Harris was trained by Joe Savoldi after meeting him at matches at the Naval Armory. Savoldi originally named Harris, BuBu Brasil, "The South American Giant," but a promoter misprinted his first name as "Bobo" in an advertisement, and the name stuck with Harris throughout the entirety of his career. During the time, segregation in the South normally limited African-American wrestlers to only wrestling other African-American wrestlers. However, Harris proved so popular that promoters put aside their prejudices in order to make money.