Ruben Olivares 'Only The Losses'

[Rover]

October 16, 1979

The Forum - Los Angeles

The 23 1/2 year-old Ruben Olivares with a record of 61-0-1 {58 KO's) would be making the 'first defense' of his
World Bantamweight Championship that he won back on April 18, 1970 over Jesus 'Chucho' Castillo.

Ruben, since winning the Title, had '2' non-title bouts, and was a 'heavy' 3-1 Betting-Favorite over the former Champion
'Chucho' Castillo.

The 'crafty' 'Chucho' Castillo, the 26 1/2 year-old veteran, with a record of 40-10-2 (19 KO's) vowed to regain his
Champinship Belt, by using a smarter fight plan this time. Since the loss to Roberto in April 1970, Castillo had
impressed by winning a 12-Round Decision over the capable Rogelio Lara in September 1972.

The Fight,

In the opening Round, Chucho suprisingly fought aggressive, and an accidental head-butt opened a cut over the
Champion's left eye.

Ruben, sensing this might be an issue, opened up much quicker than he had wanted, and employed a very high punch-rate
thru the first 5-Rounds, while Castillo fought more cautiously, waiting to counter.

A 'second' accidental head-butt by Castillo opened up the eye cut more in Round 6, and Ruben was now bleeding.

In Round 7, the smart veteran Castillo pin-pointed the cut, and by the end of Round 7, the cut was flowing very badly.

Now, the ever cautious Champion was worried about a 'stoppage', and fought tentavely, while attemtping to protect his
left eye.

Castillo realizing the issue, attacked with spear-like left jabs, and quick flurries while willing to trade with the now defensive
Champion.

Had that fight occurred today, Olivares would've had no worries; the bout would've gone to the cards in a technical decision.

[Rover]

Referee- Dick Young did deterime that it was an accidental 'head-butt' in Round 1 that caused the cut over Ruben's left eye.

Ruben also said it was a 'head-butt', and that Chucho headed butted him twice more in the fight.

Of course, Chucho Castillo said it was a hard right-hand in the opening round that opened the cut, and that a
hard left hook in Round 8 opened it up more.

The support from the 16,000 at The Forum was split evenly between the two Mexican Bantamweights. Fight Promoter
George Parnassus said that if the bout was stopped in Round 8, he feared a potential 'crowd riot'.

Ruben was way ahead at the time (after 6-Rounds), but Chucho made a strong-play in Rounds 7 and 8. You could
see the bout was starting to swing Chucho's way, and the crowd sensed the Challenger was taking over.

The Promoter promised a rematch in either Chicago, Mexico City or back at The Forum, as soon as Ruben's eye-cut
is completely healed.

Didn't they have TDs back then? If Young called it a butt, I don't see why Olivares would've been worried.

[Rover]

Sunday Night- March 19, 1972

El Toreo de Cuatro Caminos ('Four Roads'), Mexico City

Attendance; 25,000 (Sell-Out)

The 25 year, 2 month old Ruben 'El Puas' Olivares, will be making his 3rd Defense in his 'second reign' of the World Bantamweight
Championship.

Ruben, since regaining the Championship over Jesus 'Chucho' Castillo on April 2, 1971 - has won '8-straight', and 7 by KO.
Including 'KO' title defenses over (October 1971 {KO 14} Kazuyoshi Kanazawa) and (December 1971 {TKO 11} Jesus Pimentel).

Ruben, with a record of 69-1-1 (65 KO's) has been struggling to make the 118 lb. Bantamweight Limit, and this may be the
last defense in the 118 lb. Division for the 5' 5 1/2" El Campeon they call 'Mr. Knockout'.

The Challenger, is compatriot Rafael Herrera, an experienced Bantamweight who is 2-years older older than the Champion,
at 27 years, 2 months. Rafael is a '50-bout' professional, who has been competing since 1963 (9-years).

Herrera comes into the ring as the #1 Bantamweight Challenger, and brings with him a record of 42-5-3 (16 KO's), including the
NABF Bantamweight Championship. Rafael is a well-schooled 5' 6 1/2" boxer-puncher, who brings an aggressive style and a
tight defense into the ring.

Rafael scored some impressive wins in 1971, by defeating Cesar Deciga (April 1971), Chucho Castillo (August 1971)
and Rodolfo Martinez (November 1971). This wil be Rafael's first World Championship opportunity.

The UPI has reported, that Ruben has struggled to make weight, and may be 'drained' from drying out.

[Rover]

Pez,

Round 7.

Ruben, in an attempt to change the flow of the bout, goes on the offensive, and scores with several good
left jabs, as well a '2' good left hooks to the body. Ruben maintains and boxing style throughout the
first 45-Seconds, and keeps the fight at center-ring.

The Challenger makes his move, and forces Ruben to back up. At the (1:10 Mark), Herrera lands a hard
left-right to the Champion's head, rocking Ruben.

After a medium-power exchange, Rafael lands a snappy 'triple' left hook to Ruben's face, and forces the Champion
back to the far neutral-corner at the (1:47 Mark). There, the Challenger unloads a '2' hard left uppercuts that
shake Ruben. The Champion has 'no' answer for the Challenger's attack.

Ruben tries to get in-close, to pound away with his hard hooks, but Rafael goes toe-to-toe with him, and beats him
to the punch, by landing sharp hooks to the body.

With blood streaming down his face, Olivares is in the defensive. Rafael then targets the left eye, and snaps '2'
good lefts on the eyebrow at the (2:40 Mark).

At the (2:53 Mark), Rafael leaps in with a big sweeping left hook, and lands it on Ruben's left eye, opening the
cut even more.

At the bell, Ruben looks perplexed, tired, and far behind on the scorecards.

Who's Pez?

[Rover]

Will you do all 13 losses?

[Rover]

Will you do all 13 losses?

Yes,,,,,,,,Up next versus Alexis Arguello (November 23, 1974).........A 'Wild Fight', that was a War !!

[Rover]

I can't believe Dick Young had it 8-3.

[Rover]

Why would the AP have it 142-141? Was there a point deduction?

[Rover]

EE,

San Antonio Fight Promoter - Tony Padilla put Ruben Olivares on several cards, to help salvage is 'slipping career'.

4-Months after losing to Bobby Chacon, where Ruben was considered 'too slow and nearly finished'.

Tuesday Night - December 6, 1977 (Municipal Auditorium - San Antonio)

Super-Featherweight Bout

Ruben 'Mr. Knockout' Olivares ~ 82-9-1 (74 KO's)
vs.
Ricky 'Go Go' Gutierrez ~ 19-1-1 (11 KO's)

Ruben, at (32+ Age) took on a San Antonio 'Hot Shot' - 20 year-old Ricky Gutierrez, a fast-swinging local fighter.

Ruben showed he still had the skills and power, and was far too experienced in dominating the youngester
over first 5-Rounds'.

But, in Round 6, Ricky 'Go Go' caught Ruben with a right hand and short left hook that dropped him. But foolishly,
Ricky didn't press Ruben and let him off the hook. Ruben got up, and held the youngster on 'Even Terms' over the
'second half of the bout', enroute to a Unanimous 10-Round Decision.

Scorecards;
* 100-94 (6-0-4 in Rounds for Ruben Olivares)
* 99-93 (7-1-2 in Rounds for Ruben Olivares)
* 100-95 (5-0-5 in Rounds for Ruben Olivares)

Two judges scored the KD round even?

[Rover]

Mr. Rover,

Correct,,,,,,

In 'Round 6', Ruben was in command from the opening bell. At the (1:50 Mark) Ruben drove Ricky
into a 'neutral-corner' and was whacking away. Ruben then missed a wide left hook, and Ricky countered
with a quick right-hand and short left hook that dropped Ruben to his knee's.

Ruben was up immediately, and after taking the 'Mandatory 8-Count' dominated the last 'Minute' of the Round.

Scorecards;

Referee - Roy Ovalle
Ruben Olivares........10 - 10 - 10 - 10 - 10 --- 10 - 10 - 10 - 10 - 10 === 100
Ricky Gutierrez.........9 -- 9 -- 9 -- 9 -- 9 ----- 10 - 9 -- 10 -- 10 - 10 === 94

Judge - Charlie West
Ruben Olivares........10 - 10 - 10 - 10 - 10 --- 9 - 10 - 10 - 10 - 10 === 99
Ricky Gutierrez..........9 -- 9 -- 9 -- 9 --- 9 --- 10 - 9 - 10 --- 9 - 10 === 93

Judge - Norman Stein
Ruben Olivares........10 - 10 - 10 - 10 - 10 --- 10 - 10 - 10 - 10 - 10 === 100
Ricky Gutierrez.........9 -- 9 -- 9 --- 9 -- 9 ---- 10 - 10 - 10 - 10 - 10 === 95

You should post that in the Record Queries forum.

[Rover]

April 1978

NBC-TV turns down 'Four-Time' World Champion - Ruben Olivares as an opponent for 19 year-old
upstart Sean O'Grady.

31 year-old Ruben Olivares, the former 2-Time World Bantamweight Champion, and 2-Time Featherweight
Champion was removed as an opponent for Sean O'Grady the sensational teenage 'knockout artist' from
Oklahoma. The 10-Round Super-Featherweight bout was schedeuled for Saturday Night - April 15, 1978
at The Olympic Auditorium.

Olivares, also known as 'Mr. Knockout' has a record of 83-9-1 (74 KO's), but is no longer a World Ranked
fighter. In his last bout, December 1977 - Ruben was floored and looked like a former shell of himself, despite
winning a 10-Round Decision over a young Ricky 'Go Go' Gutierrez in San Antonio.

Sean O'Grady, also known as 'The Bubblegum Kid', is a lanky 19 year-old Featherweight from Oklahoma.
The youngster has an incredible record of 54-1-0 (49 KO's), and the 5' 10" tall fast-handed puncher is ranked
as the #7 Featherweight by Ring Magazine.

NBC boxing scouts witnessed a recent Olivares gym-session in Los Angeles, and determined that the former
Champion would not be a worthy opponent for the young and hard-htting O'Grady. As a replacement, another
former World Bantamweight Champion - Romeo Anaya has been selected as O'Grady's opponent.

I doubt Olivares would've done worse than Anaya did.

[Rover]

Mr. Rover,

Correct. Romeo Anaya was no 'Spring Chicken' in boxing terms.

Ruben must have looked pretty bad in the gym session, which was supposedly
to have had taken place during the 'first week' of April. Ruben had been out of the
ring for 4+ months.

4-Weeks later he 'blasted out' another 19 year-old 'sensation' - Jose Luis Ramirez.

Ironic.

I'll bet O'Grady and his team were happy NBC rejected Olivares and accepted Anaya.

[Rover]

Mr. Rover,

I'm sure Papa O'Grady had no complaint with NBC turning down Ruben.........

Odd, Ruben 'flattens (TKO 2) Jose Luis Ramirez (April 28, 1978), and goes right back
into a being a 'capable opponent' for NBC-TV.

From what I found, NBC signed Sean O'Grady to a 5-Bout 'deal' in March 1978, with
plans of help building him up as a 'Television Fighter'.

After Sean 'put away' Romeo Anaya (April 15, 1978), and Ruben 'impressed' by upsetting
Jose Luis Ramirez (April 28, 1978} - NBC-TV was scheduled to put Sean vs. Ruben for a
Saturday Afternoon bout on (June 10, 1978} in Oklahoma City.

For some 'odd' reason, Ruben was dropped as the opponent, and replaced by Shigefumi 'Shig' Fukuyama.

Too bad Pedroza/Olivares wasn't televised on network T.V.

[Rover]

Saturday Night - July 21, 1979

Sam Houston Coliseum - Houston, Texas

Fight Promoter; Guerra Promotions

Fight Purses ~ (Eusebio Pedroza ~ $110,000) (Ruben Olivares ~ $35,000)

Attendance; 7500

WBA Featherweight Championship

* WBA Champion - Eusebio Pedroza ~ 22-3-0 (15 KO's)
vs.
#8 WBA Challenger ~ Ruben Olivares ~ 87-9-2 {78 KO's}

Eusebio Pedroza, the 23 year-old Champion from Panama, will be making the '5th Defense' of his Championship
that he won back in April 1978. The 5' 8" Panamanian has said that it will be difficult to fight Ruben, because he
was his 'idol' while growing up.

Ruben Olivares, the 32 1/2 year-old 'Veteran Warrior', has made a slight resurgence, by going 5-0-1 (4 KO's) in
has last '6-Bouts'. But, Ruben has had to work hard to make the 126 lb. Featherweight limit.

The Fight;

32+ year-old Ruben actually did fairly well for the first few rounds, as Eusebio Pedroza was very cautious about getting
into any early exchanges with 'Mr. Knockout'.

But as usual, Ruben started to fade in Round 5, and that is where the 'cagey' Champion started to pick up the pace.
Though Ruben moved forward, he was an 'easy mark' for the taller Pedroza, as many left jabs and hard right uppercuts
inside hurt Ruben, who was now bleeding from the nose and eyes.

Eusebio's continued attack, led him to 'easily' sweep Rounds 6 thru 9

In Rounds 10 and 11, it was 'target practice' for the Champion, as Ruben was spent. In Round 12, Eusebio kept up a
steady-barrage, and Ruben went down at the (1:22 Mark). Ruben got up at the 9-Count, and was able to last a few more
seconds, before Eusebio had him reeling. Referee - Davey Pearl saved Ruben at 1:42 of Round 12.

This fight almost fell through because the Pedroza camp wanted the purse paid in cash. It ultimately was, but the WBA supervisor, York Van Nixon, would only give it to Pedroza's manager, Santiago del Rio, not to WBA official Rodrigo Sanchez. This caused a big kerfuffle until Santiago came down and took it from Van Nixon and immediately gave the cash to Sanchez.

[Rover]

Rover,

Always 'funny business' with the WBA. They used washed up boxers for their 'name only', instead of more
deserving fighters who were not well known.

Rodrigo Sanchez (WBA Executive Committee), "It is easier to promote an ex-Champion like Ruben Olivares
than a unknown fighter like Guillermo 'El Lobo' Morales. People will pay to the see the ex-Champion get beat up,
because they know him. The unknown fighter has no marquee value, even if he is good."

A prime example is the Eusebio Pedroza vs. Ruben Olivares bout. The fight promoter (Guerra Promotions)
put in a purse bid of $145,000. (Eusebio Pedroza - $110,000 and Ruben Olivares - $35,000). Despite
Ruben being well-advanced in age and fading skills, he still carried a name in the Southwest and Mexico.

Guillermo 'El Lobo' Morales, was a 20 year-old power-puncher, and the Mexican Featherweight Champion
with a record of 26-2-1 (19 KO's), and also was the #7 WBA Featherweight. Morales had fought a
10-Round 'controversial' Draw with Ruben Olivares back on April 22, 1979 - and was in-line to fight
WBA Feathwerweight Champion - Eusebio Pedroza. But, he was unknown outside of his home-town of
Tuxtla, Mexico - and Guerra Promotions only offered $60,000 for the fight purse bid.

At least Morales had a good nickname. Never panned out, unfortunately.

[Rover]

Saturday Night - July 21, 1979

Sam Houston Coliseum - Houston, Texas

Fight Promoter; Guerra Promotions

Fight Purses ~ (Eusebio Pedroza ~ $110,000) (Ruben Olivares ~ $35,000)

Attendance; 7500

WBA Featherweight Championship

* WBA Champion - Eusebio Pedroza ~ 22-3-0 (15 KO's)
vs.
#8 WBA Challenger ~ Ruben Olivares ~ 87-9-2 {78 KO's}

Eusebio Pedroza, the 23 year-old Champion from Panama, will be making the '5th Defense' of his Championship
that he won back in April 1978. The 5' 8" Panamanian has said that it will be difficult to fight Ruben, because he
was his 'idol' while growing up.

Ruben Olivares, the 32 1/2 year-old 'Veteran Warrior', has made a slight resurgence, by going 5-0-1 (4 KO's) in
has last '6-Bouts'. But, Ruben has had to work hard to make the 126 lb. Featherweight limit.

The Fight;

32+ year-old Ruben actually did fairly well for the first few rounds, as Eusebio Pedroza was very cautious about getting
into any early exchanges with 'Mr. Knockout'.

But as usual, Ruben started to fade in Round 5, and that is where the 'cagey' Champion started to pick up the pace.
Though Ruben moved forward, he was an 'easy mark' for the taller Pedroza, as many left jabs and hard right uppercuts
inside hurt Ruben, who was now bleeding from the nose and eyes.

Eusebio's continued attack, led him to 'easily' sweep Rounds 6 thru 9

In Rounds 10 and 11, it was 'target practice' for the Champion, as Ruben was spent. In Round 12, Eusebio kept up a
steady-barrage, and Ruben went down at the (1:22 Mark). Ruben got up at the 9-Count, and was able to last a few more
seconds, before Eusebio had him reeling. Referee - Davey Pearl saved Ruben at 1:42 of Round 12.

Scoring at time of stoppage?

[Rover]

July 21, 1979

Scorecards,

* Referee - Davey Pearl........108-102 (In Rounds 8-2-1 for Eusebio Pedroza)
* Judge - Macros A. Torres....108-101 (In Rounds 7-2-2 for Eusebio Pedroza)....Scored Rounds 10 and 11 {10-8}
* Judge - Rene Guadajardo....108-100 (In Rounds 9-2-0 for Eusebio Pedroza)...Scored Round 11 {10-8}

Eusebio Pedroza swept every Round from the '5th' thru the '11th'.

[Rover]

Rover,

Did you know that CBS-TV was trying to slide in 32 year-old - Ruben Olivares against Lightweight - Howard Davis,
for their Friday Night - September 14th 'fight card' at The Summitt in Houston, Texas.

But Bob Busse (Texas Boxing Commission) refused, stating that Ruben was 'beaten' too badly only
7-Weeks earlier (on July 21, 1979) by Eusebio Pedroza in the WBA Feathweright Championship bout.

CBS-TV said that they needed a 'name-fighter' for Howard Davis to look good against.

Bob Busse said that, "I will not allow Ruben to take a beating on National Television, just for the sake of
making a 'CBS-TV Fighter' look good. Howard Davis is clearly a World Class Lightweight, and I will not allow
another slaughter, as Ruben was soundly beaten by a light-punching Featherweight - Eusebio Pedroza here
a few weeks ago."

Hadn't heard that; that man had integrity, though Pedroza wasn't a light puncher.

[Rover]

We've still got some losses to go.

[Rover]

Sunday Night - August 24, 1980

Civic Center - McAllen, Texas

Attendance; 2200

Ruben Olivares ~ 89-10-2 (80 KO's) ~ {Age; 33 years, 7 months}
vs.
Rafael Gandarilla ~ 27-6-1 (19 KO's) ~ {Age; 21 years, 10 months}

Ruben Olivares takes on Mexican Super-Featherweight - Rafael Gandarilla in a 10-Round Super-Featherweight bout.

Ruben who after losing to Eusebio Pedroza in July 1979, retired for 8-Months. Ruben came back to score '2' easy
knockout wins in 1980 (March and April), but again took off for another 4-Months. Ruben wants 'one-more' chance
to get back into the picture. Rumors are, that Ruben is having some 'financial difficulty' with back Taxes in
California, and is taking this bout for 'financial' reasons only.

This bout will be broacast by SIN (Spanish International Network), and Ruben is to receive a $10,000 fight purse.

The Fight,

Ruben, looking soft, handles himself well early against the seemingly out-gunned 'Club-Fighter', and wins the
first 3-Rounds, as Gandarilla moves away and stays at a distance.

But by Round 5, Ruben is throwing - but has nothing left behind his punches. In Round 6, Ruben does absolutely
nothing, and the 2200 in attendance start to 'boo loudly'. This encourages Rafael Gandarilla, and the 'club-fighter'
starts winging punches at Ruben without a return.

In Round 7, Rafael pins Ruben on the ropes, and whacks away as the former Champion does nothing, as his legs
appear to be going. Late in the Round, Ruben nearly falls through the ropes after getting hit by a 'not too hard' left hook,
and reels along the ropes as Rafael hammers him with punches.

In Round 8, Rafael moves in on the fading Olivares, and pounds him with a barrage until Ruben falls to the canvas
at the (0:47 Mark). Ruben rises at the 7-Count, but another barrage by Gandarilla has him falling into the ropes
where the Referee stops the bout at 1:08 of Round 8.

I wonder if anyone else saw this Sunday Night bout on late night Television.

I've never seen the fight at all.

[Rover]

Tuesday Night - November 24, 1981

Sam Houston Coliseum- Houston, Texas

Tuesday Night Fight on 'WGN' (Chicago Television Network)

* Ruben 'Mr. Knockout' Olivares ~ 89-11-2 (80 KO's)
vs.
* Margarito 'Pajarito' Marquez ~ 8-2-1 (6 KO's)

Ruben Olivares, 2 months away from (Age 35), and out of the ring for 15-Months comes back to Houston
to fight on a Guerra Promotions fight card, in a Super-Featherweight bout.

Margarito Marquez, a 21 year-old - 5' 7" prospect out of Chicago, and former Chicago Golden Gloves Champion is
looking to make a name for himself against a 'worn-out' former Champion.

The Fight,

In a surprising start, the old former Champion puts together a steady-attack, and out-muscles the younger
inexperienced Marquez, by forcing him back into the ropes, where he can wing his wide hooks.

Thru '3-Rounds', Ruben is in complete control, and has swept each Round. But the younger and faster Marquez
starts to get some distance in Round 4, and from long-range has no problem hitting the slower Olivares.

Marquez takes command in Round 5, as Ruben has nothing left. Marquez rakes Ruben over with lefts-and rights,
while keeping him with his back on the ropes. In Rounds 6 and 7, the 2300 in attendance cheer for the youngster
to put the former Champion away, as he has Ruben in trouble along the ropes.

Ruben shows the heart of a Champion, and comes back in Round 8. - After getting pounded for much of the
first '2-Minutes', Ruben turns it around, and staggers Marquez with a hard right hand to the jaw. Marquez wobbles
to the ropes, and Ruben bores in and lets it all go while trying to floor Marquez. Ruben scores with '15' good shots,
but cannot drop Marquez.

In Rounds 9 and 10, both fighters are exhausted, and neither can mount much of an effective offense. Ruben stays with
tossing light left jabs from the outside, and Marquez attempts some right-hands, but neither land anything hard.

Scorecards
* 96-94 (Margarito Marquez)
* 96-95 (Ruben Olivares)
* 96-95 (Margarito Marquez)

Surprised the Houston crowd wasn't cheering for Olivares?

[Rover]

Different Era, Different Crowd.

Bet half of them never even heard of Ruben Olivares.

He'd just been a champ a few years before that. Sad.

[Rover]

So only Ignacio Madrid to go...

[Rover]

Saturday Night - March 12, 1988

Arena Coliseo - Mexico City, Mexico

Attendance, 12,000

* Ruben Olivares ~ 89-12-3 (80 KO's)
vs.
* Ignacio 'Nacho' Madrid ~ 19-2-0 (9 KO's)

The 41 year-old Ruben Olivares gives it one more go, and comes in at a respectable 131 lbs. A highy promoted fight
in Mexico City, proclaiming the 'return' of 'Mr. Knockout'.

Igancio 'Nacho' Madrid, a 22 year-old 'slugger', who is ranked as the #6 Mexican Super-Feathwerweight.

The Fight,

Ruben tries to come out boxing, but the 'slugger' Nacho Madrid wants none of that, and takes it right to Ruben.
Nacho pounds Ruben from the out-set and forces him back on the ropes for Rounds 1, 2 and 3 - never letting Ruben
get any room to whip in wide hooks.

Ruben is very slow coming out for Round 4, and looks to be in pain. Nacho comes right at the former Champion,
and lands several 'medium' power hooks to the body, which drops Ruben at the (0:51 Mark). Ruben takes the
'9-Count' while on one knee, then gets up to try to continue. But, Nacho is too strong and slams two hard rights
and a left hook into Ruben's head, dropping the former Champion on his side, where he is counted out at (1:17)
of Round 4.

Ruben Olivares, 'I guess it's over. Nacho was too fast and too strong for me. I thought I could handle him, but
this loss tells me it's over. I gave it my best effort, but it's time to say good-bye'.

Ignacio 'Nacho' Madrid, 'I didn't want to hurt Ruben, and I felt real bad knocking him out. He's my idol, and
I loved watching him fight when I was a young boy. He shouldn't fight anymore, because he might get hurt.'

Should have retired after Pedroza.