BOXING

Hokitika Guardian, 24 May 1929, Page 6

BOXING

CtiOOdLATK V. LA UALILV

United Press, Association -Bv Electri ! I olograph-- Copy"'ghtl

NEW YORK,' May 22'

Jn their boxing contest Chocolate, of Cuba, (121 lbs) gained the decision over Fidel la Barba (California) 1201 lbs, in a close light, it is believed that if both men had made HBlhs, the Boxing Commission might designate the winner as the bantam champion, as that class is now lcadorless. In the first round, after preliminary clinching. La. Barba drove the. Cuban to the ropes and lie "'as a little ahead in a rapid exchange ol blows. X '

In the second, round,Chocolate drove a I usilade. of rights, and lefts to, the head, without return, but the, American then drove the Cuban to the ropes .with a particularly hard left to thejicfid. , In the third round. Chocolate made La Barba give, ground, hut the Amorcan -then./.landed a heavy left which put Cl.iocola.ro.(on >to his heels. Tn the... fourth., round, . Chocolate shook t-he. Californian with rights and lefts, the referee warning the latter to keep his punches higher. The fifth round was about even.

The sixth round proved a furious tussle, particularly at the end. in close quarters, when La Barba had the Cuban retreating for a time. Then Chocolate nearly floored his opponent with a hard right to the face Tn the seventh. La Barba was in distress, but the Cuban was too slow in following no, the advantage. Till the, 'eighth. ,C : hocolnte.,showed n clear superiority. throughout the round. ;-. Tn the ninth. Chocolate started a wild, attack that distressed the American, and' in the tenth-. Chocolate continued the attack, hut at. the end of the round the American forced the fighting in a. sensational wav. The decision for Chocolate was an unpopular one. Tho crowd booed Chocolate. •. Tt is disclosed that the decision was not a unanimous one the referee and one of the judges choosing Chocolate and the second judge picking La Barba.