Bobo Olson

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox boxer 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,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> the longest reign of any champion in that division during the 1950s. His nickname was based on his younger sister's mispronunciation of "brother".<ref name="Obituary">Template:Cite journal</ref>

Early yearsEdit

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.<ref name="Boxrec"/><ref name="Obituary"/>

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.<ref name="Boxrec"/><ref name="Obituary"/><ref>He boxed at 16 in "Boxer Carl 'BoBo' Olson Dies at 73", Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Honolulu, Hawaii, pg. 1, January 17, 2002</ref><ref name="Advertiser Obit">Lewis, Ferd, "Hall of Fame Boxer, Carl 'BoBo' Olson Dies", The Honolulu Advertiser, Honolulu, Hawaii, pg. 21, January 17, 2002</ref>

Professional careerEdit

File:Bobo Olson and Sugar Ray Robinson 1955.jpg

Olson and Sugar Ray Robinson before their 1955 fight

File:Bobo Olson 1955.jpg

Olson knocked out by Sugar Ray Robinson in 1955

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.<ref name="Boxrec">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Obituary"/>

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.<ref name="Boxrec"/>

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.<ref>March 13 bout in Newland, Russ, "Robinson Retains Title By Decision", The Los Angeles Times, pg. 57, March 14, 1952</ref> This would be the only time that Olson lasted the duration against Robinson.<ref name="Boxrec"/>

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.<ref name="Boxrec"/>

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.<ref name="Boxrec"/><ref name="Advertiser Obit"/>

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.<ref name="Boxrec"/>

File:Bobo Olson with wife 1955.jpg

Olson with wife Helen in 1955. They got married in Hawaii in 1946 and divorced in 1955

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.<ref name="Boxrec"/><ref name="Obituary"/>

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.<ref>Loss on May 18 in Dyer, Braven, "Kayo Simple As One Two", The Los Angeles Times, pg. 45, May 19, 1956</ref> After this second defeat Olson announced his retirement.<ref name="Boxrec"/><ref>Loss on December 9 in "Robinson Kayos Olson in Second Round", Oakland Tribune, Oakland California, pg. 13, December 10, 1955</ref>

Late careerEdit

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.<ref name="Boxrec"/>

Life after boxingEdit

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.<ref>Teamster's Union in "Hall of Fame Boxer, Carl 'BoBo' Olson Dies", The Honolulu Advertiser, Honolulu, Hawaii, pg. 21, January 17, 2002</ref>

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.<ref name="Obituary"/><ref name="Boxrec"/><ref>World Boxing Hall of Fame in "Boxer Carl 'BoBo' Olson Dies at 73", Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Honolulu, Hawaii, p. 1, January 17, 2002</ref>

Professional boxing recordEdit

Template:BoxingRecordSummary

Template:Abbr	Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round, time	Date	Location	Notes
115	Template:No2Loss	97–16–2	Don Fullmer	MD	10	Nov 28, 1966	Template:Small
114	Template:Yes2Win	97–15–2	Piero Del Papa	SD	10	Jul 11, 1966	Template:Small
113	Template:Yes2Win	96–15–2	Fred Roots	TKO	3 (10), Template:Small	Sep 23, 1965	Template:Small
112	Template:Yes2Win	95–15–2	Andy Kendall	UD	10	Jun 24, 1965	Template:Small
111	Template:No2Loss	94–15–2	José Torres	KO	1 (10), Template:Small	Nov 27, 1964	Template:Small
110	Template:Yes2Win	94–14–2	Wayne Thornton	UD	10	Aug 28, 1964	Template:Small
109	Template:No2Loss	93–14–2	Johnny Persol	MD	10	Jun 19, 1964	Template:Small
108	Template:Yes2Win	93–13–2	Wayne Thornton	MD	10	Mar 27, 1964	Template:Small
107	Template:DrawDraw	92–13–2	Hank Casey	SD	10	Dec 9, 1963	Template:Small
106	Template:Yes2Win	92–13–1	Jose Menno	UD	10	Oct 21, 1963	Template:Small
105	Template:Yes2Win	91–13–1	Jesse Bowdry	UD	10	May 14, 1963	Template:Small
104	Template:Yes2Win	90–13–1	Sonny Ray	TKO	7 (10), Template:Small	Apr 30, 1963	Template:Small
103	Template:Yes2Win	89–13–1	Tiger Al Williams	TKO	5 (10)	Jan 25, 1963	Template:Small
102	Template:DrawDraw	88–13–1	Giulio Rinaldi	PTS	10	Dec 14, 1962	Template:Small
101	Template:Yes2Win	88–13	Lennart Risberg	KO	6 (10), Template:Small	Jun 3, 1962	Template:Small
100	Template:No2Loss	87–13	Pete Rademacher	UD	10	Apr 3, 1962	Template:Small
99	Template:Yes2Win	87–12	Artie Dixon	UD	10	Jan 19, 1962	Template:Small
98	Template:Yes2Win	86–12	Tiger Al Williams	UD	10	Jan 12, 1962	Template:Small
97	Template:Yes2Win	85–12	Roy Smith	TKO	8 (10), Template:Small	Nov 14, 1961	Template:Small
96	Template:Yes2Win	84–12	Sixto Rodriguez	UD	10	Oct 23, 1961	Template:Small
95	Template:No2Loss	83–12	Sixto Rodriguez	UD	10	Sep 11, 1961	Template:Small
94	Template:Yes2Win	83–11	Roque Maravilla	UD	10	Aug 14, 1961	Template:Small
93	Template:Yes2Win	82–11	Floyd Buchanan	TKO	3 (10)	Feb 16, 1961	Template:Small
92	Template:Yes2Win	81–11	Bobby Daniels	UD	10	Jan 19, 1961	Template:Small
91	Template:No2Loss	80–11	Doug Jones	KO	6 (10), Template:Small	Aug 31, 1960	Template:Small
90	Template:Yes2Win	80–10	Mike Holt	PTS	10	Jun 6, 1960	Template:Small
89	Template:Yes2Win	79–10	Al Sparks	TKO	5 (10)	May 5, 1960	Template:Small
88	Template:Yes2Win	78–10	Roque Maravilla	TKO	7 (10), Template:Small	Apr 7, 1960	Template:Small
87	Template:Yes2Win	77–10	George Kartalian	TKO	5 (10)	Aug 25, 1959	Template:Small
86	Template:Yes2Win	76–10	Rory Calhoun	UD	10	Mar 30, 1959	Template:Small
85	Template:Yes2Win	75–10	Tommy Villa	TKO	5 (10), Template:Small	Dec 16, 1958	Template:Small
84	Template:Yes2Win	74–10	Paddy Young	TKO	6 (10)	Nov 25, 1958	Template:Small
83	Template:Yes2Win	73–10	Don Grant	TKO	7 (10), Template:Small	Oct 28, 1958	Template:Small
82	Template:No2Loss	72–10	Pat McMurtry	KO	2 (10), Template:Small	Aug 17, 1957	Template:Small
81	Template:Yes2Win	72–9	Joey Maxim	SD	10	Jun 18, 1957	Template:Small
80	Template:No2Loss	71–9	Sugar Ray Robinson	KO	4 (15), Template:Small	May 18, 1956	Template:Small	Template:Small
79	Template:No2Loss	71–8	Sugar Ray Robinson	KO	2 (15), Template:Small	Dec 9, 1955	Template:Small	Template:Small
78	Template:Yes2Win	71–7	Joey Giambra	UD	10	Aug 26, 1955	Template:Small
77	Template:Yes2Win	70–7	Jimmy Martinez	UD	10	Aug 13, 1955	Template:Small
76	Template:No2Loss	69–7	Archie Moore	KO	3 (15), Template:Small	Jun 22, 1955	Template:Small	Template:Small
75	Template:Yes2Win	69–6	Joey Maxim	UD	10	Apr 13, 1955	Template:Small
74	Template:Yes2Win	68–6	Willie Vaughn	UD	10	Mar 12, 1955	Template:Small
73	Template:Yes2Win	67–6	Ralph Jones	UD	10	Feb 16, 1955	Template:Small
72	Template:Yes2Win	66–6	Pierre Langlois	TKO	11 (15), Template:Small	Dec 15, 1954	Template:Small	Template:Small
71	Template:Yes2Win	65–6	Garth Panter	TKO	8 (10), Template:Small	Nov 3, 1954	Template:Small
70	Template:Yes2Win	64–6	Rocky Castellani	UD	15	Aug 20, 1954	Template:Small	Template:Small
69	Template:Yes2Win	63–6	Pedro Gonzales	KO	4 (10), Template:Small	Jul 7, 1954	Template:Small
68	Template:Yes2Win	62–6	Jesse Turner	TKO	8 (10), Template:Small	Jun 15, 1954	Template:Small
67	Template:Yes2Win	61–6	Kid Gavilan	MD	15	Apr 2, 1954	Template:Small	Template:Small
66	Template:Yes2Win	60–6	Joe Rindone	KO	5 (10)	Jan 23, 1954	Template:Small
65	Template:Yes2Win	59–6	Randy Turpin	UD	15	Oct 21, 1953	Template:Small	Template:Small
64	Template:Yes2Win	58–6	Paddy Young	UD	15	Jun 19, 1953	Template:Small	Template:Small
63	Template:Yes2Win	57–6	Garth Panter	UD	10	Mar 16, 1953	Template:Small
62	Template:Yes2Win	56–6	Norman Hayes	UD	10	Feb 7, 1953	Template:Small
61	Template:Yes2Win	55–6	Norman Hayes	UD	10	Dec 18, 1952	Template:Small
60	Template:Yes2Win	54–6	Lee Sala	KO	2 (10), Template:Small	Nov 20, 1952	Template:Small
59	Template:Yes2Win	53–6	Gene Hairston	TKO	6 (10), Template:Small	Aug 27, 1952	Template:Small
58	Template:Yes2Win	52–6	Robert Villemain	SD	10	Jul 12, 1952	Template:Small
57	Template:Yes2Win	51–6	Jimmy Beau	UD	10	Jun 6, 1952	Template:Small
56	Template:Yes2Win	50–6	Walter Cartier	TKO	5 (10), Template:Small	May 19, 1952	Template:Small
55	Template:Yes2Win	49–6	Woody Harper	TKO	7 (10)	May 6, 1952	Template:Small
54	Template:No2Loss	48–6	Sugar Ray Robinson	UD	15	Mar 13, 1952	Template:Small	Template:Small
53	Template:Yes2Win	48–5	Tommy Harrison	UD	10	Feb 15, 1952	Template:Small
52	Template:Yes2Win	47–5	Woody Harper	UD	10	Feb 12, 1952	Template:Small
51	Template:No2Loss	46–5	Dave Sands	UD	10	Oct 3, 1951	Template:Small
50	Template:Yes2Win	46–4	Bobby Jones	MD	10	Aug 27, 1951	Template:Small
49	Template:Yes2Win	45–4	Charley Cato	TKO	3 (10)	Jul 27, 1951	Template:Small
48	Template:Yes2Win	44–4	Chuck Hunter	UD	10	Jul 9, 1951	Template:Small
47	Template:Yes2Win	43–4	Lloyd Marshall	KO	5 (10), Template:Small	May 8, 1951	Template:Small
46	Template:Yes2Win	42–4	Art Soto	UD	10	Mar 20, 1951	Template:Small
45	Template:No2Loss	41–4	Sugar Ray Robinson	KO	12 (15), Template:Small	Oct 26, 1950	Template:Small	Template:Small
44	Template:Yes2Win	41–3	Henry Brimm	UD	10	Sep 5, 1950	Template:Small
43	Template:Yes2Win	40–3	Otis Graham	UD	10	May 22, 1950	Template:Small
42	Template:Yes2Win	39–3	Roy Miller	RTD	5 (10)	Apr 25, 1950	Template:Small
41	Template:No2Loss	38–3	Dave Sands	PTS	12	Mar 20, 1950	Template:Small
40	Template:Yes2Win	38–2	Don Lee	UD	10	Feb 22, 1950	Template:Small
39	Template:Yes2Win	37–2	Earl Turner	UD	10	Dec 13, 1949	Template:Small
38	Template:Yes2Win	36–2	Johnny Duke	UD	10	Nov 22, 1949	Template:Small
37	Template:Yes2Win	35–2	Art Hardy	KO	3 (10), Template:Small	Aug 23, 1949	Template:Small
36	Template:Yes2Win	34–2	Milo Savage	UD	10	Jul 26, 1949	Template:Small
35	Template:Yes2Win	33–2	Tommy Yarosz	UD	10	Jun 3, 1949	Template:Small
34	Template:Yes2Win	32–2	Anton Raadik	TKO	6 (10), Template:Small	Mar 15, 1949	Template:Small
33	Template:Yes2Win	31–2	Paul Perkins	TKO	2 (10), Template:Small	Jan 11, 1949	Template:Small
32	Template:Yes2Win	30–2	Johnny Boski	KO	1 (10)	Dec 14, 1948	Template:Small
31	Template:Yes2Win	29–2	Kenny Watkins	UD	10	Oct 26, 1948	Template:Small
30	Template:Yes2Win	28–2	Boy Brooks	TKO	3 (10)	Oct 12, 1948	Template:Small
29	Template:Yes2Win	27–2	Charley Cato	UD	8	Jul 20, 1948	Template:Small
28	Template:Yes2Win	26–2	Bobby Castro	MD	10	May 11, 1948	Template:Small
27	Template:Yes2Win	25–2	Flashy Sebastian	KO	7 (10)	Apr 7, 1948	Template:Small
26	Template:Yes2Win	24–2	Boy Brooks	PTS	12	Jan 18, 1948	Template:Small	Template:Small
25	Template:Yes2Win	23–2	Nai Som Pong	TKO	3 (10)	Dec 17, 1947	Template:Small
24	Template:No2Loss	22–2	Boy Brooks	PTS	10	Nov 22, 1947	Template:Small	Template:Small
23	Template:Yes2Win	22–1	George Duke	UD	10	Aug 19, 1947	Template:Small	Template:Small
22	Template:No2Loss	21–1	George Duke	UD	10	Jul 4, 1947	Template:Small	Template:Small
21	Template:Yes2Win	21–0	Paule Lewis	UD	10	Jun 20, 1947	Template:Small
20	Template:Yes2Win	20–0	Leroy Wade	TKO	4 (10), Template:Small	May 2, 1947	Template:Small	Template:Small
19	Template:Yes2Win	19–0	Candy McDaniels	UD	10	Mar 21, 1947	Template:Small	Template:Small
18	Template:Yes2Win	18–0	Gil Mojica	PTS	10	Jan 28, 1947	Template:Small
17	Template:Yes2Win	17–0	Wayne Powell	TKO	4 (10), Template:Small	Dec 2, 1946	Template:Small
16	Template:Yes2Win	16–0	Wayne Powell	TKO	4 (10), Template:Small	Oct 7, 1946	Template:Small	Template:Small
15	Template:Yes2Win	15–0	Jackie Ryan	TKO	5 (8), Template:Small	Sep 9, 1946	Template:Small
14	Template:Yes2Win	14–0	Johnny Boskie	KO	3 (5)	Aug 19, 1946	Template:Small
13	Template:Yes2Win	13–0	Johnny Boskie	KO	4 (6)	Jul 26, 1946	Template:Small
12	Template:Yes2Win	12–0	Ernie Horne	TKO	2 (5), Template:Small	Jul 19, 1946	Template:Small
11	Template:Yes2Win	11–0	Delaware Bradby	TKO	3 (6)	Feb 25, 1946	Template:Small
10	Template:Yes2Win	10–0	Chuck Ross	PTS	6	Feb 4, 1946	Template:Small
9	Template:Yes2Win	9–0	Pedro Jimenez	KO	4 (6)	Jan 28, 1946	Template:Small
8	Template:Yes2Win	8–0	Vepe Watson	KO	1 (4)	Jan 14, 1946	Template:Small
7	Template:Yes2Win	7–0	Obie Wooten	TKO	1 (4)	Jan 7, 1946	Template:Small
6	Template:Yes2Win	6–0	LaVelle Perkins	PTS	4	Dec 21, 1945	Template:Small
5	Template:Yes2Win	5–0	Bobby Jones	TKO	2 (4)	Dec 10, 1945	Template:Small
4	Template:Yes2Win	4–0	Art Robinson	TKO	4 (4)	Nov 23, 1945	Template:Small
3	Template:Yes2Win	3–0	Young Pancho	PTS	4	Sep 10, 1944	Template:Small
2	Template:Yes2Win	2–0	Ben Ramos	TKO	4 (4), Template:Small	Aug 27, 1944	Template:Small
1	Template:Yes2Win	1–0	Bob Correa	KO	2 (4)	Aug 19, 1944	Template:Small