Fidel La Barba
Encyclopedia
Fidel LaBarba was a United States
boxer
and sportswriter. He was born in New York City
, but grew up in Los Angeles, California
. 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.
's managers. "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. 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
. 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.
On August 22, 1925, LaBarba defeated Frankie Genaro
in a convincing 10 round decision to win the American Flyweight title. In 1927, he won the world flyweight championship from Elky Clark. La Barba dominated the fight, knocked Clark down five times and won all twelve rounds.
Seven months later, LaBarba retired to enter Stanford University
. Less than a year later, however, he returned to the ring as a featherweight
. He won his first five fights, and in 1931 split two decisions with Kid Chocolate
. On May 22, 1931, he was given an opportunity to win the world featherweight title, but was out pointed by Battling Battalino
.
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. After the fight, he underwent surgery to repair the tear, but it was unsuccessful and he eventually had to have the eye removed.
Fidel LaBarba died in Los Angeles, California, in 1981. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame
in 1996.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
boxer
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
and sportswriter. He was born in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, but grew up in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. 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
Flyweight
Flyweight is a class in boxing which includes fighters weighing less than 112 lb but above 108 lb .-Professional boxing:...
division at the national Amateur Athletic Union tournament in Boston and he qualified for the United States Olympic team.
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 WillardJess Willard
Jess Willard was a world heavyweight boxing champion. He won the heavyweight title from Jack Johnson in April 1915 and lost it to Jack Dempsey in July 1919....
's managers. "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
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
, announcing a boxing/wrestling show at the Italian picnic the next day at Selig Zoo. 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
1924 Summer Olympics
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, France...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. 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
- Jul 15, 1924 E. Warwick (England) @ Velodrome d'HiverVélodrome d'hiverThe Vélodrome d'Hiver , colloquially Vel' d'Hiv, was an indoor bicycle racing cycle track and stadium on rue Nélaton, not far from the Eiffel Tower in Paris. As well as track cycling, it was used for ice hockey, wrestling, boxing, roller-skating, circuses, spectaculars, and demonstrations...
, Paris, France W-3 (First Round) - Jul 16, 1924 Gaetano LanziGaetano LanziGaetano Lanzi was an Italian boxer who competed in the 1924 Summer Olympics.In 1924 he was eliminated in the second round of the flyweight class after losing his fight to the upcoming gold medalist Fidel LaBarba....
(Italy) @ Velodrome d’Hiver, Paris, France TKO-2 (Second Round) - Jul 18, 1924 Rennis/Rennie (Canada) @ Velodrome d’Hiver, Paris, France W-3 (Quarter-Final Round)
- Jul 19?, 1924 Rinaldo CastellenghiRinaldo CastellenghiRinaldo Castellenghi is an Italian boxer who competed in the 1924 Summer Olympics.In 1924 he finished fourth in the flyweight class. He lost in the semi-finals to the upcoming gold medalist Fidel LaBarba and was not able to compete in the bronze medal bout with Raymond Fee.-External links:*...
@ Velodrome d’Hiver, Paris, France W-3 (Semi-Final Round) - Jul 20, 1924 James McKenzieJames McKenzie (boxer)James McKenzie was a British boxer who competed in the 1924 Summer Olympics.He won the silver medal in the flyweight.-External links:*...
(G.B.) @ Velodrome d’Hiver, Paris, France W-3 (Final)
Pro career
Although still in high school, LaBarba turned professional that same year.On August 22, 1925, LaBarba defeated Frankie Genaro
Frankie Genaro
Frank "Frankie" Genaro was a former Olympic gold medalist and boxing world flyweight champion...
in a convincing 10 round decision to win the American Flyweight title. In 1927, he won the world flyweight championship from Elky Clark. La Barba dominated the fight, knocked Clark down five times and won all twelve rounds.
Seven months later, LaBarba retired to enter Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
. Less than a year later, however, he returned to the ring as a featherweight
Featherweight
Featherweight is a weight class division in the sport of boxing. There are similarly named divisions under several Mixed Martial Arts organizations and in Greco-Roman wrestling.-Professional boxing:...
. He won his first five fights, and in 1931 split two decisions with Kid Chocolate
Kid Chocolate
For the boxer of the same nickname see Peter Quillin.Eligio Sardiñas Montalvo , better known as Kid Chocolate, was a Cuban boxer who enjoyed wild success both in the boxing ring and in society life during a span of the 1930s.-Biography:Eligio Montaldo, also nicknamed The Cuban Bon Bon, learned how...
. On May 22, 1931, he was given an opportunity to win the world featherweight title, but was out pointed by Battling Battalino
Battling Battalino
Christopher Battaglia better known as Battling Battalino, was an American former world featherweight boxing champion...
.
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. 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
International Boxing Hall of Fame
The modern International Boxing Hall of Fame is located in Canastota, New York, United States, within driving distance from the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown and the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta...
in 1996.