LABARBA, FIDEL ORIGINAL WIRE PHOTO (DOING ROADWORK AT POMPTON LAKES)

Fidel LaBarba (September 29, 1905 – October 3, 1981) 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. 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. 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. 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. Offered here is an original wire photograph of Fidel LaBarba doing roadwork at his Pompton Lakes, New Jersey training camp.
This is an original wire photo. No caption. Bold, clear image. Minor crease in lower right corner. Clean front and back. Minor edge and corner wear. 7 5/8" x 9 7/8."