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M m On Second Thought Olson Has Taken On a Mans Job By BARNEY NAGLER - 1 NEW YORK, N. Y., June 17. Isnt it about time "Bobo" Olson "blew his top? He does so at least once before each important bout, sending fight writers scurrying to their typewriters on the way to their head doctors. Olson doesnt turn temperamental just for effect. Hes really highly-strung, a tense little fellow who is gaining poise as he grows older and richer. Perhaps hes also growing wiser. In town, and down at Asbury Park, where he has been training for the most ambitious bout of his career, the one with Archie Moore Wednesday night, he has been a bundle of joy, replete with smiles and laughter. He has answered the same questions time and again without once showing his contempt for the inquisitors. Perhaps he has at last come of age. If he has it will certainly be a factor in his quest for the light-heavyweight championship. He has taken on a mans job, come what may, and it would not do for him to waste himself on pre-fight fretting no matter what the instigation. If Olson is to win, and there is considerable doubt here that he can even last the full 15 rounds, he must do so by fighting a careful battle. He must not stress timidity, and he cant afford to be ensnared by caution. This would be his undoing because Olsons only hope is to take advantage of his speed. So doing, he may wear Moore down in the stretch. No matter what they tell you, "old man" Moore cant be strong at 175 pounds. Not for a distance fight, that is. They will tell you that Moore was strong enough, even at the Weight, the night he put out Harold Johnson in the 14th round in Madison Square Garden last year. Johnsons record since then has robbed Moores turnabout of some of its impact. Johnsons chin has been rendered vulnerable by such as "Boardwalk" Billy Smith and, bitter orange or no, he certainly wasnt much against Julio Mederos. However, the test will come when and if Olson is tagged. Moore is a puncher. Reputedly, he is a place-hitter who is capable of taking out a man when he wants to do so. Charley Johnston, the oldvfellows manager of record, insists Moore went out for the 14th round against Johnson to knock him out. "I told him he was behind," Johnston said after the fight, "and he said dont worry, Ill finish it now." If Moore is capable of such sharp -shooting1, what happened to this rare talent in his three championship bouts with Joey Maxim? It may be that the old fellow was quite content to let an old union member stay around for the distance. It could be that Moore grew fond of Maxim through association and wasnt of a mind to destroy a beautiful and profitable friendship for the sake of a knockout. There is no such restraining palship involved in this one. Olson stands between Moore and a promised appointment with Rocky Marciano in September. It can be expected then that Moore will be in there striving to get it over with as explosively as possible. Winning a decision in 15 will do him no good in his courting of the heavyweight championship. This requirement could work in Olsons favor. Unless the swarthy fellow from Honolulu is hurt early, he might be better prepared to go all the way at top speed. It is reasonable to assume that Moores power will wear down the smaller man, but this is a matter of degree. And Olson will not be in there to take it. How much will he take out of Moore by making it a battle of movement instead of a stand-pat, mid-dle-of-the-ring fencing match. All intriguing questions, lending a quality of pugilistic piquancy that has at least enthralled the customers. All indications point to busy box-office days over the week end and through Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. It may be that the gross will come up to the 50,000 anticipated by Jim Norris, the producer. This is the kind of mixed match, in a purely boxing sense, that should pull the clientele up to the Polo Grounds. The way IBC fights have been going, with the thriller up at Syracuse last week and the knockout of Raton Macias the other night. Anything can happen at the Polo Grounds. The feeling here is that it will.
