Ruben Olivares vs Jesus Pimentel

[greynotsoold]

Good fight. You can tell by looking at him during the introductions that Pimentel came to fight but Olivares took him apart. Olivares had been in a war 60 days prior and, in those days, that signalled that he was in top shape.
The ref was George Latka; he worked the night in 1963 when Sugar Ramos fought Davy Moore at Dodger Stadium. Moore died as a result of the fight. Years later, 25 to be exact, Latka owned a bar in Orange County (CA). I was running a job at a shopping center a couple blocks away and would go there to check out the memorabilia. Never saw him there and I probably would have been too shy to talk to a legend like that at that point in time anyway.




Good commentary from the corner of Olivares as to strategy. They talk to Jim Murray and Mel Durslag and they were LA sports legends.

[Bill Paxtom]

Tuesday ~ December 14, 1971

A great Fight Card that Promoter - George Parnassus put together at
the Forum.

Attendance.......... 14,713
Gate Receipts...... $255,585

* Jose Napoles vs. Hedgemon Lewis
* Ruben Olivares - Jesus Pimentel
* Arturo Zuniga vs. Antonio Roldan

Jesus Pimentel was a 'faded warrior' {Age; 31 years, 4 months}, but had an
impressive record of 77-6-0 {69 KO's}. But at an advanced age, he was still
considered the hardest hitter in the Bantamweight Division.

Jesus had put together an impressive '15-Bout' {13 KO} winning streak
since July 1969 {2 1/2 years}, and had moved up to the #1 Ranked Bantamweight.

Jesus, who was from Mexicali was the 'fan favorite' entering this bout.

Manager - Harry Kabakoff felt that Jesus could take out Ruben early, as Ruben was
susceptible to getting knocked down early. And in recent bouts, he was prone to
cuts over the eyes.

Harry Kabakoff >

"Jesus will be tossing 'fireworks' early. We're going right after Ruben, and will make him
fight hard. We'll take the fight to him and back him up. He's a great fighter, but he's
vulnerable early."

[Bill Paxtom]

Ruben Olivares

'Mr. Knockout' {Age; 24 years, 11 months} was coming into this bout with
an incredible record of 68-1-1 {63 KO's}.

This was Ruben's 2nd Title Defense, in his 2nd-Reign.

Ruben was listed as a {3-1} Betting-Favorite over the older Challenger.

Things got a little heated, as Promoter - George Parnassus stated that he
would give the Champion - Ruben Olivares a brand new 1972 Ford LTD
if he stopped Jesus Pimentel by the 5th Round.

Manager - Harry Kabakoff {for Jesus Pimentel} was livid with that offer, and
wanted to rip George Parnassus' head off.

For the bout, Ruben Olivares was to get $90,000. Jesus Pimentel was to get $25,000.

[Bill Paxtom]

Thurston

Jesus Pimentel had been around for a long time.

Bantamweight Rank
* 1963 ..... #6
* 1964 ..... #3
* 1965 ..... #2
* 1966 ..... #1
* 1967 ..... #1
* 1968 ..... #1 {thru June}

Jesus was then beaten badly in a one-sided loss {L Dec 12} by Chucho Castillo on June 14, 1968.
The bout was a World Bantamweight Championship Eliminator.

Jesus also suffered later losses to >
* February 5, 1969 .... {L Dec 10} to Bernarbe Fernandez
* March 10, 1969 ....... {L TKO 9} to Kazuyoshi Kanazawa

He dropped out of the Top 10, and he temporarily retired at {Age; 29 years, 0 months},
with a record of 62-6-0.

But he came back on July 29, 1969.

Bantamweight Rank
* 1969 .... #8
* 1970 .... #8
* 1971 .... #3
* 1971 .... #1 {October 1971}

[Master]

Ruben Olivares was a very good fighter, thanks for the link. Alex Arguello beat him?

[Bill Paxtom]

Ruben Olivares was a very good fighter, thanks for the link. Alex Arguello beat him?

Master,

Ruben Olivares was a 'great fighter' during a very competitive era.

The only drawback, was that he won so many bouts so easily, that he
tended to 'cheat' in Training Camp post 1969.

He could have been one of the greatest {122 lb.} Super Bantamweights
ever, had the WBC started that Division in 1971, instead of 1976.