Columnist Dean Juipe: Olson refuses to quit after losing to Carbajal

Dean Juipe

Thursday, Aug. 21, 1997 | 10 a.m.

His mother asked him to retire, as did his former promoter.

But Scotty Olson not only isn't inclined to give up on boxing, he's training for a fight next month and actively lobbying for a much bigger fight later in the year with junior flyweight champion Jake Matlala.

At 29 years old, he sees the glass as half full, not half empty.

"There's still too much money on the table to quit," Olson said this week at the Top Rank Gym, where he's tuning up for a Sept. 15 fight in his native Edmonton with Australian champ Jack Russell. "It doesn't seem right to me to retire when I still have plenty of ability."

His mother would question him on that one, as would promoter Bob Arum.

"My mom wants me to do something else, I know that," Olson said. "I respect her for that, just as I respect Mr. Arum. I know he genuinely cares about me and he's always been very sincere towards me.

"But I think I've got at least three years left and maybe even five. I'm going to try and get the most out of myself during those years."

What prompted Olson's mother, and later Arum, to suggest retirement was a fight in March in Corpus Christi, Texas, in which Olson was pummeled by Michael Carbajal. It was one of those rare fights where one of the participants -- in this case, Olson -- went into the bout feeling he was going to lose, as he didn't have much notice and wasn't fully prepared.

Despite the loss, Olson remains marketable. He's 31-3-2 and has his pockets of fans, particularly in Edmonton and, to a lesser extent, Las Vegas.

"I'd like to parlay this next fight into more extensive work in the States, specifically Las Vegas," he said. "I'd take a fight here for almost no money, just to get back in front of people. I'd like to showcase myself."

He's campaigning for a fight with Matlala, a similarly small man who's coming off a win over Carbajal. Matlala, 46-10-2, is a native of South Africa who is promoted by Cedric Kushner.

"That would be a very entertaining fight," Olson said. "I bring certain things to the table and so does he. I'd like to think someone like HBO would be interested in that fight."

With Arum no longer promoting him, Olson is a free agent of sorts. He's selling himself and his immediate target is Matlala, via Kushner.

"Anything you can do to help would be appreciated," Olson said, his appeal intact even if his support group has dwindled by two.

Around the ring

* ROAD WORK: Promising junior lightweight Diego Corrales of Las Vegas headlines a card Friday in his native Sacramento, as he'll put his 16-0 record up against veteran Isagani Puma. "There's a big risk with a guy like that," Corrales said of the 28-5 Puma. "He's fought a lot of guys. He has experience -- and he can punch." Corrales has been fighting regularly this year in California and Nevada, and he enjoys the steady work. "Staying busy is good for me," he said. "I'd like to fight a little bit more in Las Vegas because it's fun. In Sacramento, I get a little nervous because I lived there and I know everybody is looking at me." They'll be looking Friday and hoping he can dispose of Puma. "I think I'm ready for any kind of fight," Corrales said. "I'm up for the challenge. I'll try to catch an early rhythm, then lock in and do what needs to be done."

* PHILLIPS PLANS: IBF junior welterweight champion Vince Phillips, feted by his friends Saturday at a restaurant in North Las Vegas, said his schedule should fall into place and include fights with Freddie Pendleton, Kostya Tszyu and Ike Quartey. Pendleton, 42-21-4, is up first and is a mandatory defense; no specific date or site yet although the bout should come off in October. "He's the guy I'm focusing on right now," Phillips said. "All those losses on his record don't mean a thing. He's become a good fighter." Assuming he wins, the 37-3 Phillips would then be free to pursue rematches with Tszyu and Quartey. Phillips defeated Tszyu for the IBF 140-pound championship, while he lost to Quartey in an earlier title try at 147 pounds. "I'd fight Tszyu in his momma's kitchen," Phillips said of that fight possibly going to Australia. "As long as I dictate the fight, I'll come back with the title. I think he might be a little more timid of me than he was the first time, although I can't rule out the possibility he'll come out strong in the early rounds." Quartey is on Phillips' agenda even though all three of Phillips' losses came at weights other than 140. "I want that fight," Phillips said. "To beat Quartey would put an exclamation point on my career." Tszyu is 18-1-1, while Quartey is 34-0.

* NEW YORK CARD: Saturday at Madison Square Garden in New York, promoter Don King offers a pay-per-view card that includes four title fights. The main event, however, looks awful as Felix Trinidad, 31-0, is pitted against Troy Waters, 27-4. He's a late replacement for a card that once headlined Trinidad vs. Terry Norris, then headlined Trinidad vs. Laurent Boudouani. Another title fight has undergone some revision as WBA middleweight champ William Joppy, 24-0-1, has been recruited to replace WBO champ Lonnie Bradley and take on Julio Cesar Green, 21-2. Bradley is out with an eye injury. WBA featherweight champ Wilfredo Vazquez, 48-7-3, makes a defense against Roque Cassiani, 17-2-1, and the fourth title fight has WBC strawweight king Ricardo Lopez, 45-0, in a potentially difficult defense against Alexander Sanchez, 25-1. "There is nothing left for me at this weight," Lopez said this week in a conference call, promising once again to vacate the division and look for a viable opponent at 108 pounds. "I could go all the way to 112," he said. "I walk around at 115. I eat a lot between fights." This will be the 20th defense at 105 pounds for the 30-year-old Lopez. Sanchez, the WBO champion, won his first 24 fights before losing earlier this year to Edgar Cardenas. He rebounded from that loss with a decision win in Las Vegas in March over Jose Burgos.

* QUICK HITS: Saying he isn't physically ready, former IBF bantamweight champion Wayne McCullough of Las Vegas pulled out of a fight scheduled for Saturday in Atlantic City. Instead, he's looking to fight by the end of September. ... A bruised sternum has forced veteran Yory Boy Campas out of a potentially great fight with IBF junior middle champ Raul Marquez Sept. 13 in Las Vegas. That bout was to have been the primary undercard match on the Oscar De La Hoya vs. Hector Camacho card at the Thomas & Mack Center. Marquez may, instead, be rematched with Anthony Stephens, who he defeated earlier this year at the Tropicana. ... Longtime boxing coordinator (and former Nevada State Athletic Commission member) Johnny Mag is looking to catch on with a local hotel after leaving the Aladdin. ... The proposed Evander Holyfield vs. Michael Moorer heavyweight unification title fight is being shopped around with a Nov. 8 date, although no takers yet. ... Still no specific site as Top Rank tries to find a Las Vegas home for a Sept. 10 card that would headline WBC junior middle champ Terry Norris. ... Saturday on Fox TV from Atlantic City, it's Merqui Sosa, 30-5-2, and Ernest Mateen, 24-7-1, in the main event with the NABF light heavyweight title at stake. ... The next local card is Aug. 30 at The Orleans, with BAM Promotions offering heavyweights Jeremy Williams, 30-2, and Marcus Rhode, 19-5, in the main event. The semi-main pits middleweights Lupe Aquino, 52-9-2, and Anthony Brown, 13-5-1, for a minor title. Flyweights Miguel Martinez, 37-12-1, and Sammy Stewart, 15-9-2, are paired in a 10-round bout.

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