Ruben Olivares vs. Jesus Pimental

Ruben Olivares 118 lbs beat Jesus Pimentel 116 lbs by RTD at 3:00 in round 11 of 15

• Date: 1971-12-14
• Location: Forum, Inglewood, California, USA
• Referee: George Latka

"The end of Jesus Pimental's career and lifelong title quest came after 11 rounds at the Forum Tuesday night when manager Harry Kabakoff stepped to the middle of the ring and told bantamweight champion Ruben Olivares, "Ruben, you won, you're still the champ." It was recorded as a knockout in the 11th round.

Pimental's best moments came in the 3rd round when he abandoned his forward press tactic and lured Olivares into the ropes, where he opened a cut high on the left side of the champion's head, then forced Olivares to bearhug to recover from a solid left hook. But the pride of Mexico City caught up with Jesus in the 6th. Backed into a neutral corner, Pimental countered Olivares' left to the head with one of his own but was wide open for the following right that set him on his back on the apron, his feet dangling over the lower rope. After that, Pimental, 31, looked every bit of eight years older than his opponent. He almost accepted the comfort of the canvas when Olivares unloaded a furious series of head shots in the 9th, but decided to go out on his feet two rounds later." -Long Beach Press-Telegram

Official scorecards (all for Olivares through 11 completed rounds)

• Referee George Latka - 8-1
• Judge Lee Grossman - 9-3
• Judge John Thomas - 9-2

• Attendance: 14,713, Gate: $255,585
• This bout was part of a double world title card along with the 1st Jose Napoles vs. Hedgemon Lewis welterweight title bout.
• Unofficial LB Press-Telegram scorecard at the stoppage - 11-2 Olivares
• Promoter George Parnassus offered Ruben Olivares a brand new Ford LTD if he ended the bout within five rounds.
• Purses: Olivares - $90,000, Pimental - $25,000

Post fight comments

• "He didn't get the car, but he's a great champion. I'm not planning to fight him - or anybody else - anymore." -Jesus Pimental, announcing his retirement.

• "That's his last fight, Father Time caught up with him tonight. I've got his wife, his mother and children to answer to. I'm not gonna let him get hurt." -Harry Kabakoff, Pimental's manager.