Friday, January 18, 2002

[BOXING]

STAR-BULLETIN / 1953

The ‘Kalihi Kid’
had no regrets

Perhaps Hawaii's greatest fighter
ever, 'Bobo' Olson rose from the
streets of Kalihi to fight at
Madison Square Garden

Carl "bobo" Olson / 1928-2002

---

By Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.com

Yesterday was Muhammad Ali's 60th birthday, and Judy Olson thought about the fun Ali and her husband Bobo had together. Olson was 13 years older, but the boxing world champions were fast friends.

Ali and Olson also had Parkinson's disease in common, and scientific studies have shown that boxing can cause the neurological disease.

Judy knows Bobo, who died late Wednesday at age 73, would have lived longer if he had not been a professional boxer.

But she has no regrets.

Ring record Carl "Bobo" Olson finished his career 99-16-2. 99 >> Wins include a victory over Randy Turpin for the world middleweight title 16 >> Among his losses was a 15-round decision to Sugar Ray Robinson 2 >> Olson's draws came late in his career -- to Guilio Rinaldi in 1962 and to Hank Casey in 1963.

"And I know that Bobo wouldn't change anything, either," she said. "Yes, being a boxer accelerated some of Bobo's problems. But no, my husband wouldn't have changed a thing. Bobo had an eighth-grade education, but through boxing he became an articulate man who was exposed to a lot of the world through his travels."

Services have been set for the former world champion.

A visitation is set for Wednesday at Our Lady of Peace Cathedral from 9 a.m. to noon. A mass will follow.

STAR-BULLETIN / 2001 Carl Olson Jr. raised the hands of his father, Carl "Bobo" Olson, at a banquet for the Hawaii Sports Hall of Fame.

The final service was originally set for next Thursday, but that has been changed to Jan. 27 from 2-5:30 p.m. at the Waikiki Elks Club. A memorial service begins at 4 p.m. and scattering of ashes follows at dusk.

Olson, who went from scrapping on the streets of Kalihi to title fights at Madison Square Garden, was world middleweight champion from 1953-1955.

He was remembered yesterday in Canastota, N.Y., home of the International Boxing Hall of Fame, of which Olson became a member in 2000.

Executive director Edward Brophy said the flags there will be flown at half-staff in Olson's honor.

"Bobo Olson treated fans to such memorable moments during the 1950s," Brophy said. "He was a fine middleweight champion who will be missed."

Judy Olson said her phone rang all day yesterday as friends and fans called to express their condolences.

In the golden era of boxing in Hawaii, the fighter known as "The Kalihi Kid" and "The Hawaiian Swede" was among the biggest sports stars from the islands and went on to worldwide fame. His record was 99-16-2 with 49 knockouts, and he fought the best. He was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 1958.

"There were many great ones, but I've always said Bobo's the greatest Hawaii ever had," said Bobby Lee of Aiea, a vice president of the World Boxing Council who has been an administrator in the sport for more than 50 years.

Olson won the world middleweight title by defeating Randy Turpin of England on Oct. 21, 1953, before 18,869 at Madison Square Garden. He was named fighter of the year by The Ring magazine.

Sportscaster Les Keiter, who will eulogize Olson at the services, first met the fighter in Hawaii and called his bouts here and attended some of them on the mainland when both men's careers took them east.

"He was very outgoing, personable," Keiter said. "He bubbled all the time, the kind of guy who would put an affectionate hand on your shoulder when he talked to you. The warmest human being I've ever known. A charmer and a strong family man.

"But don't get me wrong, this was a very tough guy who came off the streets," Keiter added. "That's why it was wonderful to see him develop such a warm personality. If he hadn't gone into boxing, he could've ended up as a gangster. He was mean and tough in his very early youth, but he got some discipline from boxing."

Olson was 16 when he started his pro career underage; he used a fake I.D. to qualify for a fight Aug. 19, 1944, when he knocked out Bob Correa. When officials found out how old he really was, he had to wait more than a year for his next fight.

Olson went on to a career that included four bouts against the legendary Sugar Ray Robinson, including one in which they fought evenly for 10 rounds before Robinson took over and won a 15-round decision.

After winning the middleweight title in 1953 and holding it until 1955, Olson moved up to light heavyweight but lost to Archie Moore for the title on a third-round knockout on June 22, 1955, at the Polo Grounds. He later contended as a heavyweight.

He left pro boxing for the final time -- following two temporary retirements -- after losing a 10-round decision to Don Fullmer on Nov. 22, 1966.

Olson then went to work as a recreation director for troubled youth in the San Francisco Bay Area and later worked in public relations for the Teamsters union.

He spent most of his final years in Honolulu. Olson was inducted into the Hawaii Sports Hall of Fame in the initial group of 35 athletes in 1997. Despite his poor health, he made several public appearances in his final years.

Olson's family has been gathering in Hawaii since he entered Queen's Medical Center two weeks ago. He had been in a coma in the hospice ward since last week. Many friends and other well-wishers dropped by to say goodbye.

"From the time I was a little boy, he was always the champ, and he still is today," his nephew, Bob Foster, said. "We were always very proud of him. In those days, it was pretty hard for a kid from Hawaii to make it, and he did it."

In addition to Judy, Olson is survived by sons Carl (Cindy), Vincent (Amelia), Grant (Kathryn), Dane, Arthur (Karen); daughters Brenda (John) Cotta, Cynthia and Dawn; sisters Mathilda (Glen) Howze and Bernice Sullivan; 18 grandchildren and nieces and nephews.

STAR-BULLETIN / 1954 Carl "Bobo" Olson was 16 when he started his pro career, and had to use a fake I.D. to qualify for a fight.

BOBO OLSON, FIGHT BY FIGHT

1945

Nov. 23: Art Robinson, KO 4 in San Francisco
Dec. 10: Bobby Jones, KO 2 in San Francisco

1946

Jan. 7: Obie Wooten, KO 1 in San Francisco
Jan. 14: Vepe Watson, KO 1 in San Francisco
Jan. 28: Pedro Jiminez, KO 4 in San Francisco
Feb. 4: Chuck Ross, W 6 in San Francisco
Feb. 25: Delaware Bradby, KO 3 in San Francisco
July 18: Trader Horne, KO 2 in Honolulu
Aug. 19: Johnny Boskie, KO 3 in Honolulu
Sept. 9: Jackie Ryan, KO 6 in Honolulu
Dec. 2: Wayne Powell, KO 4 in Honolulu

1947

Jan. 28: Gil Molica, W 10 in Honolulu
March 21: Candy McDaniels, W 10 in Honolulu
May 2: Leroy Wade, KO 4 in Honolulu
June 20: Paul Lewis, W 10 in Honolulu
July 4: George Duke, L 10 in Honolulu
Aug. 19: George Duke, W 10 in Honolulu
Nov. 22: Boy Brooks, L 10 in Manila
Dec. 17: Nai Mayala, KO 3 in Manila

1948

Jan. 17: Boy Brooks, W 12 in Manila
April 7: Flashy Sebastian, KO 7 in Manila
May 11: Bobby Castro, W 8 in Honolulu
July 20: Charley Cato, W 8 in Honolulu
Oct. 12: Boy Brooks, KO 3 in Honolulu
Oct. 26: Kenny Watkins, W 10 in Honolulu
Dec. 14: John Boski, KO 1 in Honolulu

1949

Jan. 11: Paulie Perkins, KO 2 in Honolulu
March 15: Anton Raadik, KO 7 in Honolulu
June 3: Tommy Yarosz, W 10 in Honolulu
July 26: Milo Savage, W 10 in Honolulu
Aug. 23: Art Hardy, KO 3 in Honolulu
Nov. 22: Johnny Duke, W 10 in Honolulu
Dec. 13: Earl Turner, W 10 in Honolulu

1950

Feb. 22: Don Lee, W 10 in Honolulu
March 20: Dave Sands, L 12 in Sydney
April 25: Roy Miller, KO 5 in Honolulu
May 22: Otis Graham, W 10 in Honolulu
Sept. 5: Henry Brimm, W 10 in Honolulu
Oct. 26: Ray Robinson, KO by 12 in Philadelphia

1951

March 20: Art Soto, W 10 in Honolulu
May 7: Lloyd Marshall, KO 5 in Honolulu
July 9: Chuck Hunter, W 10 in San Francisco
July 27: Charlie Cato, KO 3 in Richmond, Calif.
Aug. 27: Bobby Jones, W 10 in San Francisco
Oct. 3: Dave Sands, L 10 in Chicago

1952

Feb. 12: Woody Harper, W 10 in Sacramento, Calif.
Feb. 15: Tommy Harrison, W 10 in Hollywood
March 13: Ray Robinson, L 15 in San Francisco for world middleweight title
May 6: Woody Harper, KO 7 in Richmond
May 19: Walter Cartier, KO 5 in Brooklyn
June 6: Jimmy Beau, W 10 in New York
July 12: Robert Villemain, W 10 in San Francisco
Aug. 27: Eugene Hairston, KO 6 in New York
Nov. 20: Lee Sala, KO 2 in San Francisco
Dec. 18: Norman Hayes, W 10 in San Francisco

1953

Feb. 7: Norman Hayes, W 10 in Boston
March 16: Garth Panter, W 10 in Butte, Mont.
June 19: Paddy Young, W 15 in New York for U.S. middleweight title
Oct. 21: Randy Turpin, W 15 in New York for vacant world middleweight title

1954

Jan. 23: Joe Rindone, KO 5 in San Francisco
April 2: Kid Gavilan, W 15 in Chicago
June 15: Jesse Turner, KO 8 in Honolulu
July 7: Pedro Gonzales, KO 4 in Oakland, Calif.
Aug. 20: Rocky Castellani, W 15 in San Francisco
Nov. 3: Garth Panter, KO 8 in Richmond
Dec. 15: Pierre Langlois, KO 11 in San Francisco

1955

Feb. 16: Ralph Jones, W 10 in Chicago
March 12: Willie Vaughn, W 10 in Hollywood
April 13: Joey Maxim, W 10 in San Francisco
June 22: Archie Moore, KO 3 by in New York
Aug. 13: Jimmy Martinez, W 10 in Portland, Ore.
Aug. 26: Joey Giambra, W 10 in San Francisco
Dec. 9: Ray Robinson, KO 2 by in Chicago

1956

May 18: Ray Robinson, KO 4 by in Los Angeles

1957

June 18: Joey Maxim, W 10 in Portland
Aug. 17: Pat McMurtry, KO by 2 in Portland

1958

Oct. 28: Don Grant, KO 7 in Oakland
Nov. 25: Paddy Young, KO 6 in Oakland
Dec. 16: Tommy Villa, KO 5 in Fresno, Calif.

1959

March 30: Rory Calhoun, W 10 in San Francisco
Aug. 25: George Kartalian, KO 5 in Fresno

1960

April 7: Roque Maravilla, KO 7 in Portland
May 5: Al Sparks, KO 5 in Vancouver, British Columbia
June 6: Mike Holt, W 10 in Johannesburg, South Africa
Aug. 31: Doug Jones, KO by 6 in Chicago

1961

Jan. 19: Bobby Daniels, W 10 in Spokane, Wash.
Feb. 16: Floyd Buchanan, KO 3 in Victoria, British Columbia
Aug. 14: Roque Maravilla, W 10 in Oakland
Sept. 11: Sixto Rodriguez, L 10 in San Francisco
Oct. 23: Sixto Rodriguez, W 10 in San Francisco
Nov. 14: Yancy D., KO 8 in Honolulu

1962

Jan. 12: Al Williams, W 10 in Honolulu
Jan. 19: Artie Dixon, W 10 in Honolulu
April 3: Pete Rademacher, L 10 in Honolulu
June 3: Lennart Risberg, KO 6 in Stockholm, Sweden
Dec. 14: Guilio Rinaldi, Draw 10 in Rome

1963

Jan. 25: Al Williams, KO 5 in Eugene, Ore.
April 30: Sonny Ray, KO 8 in Honolulu
May 14: Jesse Bowdry, W 10 in Honolulu
Oct. 21: Jose Menno, W 10 in San Francisco
Dec. 9: Hank Casey, Draw 10 in San Francisco

1964

March 27: Wayne Thornton, W 10 in San Francisco
June 19: Johnny Persol, L 10 in New York
Aug. 28: Wayne Thornton, W 10 in New York
Nov. 27: Jose Torres, KO by 1 in New York

1965

June 24: Andy Kendall, W 10 in Reno, Nev.
Sept. 23: Fred Roots, KO 3 in Reno

1966

July 11: Piero Del Papa, W 10 in San Francisco
Nov. 22: Don Fullmer, L 10 in Oakland

Source: "The Ring; Record Book and Boxing Encyclopedia"