Freddie Roach names greatest Mexican fighter of all time

Freddie Roach knows exactly what it takes to help defeat a great Mexican fighter and what it’s like to be the target of a fighter at his best.

Between 2004 and 2012, Manny Pacquiao embarked on an unforgettable four-fight rivalry with Juan Manuel Marquez, producing 42 rounds of breathtaking drama and one of the knockouts of the decade.

Roach, who began training Pacquiao in 2001, saw his fighter defeat Márquez twice, while guiding Pacquiao past other iconic Mexican champions, including Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales.

Roach also spent time training perhaps the most famous last name in Mexican boxing history – Chávez – but not “El Gran Campeón” himself. Instead, he worked with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, who was unable to reach 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 in three weight classes, his remarkable record and the way he carried the weight of a nation on his shoulders throughout a grueling 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 coach outlined his personal list that puts 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 died tragically and cut a great career short. And Sugar Ray Robinson was maybe better than anyone. There’s no film of him fighting at welterweight. But you can guess how good he was at that weight.”

Olivares, like Marquez, was defined by a fierce rivalry, a brutal trilogy with Chucho Castillo that he won 2-1 between April 1970 and April 1971. Beyond this rivalry, Olivares is considered by many to be the greatest bantamweight of all time, compiling a 23-year career that spanned 105 fights.

Calm and shy outside the ring, Olivares carried thunder with both hands. His resume included victories over Olympic champion Takao Sakurai, Lionel Rose and Kazuyoshi Kanazawa. Accomplishments that reinforce Roach’s belief that, in a country teeming with boxing legends, Ruben Olivares is at the top.