Without doubt the biggest puncher of the bantamweight division and maybe a strong contender for knockout king pound for pound has to be Mexico’s playboy champion: Ruben Olivares. His gap toothed golden grin and charm outside the ring hid a fearsome warrior and explosive hitter inside it. In the sixties and seventies he was Mr Excitement in the ring and many of his battles have gone down in ring lore. He did not stop at bantamweight, winning two versions of the featherweight title. He was the archetypal hit or be hit performer and with a little more application and self discipline he could have been even more sharp and dangerous for opponents. But for the fun-loving fighter life was there to be lived often to the limit.

Born in 1947 in a tough district of Mexico City, Colonia Bondojo, one of twelve siblings it was inevitable that Olivares would emerge as a hardened individual. His father was often away on construction sites over the border in the US to provide for his family. Without that father figure, discipline was not always a strong feature in his early years and he was soon involved in street fights and brushes with authority. Academically he suffered as well with his Headmaster even commenting ‘You’re a troublemaker and you’ll never amount to anything. You’re a born loser.’ Always nice of teachers and headmasters to instil confidence and self worth into you at an early age!

Olivares found boxing and at age fifteen he began a short but predictably explosive career in the amateur ranks. His hard hitting and swashbuckling style was better suited to the paid ranks and after breaking his jaw in a second round victory in the final of a local Golden Gloves tournament he turned pro. This injury resulted in a special gumshield being made to protect him.

The eighteen year old Olivares was in a hurry and he won his debut by a first round knockout. He was a sensation as he rattled up twenty three knockouts in succession. He was (then) a flyweight but possessed frightening power in his fists. Felipe Gonzalez became the first man to take him the distance but he was soon back to winning inside the distance in explosive style.

In July 1967 German Bastidas rallied from two knockdowns to earn a draw, the only blemish on Olivares record up till then. Six months later Olivares made sure the judges were not needed by knocking Bastidas out. Impressive wins followed over highly rated opposition, he had to get off the floor against both Ernie De La Cruz and the 1964 Olympic champion Takao Sakurai. These wins all helped him gain valuable experience.

By 1969 Olivares was a comparatively wealthy young man, especially in light of his humble beginnings. He owned two houses, two trucks, two cars, four vacant lots and a furniture workshop. Not bad for a ‘born loser!’

The twenty two year old Olivares had finally fought his way to a crack at the world title which was held by tough, pipe smoking aboriginal champion, Lionel Rose. The eagerly anticipated contest took place at the Inglewood Forum in Los Angeles. Olivares was a sensation and to the delight of the Mexican fans in attendance he walked through the champion, battering him to one-sided defeat in five painful rounds.

After the contest Olivares displayed another side to his nature as he sportingly consoled the well beaten champion, thanking him for giving him the opportunity to fight for the title and saying that Rose was welcome to visit him in Mexico anytime. Not that Rose would want to be anywhere near his tormentor anytime soon!

His first defence was against Britain’s Alan Rudkin again at the Forum and again ending with a devastating Olivares win in the fifth round. Afterwards the classy Rudkin sang Olivares praises saying ‘He’s the greatest, there’s nobody to compare with him.’

Fellow Mexican and rival, the tough Jesus Castillo was next in April 1970. The fight at the Forum did excellent box office thanks to the hype and in an action-packed fight where fortunes swung back and forth Olivares emerged the victor on points. There was a rematch at the Forum in October that same year and it was yet another financial hit for the promoter. A big crowd saw an absorbing rather than thrilling rematch with Olivares suffering from a horrific cut over his eye which he claimed was caused by a butt. The fight was stopped in the fourteenth on the advice of the ringside doctor and the title was gone. It was the first loss in 61 contests as a professional and just over a year as world champion. The young Olivares was devastated.

After he had absorbed the shock of the loss, Olivares resolved to regain the cherished crown and settle the score with his rival. The third, deciding contest was again at the Forum in April 1971. This time Olivares superiority was beyond doubt and the contest was dominated by his classier boxing rather than his usual all out swarming aggression. This time Castillo just did not have an answer. Despite scoring a knockdown in the sixth Castillo was cut over the right eye and widely outboxed, he was made to miss repeatedly and Olivares won his title back with a wide, popular point’s decision. Their three fight series had grossed over a million dollars, tribute to the rival Mexicans popularity and drawing power.

The first defence of his newly won crown was against Kazuyoshi Kanazawa who lasted into the fourteenth round before being stopped. Olivares fought one more time in 1971, in December defending his title against another Mexican rival, this time, Jesus Pimentel. A ferocious attack had the tough challenger crashing through the ropes and onto the ring apron. Pimentel bravely beat the referees count and got back into the ring but he took steady punishment until the eleventh round when his corner stopped the contest. After this contest the 85 fight veteran Pimentel announced his retirement.

By now Olivares lifestyle of partying away from the ring was beginning to tell and it was an open secret that he was struggling to make the bantamweight division limit. Defending his title in March 1972 in Mexico City against compatriot Rafael Herrera, he had the shock of his life when he was knocked out in the eighth round in front of his stunned home fans and the world’s media at large.

In a strange contrast Herrera was in tears in the dressing room afterwards such was the emotion of winning the title whereas the defeated Olivares was amazingly laughing and joking with his entourage telling the surprised press that he was relieved he would be spared the rigours of making the bantamweight division again.

After a break he came back as a featherweight, outscoring world class Chilean Godfrey Stevens. He lost a ten round non-title rematch with Herrera and it seemed like the old power from the bantamweight days was not as effective at the new featherweight poundage. 1973 began with an easy win against Walter Seeley before a testing contest against new sensation Bobby Chacon a popular fighter from California. When the two met Olivares was cast in the supporting role of ‘opponent’ for the exciting prospect. Olivares shocked everyone by easily breaking Chacon down before stopping him in the ninth.

Art Hafey surprisingly knocked Olivares out in five rounds in his next outing. Hafey was good, but the rugged Canadian should not have been in the same class as Olivares. Was the once formidable Mexican warrior on the slide? It certainly appeared so. With his career on the line Olivares got himself into shape for the rematch and he took a hard fought split decision. This victory gave him a shot at the vacant WBA featherweight title against Zensuke Utagawa of Japan at Olivares old stomping ground of the Inglewood Forum. It was a vintage night for the Mexican as he scored three knockdowns en route to any easy seventh round knockout. Once again his CV said he was a world champion.

Two non-title wins followed before he put his newly won title on the line against tough, rugged power puncher, Nicaraguan Alexis Arguello who towered over the champion. The contest between two undoubted big punchers was yet another big draw. Outside the ring relations had soured with his manager Arturo Hernandez when Hernandez openly stated that Olivares old desire was on the wane.

Outside trouble and speculation aside Olivares built up an impressive points lead until the ‘Thin Man’ caught up with him in the thirteenth round with a devastating shot that knocked the stunned Olivares out. A sporting Arguello admitted afterwards ‘He hurt me in the eighth, ninth and tenth rounds, I thought I was going down. I knew I was behind on points and had to knock him out to win.’

Just when the boxing world thought they had seen the last of Olivares (and for most other boxers in similar circumstances it would be reasonable to presume it was the end of the road) he came back almost immediately; you just could not keep him down.

In a shot against WBC champion and old rival, Bobby Chacon, Olivares impressed showing he was far from finished by wiping Chacon out in two explosively brutal rounds. The power was back but the euphoria was sadly not to last. Three months later Olivares was an ex-champion losing on points to Ghanaian puncher David Kotey. In the next ring appearance for Olivares he was knocked out in seven rounds by future champion Danny ‘Red’ Lopez. This contest was effectively the end for the once irrepressible Mexican great.

He managed to beat future WBC lightweight champion Jose Luis Ramirez but he was also losing as much as he was winning. Still only thirty two he was given a shot by another great boxer, Panamanian Eusebio Pedroza in Houston in July 1979. He was a battle worn (and weary) thirty two and in Pedroza he was up against a fighter in his prime. Olivares fought bravely but was repeatedly caught by the precise punches of the skilful champion and stopped in twelve rounds.

After losing to Margarito Marquez in 1981 Olivares announced his retirement. It was not to last and he returned to the ring in 1986 and again in 1988 in a couple of four rounder’s which were little more than exhibitions. In the second contest he was knocked out by Ignacio Madrid and, at the age of forty two, he really had to concede it was finally the end. In 1991 Olivares undoubted greatness was recognised when he was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

Today he lives comfortably and still maintains an interest in the sport which made him a ‘winner’ despite the rantings of his former headmaster! His world title contests at the Inglewood Forum were true thrillers and the excitement he generated coupled with his explosive hitting power as well as his ‘never say die’ attitude made him a favourite with the fans and ring aficionados alike. He deserves to every accolade heaped on him, what a fighter!

World Title Fights: 13 Won: 8 Lost: 5

World Bantamweight Champion 1969 – 1970 and 1971- 1972

World Featherweight Champion (WBA) 1974

World Featherweight Champion (WBC) 1975

Career Fights: 104 Won: 88 Lost: 13 Drew: 3 Wins by Knockout: 78