68 years ago

Date: 18th May 1956

Title: World Middleweight Title

Promoter: Jackie Leonard

Sugar Ray Robinson
( 138 - 4 - 2 )
Weight: 159½ lbs

Carl Olson
( 71 - 8 - 0 )
Weight: 160 lbs

The fourth and final meeting between Ray Robinson and Carl "Bobo" Olson took place on Friday, 18th May 1956, at Wrigley Field, Los Angeles, California. Robinson, with a record of 138-4-2, was defending his World Middleweight Title for the first time during his third reign. He had won it from Olson 5 months earlier (Ko-2). Olson held a record of 71-8-0 coming into the fight.

A crowd of 20,083 paid a California record of $228,500 to witness the contest, surpassing the previous record of $196,720 for the 1955 bout between World Heavyweight Champion Rocky Marciano and challenger Don Cockell. Both fighters received 30% of the net gate, which amounted to $196,982, and an additional 30% of the $100,000 in TV rights. The total earnings for each fighter amounted to $89,094.60.

However, both fighters faced legal hurdles concerning their paydays. Olson's share was tied up by a court order obtained by his estranged wife, while the federal government slapped an income tax lien against Robinson's share.

The fight concluded in the fourth round when Robinson delivered a left hook to the chin that culminated with referee Mushy Callahan counting Olson out at 2:51 of the round. 

Olson, however, had had a storied career before his ultimate defeat to Robinson. He had won the world middleweight title in a vacant title match against England's Randolph Turpin in October 1953 and defended the belt on three occasions, defeating Kid Gavilan, Rocky Castellani, and Frenchman Pierre Langlois. Furthermore, Olson had also challenged Archie Moore for the world light-heavyweight title on the 22nd of June 1955, although he lost by a third-round knockout.

Following his loss to Robinson, Olson never challenged or held a world title again in his career. Nonetheless, he continued to fight in another 35 bouts. His next fight after losing to Robinson for the fourth time saw him beat former world light-heavyweight Titleist Joey Maxim on a split decision in Portland, Oregon.

Olson was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2000.