout and was killing himself boiling down to 118 after being there for a decade. I think he catches Harada and finishes him with a bit more youth and strength on his side. Sort of like Medel did. Jofre was a great finisher in his prime and I’ve always felt if their fights were in a different venue the results (and handling of the bouts) could have been a little different. I think prime for prime he gets him.

Zárate probably is a little harder for Jofre in the sense he’s taller, hits just as hard but is more straight and down the middle with a better chin and defense. All reasons I pick Zárate to beat Olivares but Olivares likely has the easiest time with Harada of the lot. Styles.

 

I do find it amusing that some people do excuse Olivares’s dominant KO loss and clear cut decision (which he was floored in) to Herrera and dismiss it as weight/training etc; but hold Jofre-Harada as a reason why Olivares is the best and Harada was better but Herrera isn’t a top 5 (or even top 10). I love Olivares but I don’t that hypocritical. I was having that discussion with a person who’s knowledge and insight I really value as well.

I also agree on your Zarate-Olivares take but stop short of calling Ruben overrated. He’s an incredible fighter but there is that sort of Duran thing where there are “reasons” for multiple dominant losses.

 

I do tend to agree with this point. I think Jofre was obviously a more consistent performer. I mean, I'm no expert on the lower weight classes and I love everything I've seen of Olivares but his lack of discipline and losses doesn't seem to be held against him mostly because he was fortunate to come about during a more stacked era at Bantamweight. I need to see more of both to make a clear judgement on who I think was better though.

 

Glad to see you're in the same boat as me with Zarate beating Olivares. We're in the minority here, but that's how I view it. Olivares would have experienced many of the same problems Zamora faced. And no... I'm not saying Zamora was on Olivares' level... but it is for worth mentioning that Zamora was a comparable puncher to Olivares, and Zarate handled his power well. I don't see Olivares handling Zarate's power well.

Truthfully, I think Zarate-Olivares plays out similar to how Arguello-Olivares played out.

BTW Chris - I'll look forward to the day you restore the internet with Becerra-Halimi. It used to be on YT, and I watched it several times, but it's no longer on there. Sucks.