Bobo Olson Explained

Bobo Olson
Realname:Carl Olson
Nickname:The Hawaiian Swede
The Kalihi Kid
Weight:Middleweight
Height:5feet
Nationality:American
Hawaiian
Birth Date:July 11, 1928
Birth Place:Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii
Death Place:Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
Style:orthodox
Total:115
Wins:97
Ko:47
Losses:16
Draws:2

Carl "Bobo" Olson (July 11, 1928 – January 16, 2002) was an American boxer. He was the World Middleweight champion between October 1953 and December 1955,[1] the longest reign of any champion in that division during the 1950s.His nickname was based on his younger sister's mispronunciation of "brother".[2]

Early years

Olson was born in Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii to a Portuguese mother and a Swedish father, hence his other nickname "The Hawaiian Swede". Like many boxers, Olson decided to take up the sport after getting into fights on the streets. Olson received training from boxers who were stationed in Hawaii during World War II, and it was during this period that he picked up his two trademark tattoos.[2]

Using a fake identity card Olson obtained a boxing license at the age of 16. His earliest fights were in his native Kalihi, Hawaii. He had won his first three contests, two by knockout, before his true age was discovered. During 1945, Olson ran off to San Francisco to continue his boxing career. By the time he was 18, he had amassed a record of 13 successive wins (10 by KO). Even at this stage his power and huge reserves of stamina were clear, as was his rather average skill.[2] [3] [4]

Professional career

The first real test of Olson's career came on March 20, 1950, Olson's record at this point was 40 wins and 2 losses, against the Australian Dave Sands. Olson lost to a close points decision in Sydney. Seven months after this Olson had his first fight against Sugar Ray Robinson, for the lowly regarded Pennsylvania State World Middleweight Title. Olson, who was widely seen as a slow starter, failed to get into the fight, even though Robinson was not having one of his best fights. Olson managed to hold on for 11 rounds before being knocked out. Despite his great record it was clear that Olson was still too inexperienced to be fighting at that level.[5] [2]

A year after his loss to Robinson, Olson managed to get a rematch against Dave Sands. This fight was the first to be televised coast-to-coast in America. However, Sands once again proved too much for Olson, he again won by unanimous decision.[5]

On March 13, 1952, Olson fought Robinson again, this time for the world middleweight title. Robinson, who had lost and regained the title against Randy Turpin in his previous two fights, was looking for an easy fight. However, Olson had improved significantly from their first encounter. Through ten rounds the fight was neck-and-neck, and only a dominant finish by Robinson over the last five rounds won him the decision. The Los Angeles Times wrote that Robinson won the first six rounds easily, slowly stacking up points, but that Olson reduced the points margin in the seventh through tenth. Robinson won the fifteenth convincingly with hard rights and lefts.[6] This would be the only time that Olson lasted the duration against Robinson.[5]

Robinson retired for the first time in December 1952, vacating his middleweight crown. The top four contenders fought a tournament for the title. Olson defeated Paddy Young for the American title to gain the right to fight for the vacant world title, Turpin won the other eliminator against Charley Humez.[5]

The title fight against Turpin took place on October 21, 1953, at Madison Square Garden. Turpin dominated the first four rounds, he almost scored a knockdown in the first round, before Olson got a grip on the fight. As the fight progressed Olson took the initiative, he scored knockdowns in the 10th and 11th rounds on the way to a unanimous decision. Following his success Olson was voted Ring magazine's fighter of the year for 1953.[5] [4]

Olson won all seven of his fights in 1954 including defenses of his title against such big names as Kid Gavilan, Rocky Castellani, and Pierre Langlois.[5]

In 1955 Olson, who was finding it increasingly difficult to make weight, stepped up to light heavyweight. His first major fight in this category was against former champion Joey Maxim. Olson won the fight easily on points after scoring knockdowns in both the 2nd and 9th rounds. On June 22 Olson challenged 41-year-old Archie Moore for the light heavyweight title, a fight that many believed Olson would easily win. However, Moore was too strong for Olson and won by knockout after only a minute had elapsed of the third round. After this fight Olson began his decline.[5] [2]

Following two walkover wins, Olson put his middleweight title on the line against Robinson, who was once again number 1 contender following his brief retirement, on December 9, 1955. It was Olson's fourth and final defense of his title, but ended as a stunning comeback for Robinson. Olson, who entered the fight as a 3–1 favorite, was knocked out in the second round. The rematch, fought five months later at Wrigley Field, on May 18, 1956, ended similarly with Olson going down in the fourth. Robinson ended the bout with a hard left hook to the body and a right to the jaw. Olson had made the mistake of dropping his right hand after Robinson's hard left, dropping his only defense in an instant.[7] After this second defeat Olson announced his retirement.[5] [8]

Late career

After a year out of the game Olson returned as a heavyweight to fight Maxim again, a fight he won on points. Olson took another year out following a knockout defeat against Pat McMurtry. Whilst initially coming back as a journeyman, despite being only 30, Olson managed to reestablish himself as a contender. On November 27, 1964, he fought José Torres with the winner going on to fight the champion, Willie Pastrano. Olson was knocked out after 2 minutes of the first round. This defeat effectively ended his career, he would only fight again four more times, with his final fight being a defeat to Gene Fullmer's younger brother, Don.[5]

Life after boxing

Olson retired with a record of 97 wins (47 by KO), 16 losses, and 2 draws from his 115 professional fights. He went on to work with disaffected youngsters before working as a PR officer for the Elevator Operating Engineers Local Union in San Francisco. In 1987 he was a Union Elevator Operator in Lancaster, California, working on new construction at the Antelope Valley Medical Center.[9]

In the 1990s he lived in Northern California for a time. In his later years Olson suffered from Alzheimer's disease. To add quality of life to his later years he and much of his close family returned to Honolulu. He died on January 16, 2002, in Honolulu at Queens Medical Center at the age of 73.

He was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 1958, and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2000.[2] [5] [10]

Professional boxing record

ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
115Loss97–16–2Don FullmerMD10Nov 28, 1966
114Win97–15–2Piero Del PapaSD10Jul 11, 1966
113Win96–15–2Fred RootsTKO3 (10), Sep 23, 1965
112Win95–15–2Andy KendallUD10Jun 24, 1965
111Loss94–15–2José TorresKO1 (10), Nov 27, 1964
110Win94–14–2Wayne ThorntonUD10Aug 28, 1964
109Loss93–14–2Johnny PersolMD10Jun 19, 1964
108Win93–13–2Wayne ThorntonMD10Mar 27, 1964
107Draw92–13–2Hank CaseySD10Dec 9, 1963
106Win92–13–1 Jose MennoUD10Oct 21, 1963
105Win91–13–1 Jesse BowdryUD10May 14, 1963
104Win90–13–1 Sonny RayTKO7 (10), Apr 30, 1963
103Win89–13–1 Tiger Al WilliamsTKO5 (10)Jan 25, 1963
102Draw88–13–1 Giulio RinaldiPTS10Dec 14, 1962
101Win88–13Lennart RisbergKO6 (10), Jun 3, 1962
100Loss87–13Pete RademacherUD10Apr 3, 1962
99Win87–12Artie DixonUD10Jan 19, 1962
98Win86–12Tiger Al WilliamsUD10Jan 12, 1962
97Win85–12Roy SmithTKO8 (10), Nov 14, 1961
96Win84–12Sixto RodriguezUD10Oct 23, 1961
95Loss83–12Sixto RodriguezUD10Sep 11, 1961
94Win83–11Roque MaravillaUD10Aug 14, 1961
93Win82–11Floyd BuchananTKO3 (10)Feb 16, 1961
92Win81–11Bobby DanielsUD10Jan 19, 1961
91Loss80–11Doug JonesKO6 (10), Aug 31, 1960
90Win80–10Mike HoltPTS10Jun 6, 1960
89Win79–10Al SparksTKO5 (10)May 5, 1960
88Win78–10Roque MaravillaTKO7 (10), Apr 7, 1960
87Win77–10George KartalianTKO5 (10)Aug 25, 1959
86Win76–10Rory CalhounUD10Mar 30, 1959
85Win75–10Tommy VillaTKO5 (10), Dec 16, 1958
84Win74–10Paddy YoungTKO6 (10)Nov 25, 1958
83Win73–10Don GrantTKO7 (10), Oct 28, 1958
82Loss72–10Pat McMurtryKO2 (10), Aug 17, 1957
81Win72–9Joey MaximSD10Jun 18, 1957
80Loss71–9Sugar Ray RobinsonKO4 (15), May 18, 1956
79Loss71–8Sugar Ray RobinsonKO2 (15), Dec 9, 1955
78Win71–7Joey GiambraUD10Aug 26, 1955
77Win70–7Jimmy MartinezUD10Aug 13, 1955
76Loss69–7Archie MooreKO3 (15), Jun 22, 1955
75Win69–6Joey MaximUD10Apr 13, 1955
74Win68–6Willie VaughnUD10Mar 12, 1955
73Win67–6Ralph JonesUD10Feb 16, 1955
72Win66–6Pierre LangloisTKO11 (15), Dec 15, 1954
71Win65–6Garth PanterTKO8 (10), Nov 3, 1954
70Win64–6Rocky CastellaniUD15Aug 20, 1954
69Win63–6Pedro GonzalesKO4 (10), Jul 7, 1954
68Win62–6Jesse TurnerTKO8 (10), Jun 15, 1954
67Win61–6Kid GavilanMD15Apr 2, 1954
66Win60–6Joe RindoneKO5 (10)Jan 23, 1954
65Win59–6Randy TurpinUD15Oct 21, 1953
64Win58–6Paddy YoungUD15Jun 19, 1953
63Win57–6Garth PanterUD10Mar 16, 1953
62Win56–6Norman HayesUD10Feb 7, 1953
61Win55–6Norman HayesUD10Dec 18, 1952
60Win54–6Lee SalaKO2 (10), Nov 20, 1952
59Win53–6Gene HairstonTKO6 (10), Aug 27, 1952
58Win52–6Robert VillemainSD10Jul 12, 1952
57Win51–6Jimmy BeauUD10Jun 6, 1952
56Win50–6Walter CartierTKO5 (10), May 19, 1952
55Win49–6Woody HarperTKO7 (10)May 6, 1952
54Loss48–6Sugar Ray RobinsonUD15Mar 13, 1952
53Win48–5Tommy HarrisonUD10Feb 15, 1952
52Win47–5Woody HarperUD10Feb 12, 1952
51Loss46–5Dave SandsUD10Oct 3, 1951
50Win46–4Bobby JonesMD10Aug 27, 1951
49Win45–4Charley CatoTKO3 (10)Jul 27, 1951
48Win44–4Chuck HunterUD10Jul 9, 1951
47Win43–4Lloyd MarshallKO5 (10), May 8, 1951
46Win42–4Art SotoUD10Mar 20, 1951
45Loss41–4Sugar Ray RobinsonKO12 (15), Oct 26, 1950
44Win41–3Henry BrimmUD10Sep 5, 1950
43Win40–3Otis GrahamUD10May 22, 1950
42Win39–3Roy MillerRTD5 (10)Apr 25, 1950
41Loss38–3Dave SandsPTS12Mar 20, 1950
40Win38–2Don LeeUD10Feb 22, 1950
39Win37–2Earl TurnerUD10Dec 13, 1949
38Win36–2Johnny DukeUD10Nov 22, 1949
37Win35–2Art HardyKO3 (10), Aug 23, 1949
36Win34–2Milo SavageUD10Jul 26, 1949
35Win33–2Tommy YaroszUD10Jun 3, 1949
34Win32–2Anton RaadikTKO6 (10), Mar 15, 1949
33Win31–2Paul PerkinsTKO2 (10), Jan 11, 1949
32Win30–2Johnny BoskiKO1 (10)Dec 14, 1948
31Win29–2Kenny WatkinsUD10Oct 26, 1948
30Win28–2Boy BrooksTKO3 (10)Oct 12, 1948
29Win27–2Charley CatoUD8Jul 20, 1948
28Win26–2Bobby CastroMD10May 11, 1948
27Win25–2Flashy SebastianKO7 (10)Apr 7, 1948
26Win24–2Boy BrooksPTS12Jan 18, 1948
25Win23–2Nai Som PongTKO3 (10)Dec 17, 1947
24Loss22–2Boy BrooksPTS10Nov 22, 1947
23Win22–1George DukeUD10Aug 19, 1947
22Loss21–1George DukeUD10Jul 4, 1947
21Win21–0Paule LewisUD10Jun 20, 1947
20Win20–0Leroy WadeTKO4 (10), May 2, 1947
19Win19–0Candy McDanielsUD10Mar 21, 1947
18Win18–0Gil MojicaPTS10Jan 28, 1947
17Win17–0Wayne PowellTKO4 (10), Dec 2, 1946
16Win16–0Wayne PowellTKO4 (10), Oct 7, 1946
15Win15–0Jackie RyanTKO5 (8), Sep 9, 1946
14Win14–0Johnny BoskieKO3 (5)Aug 19, 1946
13Win13–0Johnny BoskieKO4 (6)Jul 26, 1946
12Win12–0Ernie HorneTKO2 (5), Jul 19, 1946
11Win11–0Delaware BradbyTKO3 (6)Feb 25, 1946
10Win10–0Chuck RossPTS6Feb 4, 1946
9Win9–0Pedro JimenezKO4 (6)Jan 28, 1946
8Win8–0Vepe WatsonKO1 (4)Jan 14, 1946
7Win7–0Obie WootenTKO1 (4)Jan 7, 1946
6Win6–0LaVelle PerkinsPTS4Dec 21, 1945
5Win5–0Bobby JonesTKO2 (4)Dec 10, 1945
4Win4–0Art RobinsonTKO4 (4)Nov 23, 1945
3Win3–0Young PanchoPTS4Sep 10, 1944
2Win2–0Ben RamosTKO4 (4), Aug 27, 1944
1Win1–0Bob CorreaKO2 (4)Aug 19, 1944

See also

References


External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Lineal Middleweight Champions. The Cyber Boxing Zone Encyclopedia.
  2. Exshaw. John. Obituary – Carl Olson. The Independent. London. January 21, 2002. 6.
  3. He boxed at 16 in "Boxer Carl 'BoBo' Olson Dies at 73", Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Honolulu, Hawaii, pg. 1, January 17, 2002
  4. Lewis, Ferd, "Hall of Fame Boxer, Carl 'BoBo' Olson Dies", The Honolulu Advertiser, Honolulu, Hawaii, pg. 21, January 17, 2002
  5. Web site: Bobo Olson. BoxRec. June 14, 2018.
  6. March 13 bout in Newland, Russ, "Robinson Retains Title By Decision", The Los Angeles Times, pg. 57, March 14, 1952
  7. Loss on May 18 in Dyer, Braven, "Kayo Simple As One Two", The Los Angeles Times, pg. 45, May 19, 1956
  8. Loss on December 9 in "Robinson Kayos Olson in Second Round", Oakland Tribune, Oakland California, pg. 13, December 10, 1955
  9. Teamster's Union in "Hall of Fame Boxer, Carl 'BoBo' Olson Dies", The Honolulu Advertiser, Honolulu, Hawaii, pg. 21, January 17, 2002
  10. World Boxing Hall of Fame in "Boxer Carl 'BoBo' Olson Dies at 73", Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Honolulu, Hawaii, p. 1, January 17, 2002