scartissue wrote:Rick Farris wrote:OLIVARES & HERRERA . . .
Olivares is truly one of my three favorite boxers of all-time. Scar, I've watched that fight many times and it was not Ruben's night. For what ever reason, usually due to his partying, occasionally the great Olivares had a bad night, and on this night, I believe Ruben chose to "live and fight another day", and just laid down. Look at his reactions, etc. Ruben was ALWAYS better the second time around, but tin this case, he chose to step up and conquer more money in the featherweight division.
Some people might be appalled that a boxer might do this, especially a great legend, but it happens and more often than you think. This quirk in a boxer's psych often leads to an action that is perceived to be diliberate loss, or that the fighter was "payed-off" to lose. Sure, that has hapened in boxing, but most who "lay down" aren't paid, they just quit. They know that if they minimize the damage, in a fight they are not going to win, then they can come back better next time.
This isn't what you here boxers talk about, because in the future when trying to explain the strange loss, they rely on the "I was forced to lose" excuse.
-Rick Farris
I see what you mean, Rick, and to tell you the truth, taking in consideration his physical state (severely cut, mouthpiece protruding indicating exhaustion, probable dehydration in making weight) it was likely unintentional. Simply his body letting him down. And he couldn't have chosen a worse opponent. I've always rated Ruben my #1 bantam of all time, but I have Herrera right up there too. I feel he is very underrated, just as he was back in '72. The combination of his stout chin, underrated punching power and incredibly physical for a 118 lb. fighter made him pure poison for the partying Olivares. It would be a great fight with a prime Olivares and of course, I would have to go with Ruben in that one.
Scartissue
Scar . . . I worked with Herrera at the Main St. Gym, in 1969, when I was 17. He was already a top bantam ,and he kicked my ass for three rounds. I consider Olivares among the three best, along with Manuel Ortiz and Eder Jofre. Herrera, as you mentioned, had the edge in conditioning. Olivares off-training schedule usually added a lot of weight, and luckily, Olivares was ALWAYS fighting, his active schedule is what kept him in best shape. He was up & down in the gym, depending on his focus. When he was on, he was almost unbeatable, in fact, I never saw him lose when I knew he was ready.
Same can be said for Manuel Ortiz, who'd drink & eat himself up to welterweight, trim down to lightweight, fight lightweight champs like Lauro Salas, then trim back down to 118 lbs.
Jofre, on the other hand, was a clean machine, vegetarian, he had it all!
Herrera got lucky when he fought Olivares, but Jofre, even the dehydrated version that lost to Harada, would walk right thru Herrera, and don't be surprised if this Mexican warrior chooses to make an "easy escape", ala Olivares.
Guys, I'm not challenging the hearts, courage, or skill of these greats, I boxed with all I'm naming. I'm just validating that the best are that way for a reason, they know how to survive.
-Rick