Freddie Roach knows exactly what it takes to help defeat a great Mexican fighter, and what it feels like to be on the receiving end of one at his very best.
Between 2004 and 2012, Manny Pacquiao embarked on an unforgettable four-fight rivalry with Juan Manuel Marquez, producing 42 rounds of edge-of-the-seat drama and one of the knockouts of the decade.
Roach, who began training Pacquiao in 2001, watched his fighter defeat Marquez twice, while also guiding Pacquiao past other iconic Mexican champions including Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales.
Roach also spent time coaching perhaps the most famous surname in Mexican boxing history — Chávez — though not ‘El Gran Campeón’ himself. Instead, he worked with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, who was unable to scale the extraordinary heights set by his legendary father.
Julio Cesar Chavez Sr remains a popular choice as the greatest Mexican fighter of all time, such was his dominance across three weight classes, his remarkable record and the way he carried the weight of a nation on his shoulders throughout a punishing career.
However, when asked to name his greatest fighters regardless of division, Roach made a different selection. Speaking in an interview with The New York Times, the Hall of Fame trainer outlined his personal list which placed another Mexican icon at the top.
“I like Joe Louis. He was the best textbook fighter in the world. Then there’s Ali, who wasn’t a textbook fighter but probably would have beaten Joe Louis because of his natural ability. Julio César Chávez. And Ruben Olivares who I consider the best Mexican boxer in history.
“Salvador Sanchez who died tragically and shortened a great career. And Sugar Ray Robinson may have been better than anyone. There are no films of him fighting as a welterweight. But you can guess how good he was at that weight.”
Olivares, like Marquez, was defined by a fierce rivalry of his own, a brutal trilogy with Chucho Castillo that he won 2-1 between April 1970 and April 1971. Beyond that rivalry, Olivares is regarded by many as the greatest bantamweight of all time, compiling a 23-year career that spanned 105 fights.
Quiet and shy outside the ring, Olivares carried thunder in both hands. His résumé included victories over Olympic champion Takao Sakurai, Lionel Rose and Kazuyoshi Kanazawa. Achievements that underpin Roach’s belief that, in a country overflowing with boxing legends, Ruben Olivares stands at the top.
