Career
In 1916, Olin captured a claim to the World Heavyweight championship after a controversial bout with Joe Stecher in Springfield, Massachusetts. On December 12, 1916, In one of the great forgotten matches and upsets in wrestling history, he defeated Stecher. After 2 hrs and 40 minister, both wrestlers ended up outside the ring brawling.
Olin wanted to continue but Stecher declined to return to the ring.
Olin was awarded the bout by the referee. Stecher injured his shoulder during the match and was out of the ring for over 1½ months.
In newspaper reports no mention of the title is made. Why the public continued to support Stecher is unclear.
As Stecher didn"t consider himself defeated, the idea of Olin as champ had much going against lieutenant
This claim to the title, called the Olin Lincolnshire by historians, did continue. Olin lost his claim "world title" to Editor "Strangler" Lewis in Chicago on May 2, 1917. After 2 hours and 37 minutes, John Olin concedes match due to a shoulder injury.
Referee was Frank Gotch and he praised Lewis as the best.
The Strangler would not be as mild manner as Olin, and actively claimed the title. Olin resided in Worcester, Massachusetts during his stay in the United States, and wrestled as a professional for several years.
He died in Ingå, Finland.