The Story of a Fighter Oscar Reyes

Oscar Reyes Orient Pacific Champion 1962

Boxing is a poor man’s sport. Young men who are driven to work hard and succeed in life, but

lack access to education, gravitate to the sport. It provides them with a way to make a meager

living while they chase a dream of rising to the pinnacle of the sport, a World Championship title,

and the potential for unimaginable riches. For many young men, particularly those who have

experienced a difficult life during their childhood years, boxing is more than a dream. The sport provides these young men a chance to be a part of a family.

Such is the story of my father which I put into words here in the hopes that future generations will understand why I am so proud of my father’s life achievements.

Oscar Olivetti, aka Oscar Reyes (January 20, 1934 – September 3, 2017), my Tatay, came from a poor family broken apart by the economic hardships that plagued the Philippines during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines toward the end of World War II.

After the death of his father, while he was still a child, Tatay took on the responsibility of caring for his blind mother.

By this time his older siblings had already left home to fend for themselves and reduce the pressure on their father to provide for the family. Tatay and his mother migrated from Sta. Cruz Laguna to Binan to escape the Japanese fighting.

He was just 11 years old, and a beggar living in the streets of Binan, when his mother died in his lap.

Now an orphan Tatay moved around the Binan area taking on whatever work he could find.

He worked as a news boy, a shoe-shine boy, sold puto (tagalog for rice cakes) and worked as a live-in servant in exchange for food and a place to sleep. One of the families Tatay worked for was that of Dr. Oscar Reyes.

Dr. Reyes saw potential in Tatay and let him live in his home and paid for him to attend school.

With a meager education and a strong desire to succeed, Tatay branched out on his own, now a young adult.

Approximately 30 miles north of Binan is Manila, a bustling hub of opportunity. Tatay began selling puto in Manila where it was well known that Binan puto was the best in the land.

He would wake early in Binan and buy as much puto as he could carry.

He would then take it to Manila by bus where he would sell it. After he sold all the puto he shined shoes until it was time to catch the last bus back to Binan. One of the stops on his regular puto route was a boxing gym.

Tatay became acquainted with the boxers and trainers in the gym and, eventually, they asked him if he wanted to try boxing – he did. After working with the trainers for a while tatay entered an amateur boxing match and he won his fight.

Tatay won every fight he got.

A short time later he turned professional and kept winning – winning was easy for tatay and he was getting paid for it. Tatay was hooked and found his new Home - The Ring.

The match maker was then asked him what ring name he wants to use, He picked the name Oscar Reyes from a Dr. whos been good to him and let him stay in his house while he go to school.

Tatay quit peddling puto and shining shoes and concentrated on developing his boxing skills.

One day he was in the gym when a boxing promoter came around looking for a replacement fighter to take on the current Philippine champion. Tatay was offered the fight and he accepted.

Being a replacement fighter is very difficult because your opponent has had a set date for a fight and plenty of time to build up and prepare for the fight. The replacement fighter has short notice and only a few days to prepare.

This didn’t bother tatay – he was young, determined and confident in his boxing ability.

Tatay won the fight by knocking out the champion and became the new Philippine champion.

Tatay went on to become an OPBF champion and he won the hearts of many Filipino boxing fans.

Tatay married our mother Lourdes Carola Olivetti and they had eight children together, five boys and three girls.

My brothers and I followed in tatay’s footsteps and became professional boxers.

Tatay was our trainer and manager. Two of us became Philippine champions and one of us became OPBF champion. Boxing is a very difficult sport and it requires lots of hard work, dedication, and personal fortitude. The five of us look back to our boxing days and remember the good times we had with tatay.

My brothers and I enjoyed our boxing days very much.

Boxing competitively requires a lot of time, effort and sacrifice.

In return for your hard work you gain confidence and pride. Olivetti Boxing has always been a mix of hard work and family. Our boxers work together, play together

and live together and end up forming strong bonds with each other. Like a family, we

encourage and support each other on our way to the top, one fight at a time.

The sons of Oscar Reyes

Berlin Olivetti

LUZPROBA Champion

Bantamweight Philippine contender

Romeo Olivetti

Welterwight Philippine Contender

Lion Ari

Bantamweight Contender

Tiger Ari

Philippine Champion

OPBF Super Feather Champion

Dino Olivetti

Philippine Featherweight Champion

Manager of Olivetti Boxing Gym

Aaron Jann Melgarejo

Philippine Super-Feather Champion

He is Tatay's grandson and the last boxer he trained.