Ruben Olivares vs Jesus Pimentel

[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.

[Bill Paxtom]

"The Fight"

A very exciting fight early, as Ruben {118 lbs.} stalked and Jesus {116 1/2 lbs.}
banged away over the first 2-Rounds.

In Round 3, Jesus 'exploded' and shook 'Rock-A-Bye Rubin' with a few bombs.
Jesus then backed off and lured Ruben to the Ropes, and caught the Champion
coming in with a big left-hook to the jaw that had Ruben groggy. Jesus then
added in a series of right-hands to the head that staggered Ruben.

In Round 4, Jesus worked in left-hands, and 'cut' Ruben high on the left side
of his forehead with a big right-hand. Jesus tossed in a few more left-hands
to the head, and Ruben was a bit shaky.

Jesus then nailed Ruben with a big right-hand to the chin, and the Champion
was 'staggered'. Jesus came close to dropping Ruben, as he unloaded with
several hard right-hand punches before the Bell.

In Round 5, Jesus tried to put a hurting on Ruben, but the Champion showed
his heart and took whatever Jesus could dish out. Ruben started to come back,
and landed a few solid blows of his own that had Jesus backing away.

In Round 6, Ruben put heavy-pressure on Jesus, and backed him up with a
two-handed barrage. But the aged challenger fought back hard, and was willing
to trade with the younger Champion.

Then Ruben moved forward and backed up Jesus to the Neutral-Corner with a
flurry. Jesus then caught Ruben with a hard counter left-hook to the head. But
Ruben came back with vicious right-hand counter to a wide-open Jesus.

Jesus went down 'flat' on his back, and with his feet dangling on the Ring apron.

Jesus struggled up at the '8-Count'. Referee - George Latka let the bout continue.

In Rounds 7 and 8 > Ruben kept up the pressure, and wore down Jesus with a
constant 'left-right' assault. Jesus tried, but he just didn't have the firepower to
stall Ruben's attack, and he was getting slugged around.

In Round 9, Ruben gave Jesus 'a bad beating', and battered the Challenger all
over the ring with hard left-hand punches to both the head and body.

In Round 10, Ruben was steady with pressure, and kept backing Jesus up with
left-hooks. Jesus hung tough, but the writing was 'on-the-wall'.

In Round 11, Ruben opened-up and raked Jesus with hard left-hands to the jaw,
and ripped away at Jesus' body with hard hooks. Ruben uncorked a wicked right
to Jesus' jaw that left him 'out-on-his-feet' just before the Bell.

Jesus Pimentel's corner had to help their fighter back to the corner after Bell.
Manager - Harry Kabakoff told the Referee - George Latka that his fighter 'had enough'
and the bout was stopped before Round 12 began.

Scorecards at the end of 11-Rounds >
* Referee - George Latka ........ 8-1
* Judge - Lee Grossman ......... 9-3
* Judge - John Thomas .......... 9-2

[Master]

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.

So fighting Arguello was a fight too far out of his weight.

[greynotsoold]

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.

So fighting Arguello was a fight too far out of his weight.

They fought; that was when Arguello won his first world title. Olivares was ahead on points and seemed to have it in hand until the 13th round.