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Robert Lous Olin (July 4, 1908 – December 16, 1956) was an American Boxing who became the World Light Heavyweight champion on November 16, 1934, against Maxie Rosenbloom at Madison Square Garden. He was trained by Ray Arcel and managed by Harold Scadron.Silver, Mike, "Stars in the Ring", (2016), Roman and Littelfield, Guilford, Connecticut, pgs. 209-10
Boxing as an amateur, Olin won the New York City Golden Gloves Light Heavyweight Open Championship in 1928. On March 24, 1928, he competed in the Inter-City Golden Gloves Competition in Chicago. He won all 35 of his amateur fights, as well as the New York Metropolitan Amateur Athletic Union title, and turned professional in 1929.
On June 3, 1930, Olin met Ralph Ficucello, a former 1929 New York Golden Gloves Heavyweight Champion, at Queensboro Stadium in Queens, New York. Though outweighed by 12 pounds, Olin pulled off the victory of the fellow Golden Gloves champion in an eight-round points decision."Fight Results", The Evening Times, Sayre, Pennsylvania, pg. 8, 4 June 1930
On October 22, 1930, Olin bested Willard Dix in a hard-fought ten round points decision at New York's Madison Square Garden. Olin floored Dix for a nine count in the fourth and ninth rounds. In the rough match, Olin was down for nine in the fourth himself."Olin Decisions Dix in Ten Hard Rounds", Star Tribune, Minneapolis, Minnesota, pg. 17, 23 October 1930"Bout Stopped", The Cincinnati Enquirer, Cincinnati, Ohio, pg. 15, 23 October 1930
Olin took a ten-round decision against Joe Banovic near the end of 1930 at Madison Square Garden. It was a dull, close, mauling bout with little boxing or long range blows, and the decision was unpopular with many fans, but Banovic was an accomplished opponent and the win helped pave Olin's path toward a light heavyweight championship attempt"Banovic Loses Tame Fight to Bob Olin", Press and Sun Bulletin, Binghamton, New York, pg. 14, 20 December 1930
On July 27, 1931, Olin defeated Al Gainer, a determined World Light Heavyweight Championship contender, in a ten-round bout at White City Stadium in New Haven, Connecticut. Gainer led in the early rounds, but Olin came through in the ninth and tenth to win the referee's decision. A light rain hampered the outdoor match in the fifth and sixth rounds. From his corner, trainer Ray Arcel assisted Olin in the strategically fought bout."Bob Olin Outpoints Al Gainer at New Haven", Hartford Courant, Hartford, Connecticut, pg. 13, 28 July 1931
Al Gainer handed Olin a disappointing loss in their third meeting on September 1, 1932, in a ten-round points decision at West Haven, Connecticut. Gainer gave Olin a "terrific battering during the last two rounds". Gainer was an aspiring Light Heavyweight Contender and a Connecticut State Light Heavyweight Champion with a strong punch and may have outpowered the lighter punching Olin this match. Regardless, Olin won in two of their four meetings and drew one."Gainer Shellacks Olin", The Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, pg. 14, 2 September 1932 The battle was close until the ninth when a barrage of punches by Gainer left Olin nearly helpless, and with cuts below both eyes."Al Gainer Rallies to Defeat Olin", Hartford Courier, Hartford, Connecticut, pg. 16, 2 September 1932
Olin took a six-round points decision on October 9, 1933, at Madison Square Garden against Black boxer Ed "Unknown" Winston. A right cross to the head sent Winston to the deck for a no count in the first, and he connected with fewer punches than he received in the rough rounds that followed.Neil, Edward, J., "Unknown Gets Licked", The Wilkes-Barre Record, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, pg. 14, 10 October 1933
On November 17, 1933, Olin just managed to win the decision in a hard-fought eight round bout with Charley Massera at Madison Square Garden. There were no knockdowns in the close match, but the close victory bolstered Olin's confidence after he failed to win the NBA Light Heavyweight Tournament.Neil, Edward, J., "Hamas Cops Decision in Ten Rounds", Democrat and Chronicle, pg. 16, 18 November 1933
Olin lost to Lou Brouillard, former National Boxing Association World Welterweight Champion, on January 19, 1934, in a ten-round split decision in New York's Madison Square Garden. Broulliard had lost his World Welterweight Title only a few months before meeting Olin, yet a depression era crowd of only 4,000 saw the bout at the Garden. Brouillard lost the second and fourth rounds from low blow fouls, but in the remaining rounds, he took the offensive and Olin had to hold or back away at times to remain in the fight. Late in the eighth, Olin scored with a few smashes to the head of Brouillard that only made Brouillard's fight harder in the following round. In the ninth, Olin was nearly doubled over from Brouilard's powerful blows to the body. In the close decision, Judge Jack Britton, former Welterweight Champion, dissented from the other judge and referee, and cast the only score sheet for Olin.Dunkly, Charles, "Brouillard Hammers Olin's Body to Win Split Decision", Democrat and Chronicle, Rochester, New York, pg. 14, 20 January 1934 On April 5, Olin lost to Brouillard for a final time in a ten-round points decision at the Arena in New Haven, Connecticut.
On May 25, 1934, Olin scored a TKO against Bob Godwin 50 seconds into the first round at Legion Stadium in Hollywood. Olin charged to the middle of the ring, and landed a left hook to the chin of Godwin only five seconds into the bout, immediately dropping him for a no count. Olin briefly floored him again after he arose. Godwin resumed fighting only to face a two fisted assault from Olin against the ropes that sank him to the canvas for the final time for a count of seven. After Godwin tentatively struggled to his feet, the referee stopped the bout. The win helped Olin recover his confidence from his losses to Brouillard."Bob Olin Stops Godwin in First", The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, California, pg. 21, 23, 26 May 1934First fall to the mat in five seconds in "Bob Olin KO's Godwin in First Round of Bout", The Daily Times News, Burlington, North Carolina, pg. 1, 26 May 1934
Boxing as Light Heavyweight Champion, Olin humbled Henry Firpo in a third-round knockout at the Convention Hall in Asbury Park, New Jersey on September 20, 1935. Firpo was unable to mount a defense against Olin's consistent blows to the body which nearly downed him by the end of the second round, though he was saved by the bell. He answered the third round's opening bell, but went down for the count with another harsh round of body blows from Olin. Firpo had been an unsuccessful participant in the November 1931, NBA Middleweight Championship elimination tournament in Milwaukee, though he won his first two rounds."Bob Olin Stops Firpo in Asbury Park Ring", The Courier News, Bridgewater, New Jersey, 21 September 1935
Olin's trainer Ray Arcel later wrote that Olin lost his nerve to fight Lewis the week before and had to be encouraged to change his mind up to the day of the match. His motivation may have temporarily been affected when he learned on fight day he would receive less than half of his promised purse. The fight, however, was spectacular, with Olin showing gameness throughout the fifteen rounds, though clearly outmatched by Lewis and taking a beating. Many in the crowd urged the referee to end the fight in the twelfth round, but Olin fought on. In his typical style, he came out charging and won the first two rounds with a significant margin in points. In the third, finding his range, Lewis battered Olin with precision lefts to the head and straight rights to the body. Both boxers punched with precision and skill, until the thirteenth when Lewis, struggling for a knockout, inadvertently struck Olin after the bell sounded. Faced with the "machine-like precision" of Lewis, Olin lost twelve rounds, while managing to keep two even. Olin, with the will of a former champion, courageously remained on his feet through the entire fifteen rounds, refusing to suffer a knockdown."Defending Champion Outclassed Puts Up a Courageous Battle", McGoogan, W. J., St Louis Post-Dispatch, St. Louis, Missouri, pg. 28, 1 November 1935Lewis battered Olin in the third in "Negro Lifts Olin's Title", The Kokomo Tribune, Kokomo, Indiana, pg. 16, 1 November 1935McGoogan, W. J., "Bob Olin Lost His Title Here", St. Louis Post-Dispatch, St. Louis, Missouri, pg. 27, 17 December 1956
Following his title loss to Lewis, Olin lost to French boxer Al McCoy on December 10, 1935, in a crushing ten round points decision at the Forum in Montreal, Canada. Olin suffered severely at the hands of McCoy, with a barrage of blows to the body and head. He performed well in the opening rounds, but by the final two, he was reeling about the ring, and nearly out on his feet from the brutal attack of McCoy."McCoy Winner Over Bob Olin", The Ottawa Journal, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, pg. 19, 11 December 1935
In one of his better late career matches as a fringe Heavyweight contender on April 2, 1936, Olin lost to Tommy Farr at Royal Albert Hall in Kensington, England in a fifteen-round points decision. His manager, and many in the crowd protested the decision, as Olin had knocked Farr to the mat twice for counts."Tommy Farr Floored Twice, Awarded Nod Over Bob Olin", The Morning News, Wilmington, Delaware, pg. 30, 3 April 1936
On January 15, 1937, Olin lost to black boxer Tiger Fox, Spokane native, in a second-round TKO at the Armory in Spokane, Washington. Olin took vicious blows to his head in the two round bout, and received a deep gash under his right eye, later requiring six stitches to close. This bruising defeat, his previous defeat to Canadian Al McCoy, and the bruising knockdowns he would suffer in his crushing rematch with Lewis the following June, likely accelerated his retirement from the ring, and robbed him of his ability to cope with top contenders."Tiger Fox Takes Second Round Verdict", The Ogden Standard-Examiner, Ogden, Utah, pg. 7, 16 January 1937.
On September 28, 1937, Olin lost a sixth-round TKO to Leroy Haynes at Convention Hall in Philadelphia due to a cut eye which was bleeding. The contest was a semi-final bout before a crowd of 9,000. In frustration with the ruling to end the hard-fought bout, and perhaps sensing the end of his boxing career from his recent losses, in an atypical breach of boxing etiquette Olin struggled with the referee to change the ruling. Olin's handlers were required to step in and separate the two men. His boxing record would make a distinct downturn after this bout, losing five of his remaining seven bouts."Tony Galento Lays Pack Low", Shamokin News, Shamokin, Pennsylvania, pg. 12, 29 September 1937
Before a crowd of 4,200, on November 17, 1937, Olin lost to Johnny Risko, a respected heavyweight contender, in a ten-round points decision that showcased Risko's command of infighting."Johnny Risko Blasts Olin At Cleveland", The Salem News, Salem, Ohio, pg. 7, 18 November 1937 Risko was on the comeback trail after two years away from the ring, and was eager to demonstrate his dominance over the former champion. He effectively blocked the blows of Olin, who was beginning to show wear from several recent losses. The Associated Press gave Risko seven of the ten rounds with Olin taking the sixth and seventh, and the fourth remaining even."Risko Defeats Olin in Comeback Match", St. Louis Dispatch, St. Louis, Missouri, pg. 18, 18 November 1937
Olin opened up his own restaurant in 1946 at 128 West 58th Street in New York but had to close it and another restaurant for lack of business. He gained far greater success and a bit of local fame when he moved his restaurant to Central Park West and 61st Street and renamed it "Bob Olin's on the Park".
In 1951, he was diagnosed with a heart ailment, and hospitalized once in his mid-40s. On December 16, 1956, at age 48, he died of a heart attack while driving a date to her home in the Bronx. He was married once and divorced, but left no children.Cuddy, Jack, "Heart Attack Takes Bob Olin", The Cincinnati Enquirer, Cincinnati, Ohio, pg. 44, 17 December 1956He died in the Bronx in "Olin Dies in Auto, Ex-boxing champion", The Troy Record, Troy, New York, pg. 24, 17 December 1956
| 86 | Win | Art 'Young' Campbell | KO | 4 (12) | Feb 25, 1939 | |||
| 85 | Loss | 54–27–4 | Gus Lesnevich | PTS | 12 | Feb 2, 1939 | ||
| 84 | Loss | 54–26–4 | Al McCoy | PTS | 10 | Nov 8, 1938 | ||
| 83 | Loss | 54–25–4 | Buddy Knox | MD | 10 | Sep 1, 1938 | ||
| 82 | Loss | 54–24–4 | Steve Dudas | SD | 10 | Jan 24, 1938 | ||
| 81 | Win | 54–23–4 | Tiger Hairston | TKO | 2 (10) | Jan 8, 1938 | ||
| 80 | Loss | 53–23–4 | Johnny Risko | UD | 10 | Nov 17, 1937 | ||
| 79 | Loss | 53–22–4 | Leroy Haynes | TKO | 6 (10) | Sep 28, 1937 | ||
| 78 | Win | 53–21–4 | Patsy Perroni | RTD | 3 (10) | Sep 13, 1937 | ||
| 77 | Loss | 52–21–4 | John Henry Lewis | TKO | 8 (15), | Jun 3, 1937 | ||
| 76 | Win | 52–20–4 | Leonard Bostick | KO | 1 (8) | May 4, 1937 | ||
| 75 | Win | 51–20–4 | Gunnar Bärlund | PTS | 10 | Mar 10, 1937 | ||
| 74 | Loss | 50–20–4 | Tiger Jack Fox | TKO | 2 (10) | Jan 15, 1937 | ||
| 73 | Win | 50–19–4 | Buck Everett | TKO | 4 (10), | Nov 2, 1936 | ||
| 72 | Loss | 49–19–4 | Red Bruce | MD | 10 | Aug 17, 1936 | ||
| 71 | Win | 49–18–4 | Jimmy DeSola | PTS | 8 | Aug 4, 1936 | ||
| 70 | Loss | 48–18–4 | Tommy Farr | PTS | 10 | Apr 2, 1936 | ||
| 69 | Loss | 48–17–4 | Al McCoy | PTS | 10 | Dec 10, 1935 | ||
| 68 | Loss | 48–16–4 | John Henry Lewis | UD | 15 | Oct 31, 1935 | ||
| 67 | Win | 48–15–4 | Henry Firpo | KO | 3 (10) | Sep 20, 1935 | ||
| 66 | Loss | 47–15–4 | John Henry Lewis | PTS | 10 | Apr 12, 1935 | ||
| 65 | Win | 47–14–4 | Mickey Dugan | PTS | 8 | Mar 25, 1935 | ||
| 64 | Loss | 46–14–4 | Dutch Weimer | PTS | 10 | Feb 26, 1935 | ||
| 63 | Win | 46–13–4 | Fanis Tzanetopoulos | UD | 10 | Jan 11, 1935 | ||
| 62 | Win | 45–13–4 | Maxie Rosenbloom | SD | 15 | Nov 16, 1933 | ||
| 61 | Draw | 44–13–4 | Abe Feldman | PTS | 10 | Jul 20, 1933 | ||
| 60 | Win | 44–13–3 | Bob Godwin | PTS | 10 | Jun 22, 1933 | ||
| 59 | Win | 43–13–3 | Bob Godwin | TKO | 1 (10), | May 25, 1933 | ||
| 58 | Loss | 42–13–3 | Lou Brouillard | PTS | 10 | Apr 5, 1933 | ||
| 57 | Loss | 42–12–3 | Lou Brouillard | SD | 10 | Jan 19, 1933 | ||
| 56 | Win | 42–11–3 | Al Gainer | PTS | 10 | Dec 22, 1933 | ||
| 55 | Win | 41–11–3 | Charley Massera | PTS | 8 | Nov 17, 1933 | ||
| 54 | Win | 40–11–3 | Unknown Winston | PTS | 6 | Oct 9, 1933 | ||
| 53 | Draw | 39–11–3 | Al Gainer | PTS | 6 | Aug 17, 1933 | ||
| 52 | Win | 39–11–2 | Sam Portney | PTS | 10 | Jul 26, 1933 | ||
| 51 | Draw | 38–11–2 | Charley Massera | PTS | 10 | Jul 5, 1933 | ||
| 50 | Loss | 38–11–1 | Tony Shucco | PTS | 10 | Jun 19, 1933 | ||
| 49 | Loss | 38–10–1 | Charley Massera | PTS | 5 | Mar 10, 1933 | ||
| 48 | Win | 38–9–1 | Paul Marques | PTS | 5 | Jan 20, 1933 | ||
| 47 | Loss | 37–9–1 | Martin Levandowski | TKO | 5 (10) | Dec 29, 1932 | ||
| 46 | Win | 37–8–1 | Tommy Walsh | PTS | 6 | Nov 18, 1932 | ||
| 45 | Loss | 36–8–1 | Al Gainer | PTS | 10 | Sep 1, 1932 | ||
| 44 | Win | 36–7–1 | Muggs Kerr | PTS | 8 | Jul 20, 1932 | ||
| 43 | Win | 35–7–1 | Dick Fullam | PTS | 8 | Jun 1, 1932 | ||
| 42 | Loss | 34–7–1 | Arthur Huttick | UD | 10 | Feb 15, 1932 | ||
| 41 | Loss | 34–6–1 | Baxter Calmes | PTS | 10 | Jan 15, 1932 | ||
| 40 | Win | 34–5–1 | Clyde Chastain | SD | 10 | Dec 30, 1931 | ||
| 39 | Win | 33–5–1 | Tait Littman | KO | 4 (8) | Dec 18, 1931 | ||
| 38 | Win | 32–5–1 | Don Petrin | TKO | 6 (10) | Nov 23, 1931 | ||
| 37 | Win | 31–5–1 | Willie Bush | PTS | 10 | Oct 23, 1931 | ||
| 36 | Loss | 30–5–1 | Al Gainer | PTS | 10 | Sep 1, 1931 | ||
| 35 | Loss | 30–4–1 | Willie Bush | PTS | 10 | Aug 14, 1931 | ||
| 34 | Win | 30–3–1 | Al Gainer | PTS | 10 | Jul 27, 1931 | ||
| 33 | Win | 29–3–1 | Willard Dix | KO | 1 (10) | Jun 22, 1931 | ||
| 32 | Win | 28–3–1 | Tony Ferrante | TKO | 5 (10), | Jun 8, 1931 | ||
| 31 | Loss | 27–3–1 | Joe Banovic | PTS | 10 | Mar 30, 1931 | ||
| 30 | Win | 27–2–1 | Tony Ferrante | UD | 10 | Feb 24, 1931 | ||
| 29 | Win | 26–2–1 | Joe Banovic | PTS | 10 | Dec 19, 1930 | ||
| 28 | Win | 25–2–1 | Willard Dix | PTS | 10 | Oct 22, 1930 | ||
| 27 | Win | 24–2–1 | Eddie Huelsebus | PTS | 6 | Sep 20, 1930 | ||
| 26 | Win | 23–2–1 | Tommy Walsh | TKO | 3 (8) | Sep 9, 1930 | ||
| 25 | Loss | 22–2–1 | Joe Sekyra | PTS | 10 | Jun 30, 1930 | ||
| 24 | Win | 22–1–1 | Ralph Ficucello | PTS | 8 | Jun 3, 1930 | ||
| 23 | Win | 21–1–1 | Roy Wallace | DQ | 8 (10), | Apr 30, 1930 | ||
| 22 | Win | 20–1–1 | George LaRocco | PTS | 6 | Apr 9, 1930 | ||
| 21 | Win | 19–1–1 | Italian Jack Herman | PTS | 6 | Mar 11, 1930 | ||
| 20 | Win | 18–1–1 | Leo Williams | PTS | 10 | Feb 24, 1930 | ||
| 19 | Loss | 17–1–1 | Joe Banovic | PTS | 10 | Dec 2, 1929 | ||
| 18 | Win | 17–0–1 | George LaRocco | PTS | 10 | Nov 7, 1929 | ||
| 17 | Win | 16–0–1 | Amedeo Grillo | KO | 3 (8) | Sep 30, 1929 | ||
| 16 | Win | 15–0–1 | Bruno Sala | PTS | 8 | Sep 18, 1929 | ||
| 15 | Win | 14–0–1 | Felix Milano | KO | 1 (6) | Aug 12, 1929 | ||
| 14 | Win | 13–0–1 | Dave King | UD | 8 | Jul 23, 1929 | ||
| 13 | Win | 12–0–1 | Jimmy Morris | TKO | 3 (8), | Jul 16, 1929 | ||
| 12 | Win | 11–0–1 | Eric Holmberg | KO | 5 (6) | Jun 17, 1929 | ||
| 11 | Win | 10–0–1 | Joe Johnson | KO | 1 (6) | Jun 3, 1929 | ||
| 10 | Win | 9–0–1 | Herman Riegel | TKO | 4 (6), | May 13, 1929 | ||
| 9 | Win | 8–0–1 | Jim Finklea | KO | 1 (?) | Apr 27, 1929 | ||
| 8 | Win | 7–0–1 | Jimmy Griffin | KO | 1 (8) | Apr 13, 1929 | ||
| 7 | Win | 6–0–1 | Larry Hogan | TKO | 1 (6) | Mar 25, 1929 | ||
| 6 | Win | 5–0–1 | Jimmy Roberts | PTS | 6 | Mar 19, 1929 | ||
| 5 | Draw | 4–0–1 | Frank Morris | PTS | 6 | Jan 19, 1929 | ||
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Al Braddock | KO | 2 (4) | Dec 28, 1928 | ||
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Jack Marsling | KO | 1 (4) | Nov 5, 1928 | ||
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Billy Lancaster | TKO | 1 (6) | Oct 24, 1928 | ||
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Olaf Herset | KO | 1 (4) | Oct 8, 1928 | ||
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