Because I've not been that impressed by the footage I've seen of him. If Turpin had been in better shape psychologically going into their fight I think he would have won the World Middleweight Title again. That was a golden opportunity. If I was Olson I would have kept my childhood nickname private. Bobo isn't a very macho sounding name for a fighter.
depends on what you expect. if you expect an exeptional Talent, you are going to be unimpressed. he didnt have the rawTalent of a say Robinson or roy jones. or James toney. but he was solid all round: good power, good chin, great Endurance...……..and of Course toughness. and thats what alot of "experts" Forget when they Judge Boxing Talent: the ability to take a pounding yet Keep going. as warren zevon said in his song "Boom boom Mancini": "some have the Speed and the Right combinations, ....if you cant take the punches, it dont mean a Thing". and Bobo had that Talent. Turpin on the other Hand may have had more athletic Talent......but he lacked Bobos Fighting Talent. Turpin was good against classic Boxers like Robinson because he was awkward…….and awkwardness messes up the classic boxer. it doesnt have the same effect on the grinder. Olson won because he was the better fighter, plain and simple.
Turpin was not in a good place at all the night he fought Olson. I don't think Olson was a better fighter by any means and it was a fight Turpin would have won if he was fully prepared and motivated. And I still think there is something dodgy about his 2nd round 'knockout' when he lost the title to Robinson.
Tiger Jones said that Olson gave him the worst beating of his career, and the footage of that fight supports it. The footage of Olson versus Maxim is impressive. Olson dominates him without any question, which was a revelation to me as Maxim made most fighters look bad. I believe only half the fight is in circulation among collectors. Also, Olson is masterful against Wayne Thornton. The fight was very close, but Olson was about 36 at the time, and though Thornton was busier, Bobo took him to school with his counter-punching. He also landed the heavier blows. A great swan-song performance. The Turpin fight, of course, was another high point where Bobo's steady, workmanlike methods are on display. I believe it was Austin Killeen who told me that Don Fullmer told him Olson was a marvel as an infighter. Olson's chin wasn't so good, but for the most part his defense was able to overcome this deficiency.
Bobo had one competive fight against SRR. All the others, SRR k.o.'ed him easily. But Bobo, at MW, was the dominant MW excepting SRR. (Bobo MD'd against Gavilan, when the Keed tried to move up). The only possible MW's he missed in his era would have been a young Gene Fullmer or Eduardo Lausse. He was the World Middleweight champion between October 1953 and December 1955, the longest reign of any champion in that division during the 1950 1954-04-02 : Kid Gavilan 155 lbs lost to Bobo Olson 159½ lbs by MD in round 15 of 15 Location: Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, USA Referee: Bernie Weismann 141-147 Judge: William O'Connell 139-147 Judge: Ed Hintz 144-144 World Middleweight Title "Bobo Olson, last night, hacked and harassed a left handed punching Kid Gavilan, whose right eye was spurting blood from the 9th round on, for a majority 15 round decision before 18,562 roaring fans at the Chicago Stadium. Gavilan repeatedly flashed vicious left hooks to the body and head which seemed to stun Olson. But Bobo seldon took a backward step and was willing to match punching power whenever the Kid elected. Gavilan coasted through the 11th, 12th and 13th rounds, trying unsuccessfully to salvage each of those rounds with his patented flurries. In the final analysis, it was Bobo's persistency and crisp hacking combinations to the body and head which repulsed Gavilan's bid to emulate Ray Robinson's climb from the 147 to 160 pound championship." Associated Press Purses (including TV monies): Olson - $122,866, Gavilan - $87,762 Unofficial scorecards: AP: 142-141 Olson UP: 142-140 Olson Of 13 fight scribes polled at ringside, all 13 scored in favor of Olson Kid Gavilan claimed he had injured his right hand on February 23rd in Miami against Johnny Cunningham. The IBC set Olson's next title defense for September against Joey Giardello. However, Giardello was convicted of beating up a gas station attendant over a dispute over the price of gas and the fight was scrubbed.
