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For other persons named Barba, see Barba (disambiguation). Barba is a Surname and may refer to Antonella Barba (1986- US
Fidel LaBarba

Statistics
Real name Fidel La Barba
Rated at Flyweight
Nationality Flag of the United States American
Birth date September 29, 1905
Birth place New York City, New York
Death date October 2, 1981 (aged 76)
Death place Los Angeles, California
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights 94
Wins 70
Wins by KO 15
Losses 15
Draws 7
No contests 0
Olympic medal record
Men’s boxing
Gold 1924 Paris Flyweight

Fidel LaBarba (September 29, 1905 – October 3, 1981) was a United States boxer and sportswriter. Flyweight is a class in Boxing which includes fighters weighing less than 112 lb (51 kg but above 108 lb (49 kg The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Events 522 BC - Darius I of Persia kills the Magian usurper Gaumâta securing his hold as king of the Persian Empire. Year 1905 ( MCMV) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting The City of New York Events 1187 - Siege of Jerusalem: Saladin captures Jerusalem after 88 years of Crusader rule Year 1981 ( MCMLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. Boxing has been contested at every Summer Olympic Games since its introduction to the program at the 1904 Summer The 1924 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the VIII Olympiad, were an International Multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1924 in The men's flyweight event was part of the boxing programme at the 1924 Summer Olympics. Events 522 BC - Darius I of Persia kills the Magian usurper Gaumâta securing his hold as king of the Persian Empire. Year 1905 ( MCMV) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting Events 42 BC - First Battle of Philippi: Triumvirs Mark Antony and Octavian fight an indecisive battle with Caesar's Year 1981 ( MCMLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Boxing (sometimes also known as English boxing or pugilism) is a Combat sport in which two participants generally of similar weight, Sports journalism is a form of Journalism that reports on Sports topics and events While the sports department within some Newspapers has been He was born in New York City, but grew up in Los Angeles, California. The City of New York Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West As a boy he sold newspapers and learned to fight on street corners. LaBarba was discovered at age 14 by manager George Blake who embarked him on an amateur career. As an amateur he won the flyweight division at the national Amateur Athletic Union tournament in Boston and he qualified for the United States Olympic team. Flyweight is a class in Boxing which includes fighters weighing less than 112 lb (51 kg but above 108 lb (49 kg

Contents

Amateur Career

LaBarba began boxing around age 12 or 13 in little amateur cards held weekly at places such as the Elks Club, which were promoted by Carlo Curtiss, who had been one of World Heavyweight Champion Jess Willard's managers. Jess Willard ( December 29, 1881 in the town of St Clere Pottawatomie County, Kansas – December 15, 1968 in "Sometimes we would have nude women at these events," he said. The first known mention of “Young Fidel" is September 18, 1920, by the Los Angeles Times, announcing a boxing/wrestling show at the Italian picnic the next day at Selig Zoo. The Los Angeles Times (also known as the LA Times) is a daily Newspaper published in Los Angeles California and distributed The Selig Polyscope Company was an American Motion picture company founded in 1896 by William Selig in Chicago Illinois. Eventually, Central Junior High School boxing instructor Bob Howard saw his potential. According to an interview published January 28, 1927 in some United States newspapers, LaBarba mentioned that he defeated a boy named Dave Mariney (a. k. a. Marini) for the high school championship. Based upon this win, his friends suggested he join the amateurs, which he did. By this, he likely meant he joined the A. A. U. Fidel found it ironic that his first “official" amateur opponent was none other than Dave Mariney. This was at a semi-monthly boxing show sponsored by the Los Angeles Athletic Club (L. A. A. C). “It looked like a crime to match the two," reported the Los Angeles Times November 4, 1920. LaBarba was about four feet tall, and his opponent a foot and a half taller. “But LaBarba soon showed he knew how to take care of himself. "

George Blake reportedly was the referee at that fight. He and Charles Keppen ran these L. A. A. C. shows. Blake had come to Los Angeles from Chicago in 1904. He had been a United States Army boxing instructor during World War I. By the early 1920s, Blake was a well-known referee for boxing venues such as Jack Doyle's Vernon Arena, and would become the regular referee at the soon-to-be-built Hollywood Legion Stadium. He was much-respected and known as a man of impeccable character. Blake took an interest in the young and talented Fidel LaBarba, and asked Bob Howard to have him come down to the club. " I was asked four or five times, but was embarrassed to go," LaBarba explained. He owned only one pair of torn tennis shoes. He finally mustered the fortitude to go see Blake; thus started a very long relationship. LaBarba continued to have many amateur bouts. "We would receive a gift worth $35. 00," he noted. “Later, they would give us a gift certificate to buy clothes at places like the Broadway, or Sears. "

Meanwhile, LaBarba attended Central Jr. High School, and then Lincoln High School--both in Los Angeles. He enjoyed playing basketball, baseball, and especially football. He was the quarterback for the “lightweight" (midget) football team. While in high school, he sometimes worked nights until midnight, racking pins at a bowling alley, then sleeping on a cot in back of the building. In the morning he would grab a bite to eat at the local restaurant, then head off to school about a mile away.

By 1924, LaBarba had lost only one bout after some 30-plus recorded contests. George Blake took eight of his L. A. A. C. boxers to Boston June 1924 for the Olympic trials, and LaBarba qualified. LaBarba won the gold medal in the flyweight division at the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris. The 1924 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the VIII Olympiad, were an International Multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1924 in Paris (ˈpærɨs in English; in French) is the Capital of France and the country's largest city After the Games, Blake arranged an amateur card at Doyle’s Vernon Arena with all the American Olympic fighters, at which LaBarba finished out his amateur career.

Olympic Results

Pro Career

Although still in high school, LaBarba turned professional that same year.

On August 22, 1925, LaBarba defeated Frankie Genaro in a convincing 10 round decision to win the American Flyweight title. Events 392 - Arbogast has Eugenius elected Western Roman Emperor. Year 1925 ( MCMXXV) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Frank "Frankie" Genaro (née DiGennaro August 26, 1901 &ndash December 27, 1966) was a former Olympic gold medalist In 1927, he won the world flyweight championship from Elky Clark. Year 1927 ( MCMXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. La Barba dominated the fight, knocked Clark down five times and won all twelve rounds.

Seven months later, LaBarba retired to enter Stanford University. Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly known as Stanford University or simply Stanford, is a private Research university located in Less than a year later, however, he returned to the ring as a featherweight. Featherweight is a weight class division in the sport of Boxing and Wrestling (Greco-Roman He won his first five fights, and in 1931 split two decisions with Kid Chocolate. Eligio Sardiñas Montalvo ( January 6, 1910 &ndash August 8, 1988) better known as Kid Chocolate, was a Cuban On May 22, 1931, he was given an opportunity to win the world featherweight title, but was out pointed by Battling Battalino. Events 334 BC - The Greek army of Alexander the Great defeats Darius III of Persia in the Battle of the Granicus. Year 1931 ( MCMXXXI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1931 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Christopher Battaglia, an Italian-American better known as Battling Battalino, ( February 18, 1908 &ndash July 25, 1977) was the

LaBarba’s career was prematurely curtailed when he suffered a detached retina in training for a fight against Kid Chocolate for the New York featherweight title. On December 9, 1932, LaBarba not only lost the fight in a close decision, but went blind in his eye. Events 536 - Byzantine General Belisarius enters Rome while the Ostrogothic garrison peacefully leaves the city Year 1932 ( MCMXXXII) was a Leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. After the fight, he underwent surgery to repair the tear, but it was unsuccessful and he eventually had to have the eye removed.

Later life

In 1933, he was forced to retire, and returned to Stanford, where he earned a degree in journalism. After graduating from Stanford he worked as a sportswriter, and later worked in public relations, as a screenwriter, and as a technical advisor in Hollywood for boxing movies.

Fidel LaBarba died in Los Angeles, California, in 1981. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1996. The modern International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF is located in Canastota, New York, United States, within driving distance from the Baseball Hall

External links


BoxReccom is a website dedicated to keep updated records of professional boxers, both male and female.
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