Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-04-03
Bobo's Size, Stamina
Too Much for GaviIan
In SIashing Contest
By Cherries M. Egon
Sports Editor Of The S,or

1882 in Chicago Stadium last
night that a good little man can
not lick an equally good bigger
one. Millions Of television fans
must have been convinced also.
The welterweight champion,
giving away 31a years in age
and more poundage than the
announced weights indicated,
gave it a real good try, however.
in one of the great bouts of this
generation. But there was moth
ing to indicate that the Cuban
bolo puncher would do any better
in a return fight, despite his
vague references to an injured
right hand and even more vague
complaints about Referee Bernie
Weissmann's handling of the
bout.
Scores Fail to Reveal Margin.
Olson retained his title more
decisively than the returns indi-
Gated. for one of the judges, Ed
HintZ. voted it a 144-to-144 draw
under the National Boxing AS
sociation's must 10-point" sys-
tenn. The other judge, Bill O'Con-
nell, voted for Olson. 147-139,
while the referee had it 147-141
IN favor Of Bobo.
There were no knockdowns
during the IS rounds of slashing
action and the chief outward sign
of Olson's supremacy when the
fight ended was a bothersome cut
under Gavilan's right eye which
was reopened several times in
the closing rounds after it was
first inflicted in the ninth.
Gavilan and his manager, Al
Lopez, insisted the cut was due
to an accidental butt by Olson,
but hardly any one at the ring
side agreed. The way they saw
it, a left hook did the damage at
a time when The Kid was stag
ing one of his f1urries. &.
The figures at the noon weigh
in had Olson tipping the scales
at 159h pounds, half a pound
under the middleweight limit.
Gavilan, who showed up 20 min
utes late, did not strip for the
official weigh-in and actually did
not weigh the 155 pounds an
nounced for him.
Uses Size to Advantage.
Olson used his extra size to
great advantage throughout the
fight. particularly in the might
ing, where he frequently made
the Cuban give ground. The
bigger Bobo had considerable
trouble with Gavilan's darling
left in the early rounds, but
along about the sixth he seemed
to have this solved. From then
on, there was action galore all
the way.
Few fights in this area have
been marked by the furious
punching the embattled pair ex-
changed in the ninth and 10Th
rounds, the high spots of the
bout. The final round was an
other humdinger. with Gavilan
fighting desperately to save a
lost cause. But Olson. who must
have been quite certain he had
the decision earned, seemed
more than willing to stand toe
to-toe and slug 1T out with the
challenger.
In the final analysis it was
stamina and size that won for
Olson.
It was a pro-Olson crowd and
the decision was a popular one,
as was evidenced by the roars
OF disapproval when Hintz's draw
verdict was announced.
Both Hands Next Time.
Each fighter had praise for
the other after the bout, al
though Gavilan's was offset
somewhat by such a cryptic
statement as next time I use
both hands" The Cuban re-
peatedly had denied pre-fight
reports that there was anything
wrong with his right hand, but
it was noticeable that he didn't
use it much until the late rounds.
After the bout, he intimated the
hand had been bothering him
since his listless exhibition
against Johnny Cunningham in
Miami Beach a month or so ago.
Olson will receive IS per cent
Of the net gate and the same
percentage of $50, 900 Of the tele-
vision monies. Gavilan gets IS
per cent Of each as balm for
the 14th defeat in his busy
career. The international Box
ing Club, which staged the
highly successful production, re-
tains $4,000 Of the 100000 TV
payment.
7 The net receipts were esti-
mated at $251. 048. but a def
mite total was not announced
Immediately because it is diff
ficult to figure due to the posi-
bility Of refunds as a result of
reduction of the Federal tax.
But it was a pretty good guess
that Olson would draw down
about $4,000 and Gavilan
about $4,000.
Giardell0 in September.
Olson has never earned that
kind Of q paycheck before. and
his manager. Sid Flaherty. in
dicated Bobo was going to get
a good rest to enjoy some of it
before worrying about the likes
of Joey Giardello and other like
ly challengers. He probably
won't fight again before Sep
TENDER.
The IBC's plans At in with
Flaherty's program. The club
said today that it is all set for
Olson to make his second title