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 qualifie...
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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.
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. "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...
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