DID NOT AGREE WITH JOE

NZ Truth, Issue 1211, 14 February 1929, Page 10

DID NOT AGREE WITH JOE

Most of The Crowd Thought That Smith Beat La Barha (By Cable From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Sydney Eepresentative.) An ex-world's champion and a near world's champion met on Saturday night and when- Joe Wallace gave his decision after an exhilarating battle he came m for abuse.

WILD scenes followed the referee's points decision m favor. of Fidel La Barba over Willie Smith, the South African. ■■' Eleven thousand fans paid just on two thousand pounds to see the battle. The majority favored Smith, and at the finish howled dissatisfaction at the verdict. - The fight was a magnificent spectacle, both men displaying true championship form. La Barba forced the fight throughout, with Smith backing away. The latter shone m the clinches, showing superb skill m this branch of the game. ,

j In the sixth round, Smith was down for nine from a straight left, but he was all right at five. In the fourteenth Smith touched the canvas twice for a split second, no count being put on him. The American gave a great exhibition of the use of a straight left and left hooks, but hardly used the right, thus weakening his attack. After the fight Smith was carried shoulder high by admirers and La Barba hooted. The verdict should have been a draw. A return bout is .almost certain. : La Barba's reported match with Billy Grime at Melbourne shortly is unlikely to eventuate.