Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-03-28
6-Pound Advantage
Expected for Olson;
Se||out Possible

Ch1CAOO, MAI. ~. - 11d-
Waiian-born Carl (Bobo) Olson.
a current 9-to-5 favorite. makes
his first world middleweight title
defense against Kid Gavilan,
world Welterweight champion, in
Chicago Stadium Friday night.
The nationally televised, IS
round bout between the con-
stantly failing Olson and Gavi-
Ian, who likes to fight in f1urrleS.
has experts and armchair fans
alike expecting a whale OF a
battle.
The muscular Olson, at 1872
pounds, figures to have a six
pound bulge over the high
wasted. spindly-shanked Gavl-
Ian.
Olson, Is. by bulling, crowding
tactics, is expected to thwart
Gavilan's effort to graduate from
lat to 160 pound champion as
did Sugar Ray Robinson, who
twice whipped both Gavilan and
Olson.
Odds Likely to Change.
But Bobo's favoritiSm is likely
to drop to perhaps 7 to 5 or 6
to 5 by the time he throws his
first punch in defense OF the
160-pound title he acquired by
outpointing Randy Turpin OF
England last october 81.
The sponsoring International
Boxing Club is shooting for
$3.50 900 gross gate which would
Jam 19,40O into the stadium.
With a $50 top and a 100-mile
area around Chicago BACKED out
on TV, a sellout is possible.
Olson, promised rematch II
Gavilan dethrones him. gets a
IS per cent split of the net gate
and a reported 100000 TV fee.
The Kid gets rs per cent slice
Of both revenues.
Gavilan's pro career lists al
most twice as many bouts as
Olson's, IFS to so. The Kid has
a 98-l3-4 record, including q
knockouts. Bobo has won 81
bouts, 26 by knockouts. and lost
six.
Gavilan Talks of 10.
Gavilan is confident he can
defeat Olson. perhaps br
Knockout, thus providing some
solace for the fact Robinson re-
tired as unbeaten middleweight
champion late in 1852 without
giving him a chanT to whip
Sugar Ray
The Cuban Kid doesn't like
to hear Robinson described as
bookings greatest fighter, pound
for-pound He thinks he is. And
he has promised the president
of Cuba. personally. he Will
bring the 160-pound title to
Havana. The Kid even is talk
ing about taking on Rocky Mar
ciano, heavyweight champion.
Against six common oppo-
nents. Olson has better record.
Each lost twice to Robinson
and each defeated Walter Car
tier, Paddy Young and Gus
Graham. But while Olson stopped
Gene Hairston in six. Gavilan
dropped a 1O-rounder to the
same man. And Bobo won and
the Kid lost in 10 rounds against
Robert Villemain.
The difference. it may be
pointed out. is that Olson met
that opposition as a natural
middleweight. while Gavllan as
a welterweight gave weight gen.
orally.
Both Can Take a Punch.
Both men can take punch.
Olson was stopped only once. in
losing by 12th-round techni-
cal knockout to Robinson in
1850. Gavilan never has been
knocked out. but he was decked
by Carmen Basilio last year and
had to scramble for a 15-round
title decision.
Olson's attack calls for con-
slant movement of his arms even
when he isn't throwing punches.
A sharp counterpuncher, Bobo
works consistently on his oppon-
ent's body, but has snaky over
hand right to the head. He twice
floored the rugged Turpin, but
said he couldn't risk dropping
his pressing attack to get set for
q possible finishing blow
Gavilan likes to throw punches
with blurring speed when the
mood moves him. He uses a bolo
punch for a change of pace. but
his left hook is his real weapon.
It's not likely Gavilan will do
any clock-Watching to time his
spurtS. Bobo's busy style could
cost the Kid lot of points.
uJ. rI rl.