New Britain herald., 1928-11-17
BY HENRY l.. FARRELL NEA Service sports Writer

Nl-H SeFtNe NiHfts NGittf It is interesting, as a coincidence if nothing else. to observe that two of the young men who seem to be only one step removed from a ring championship. are two Olympic champions of 1924.
 Fidel La Barba, former flyweight professional championship and the next worlds bantamWeight cham pion if the figures are not all wrong, N on the Olympic flyweight championship four years ago and one of his team mates. Jackie Fields. won the feath- erweight crown in Paris.
 It is interesting, as a mere mention at least, that the list of champions crowned in that memorable tourna- ment in Paris included otto Van Porat, of Norway. who won the heavyweight title.
 Non Porat, it so happens, was very much in the professional heavy Weight mention until recently when he lost q ten-round decision to Pau limo in New York. But while he lost the decision he didn't remove him self entirely as a possibility in a class that isn't filled with distinguished artists.
 Little Fiddle" as La Barba was known in Paris, returned from the Olympic games and proceeded al most at once into the professional tiywcight championship.
 In announcing that he had decided to become a professional. La Barba did not allow anyone to misunder- stand his motives. He made it quite clear that he was going to fight un- til he acquired enough of a stake to finance a course through college and set himself up in business and that when he had acquired his stake he was going to quit.
 He did retire as the flywcight champion. He entered Stanford Uni versity and got himself married. And then he decided 10 return to the ring and seek the bantamweight cham pionship.
 It may be that the stake he had set aside did not prove 10 be of pro per dimensions for the young head of a household. but regardless of the reason, he is back in the business and it may not be long until he will be a two-time champion such as lit tie Johnny Buff became a number of years ago.
 La Barba already has one decisive decision over Bushy Graham, the recognized champion. but the title didn't go with his victory. They are matched again and La Barba cer- tainly ought to cop officially.
 In having match at hand against the champion, La Barba is much more fortunate than his 1924 olym- pic buddy.Nyouug Fields. Jackie has done more to prove himself the real champion Of the welterWelght class than LaBarba has done in the fly weight division, but Joe Dundee may have 10 bc led by d forty mule team into the ring with any worthwhile opponent
 The writer was rather strong for Dundee until he ran ont of recent match with Jack Thompson and if Dundee had any reason to fear Thompson he has every reason 10 be just scared to death of Fields.
 Fields gave Thompson a terrific lacinG after Thompson had knocked out Dundcc in Chicago. But il must be said 10 the credit of Thompson that he went through with the match If Dundee can duck matches, Thompson could have run out on Fields when he must have known that Fields would goal him.
 After messing up Thompson. Fields made his position as the ranking challenger impregnablc by knocking out S@mmy haktr. tEe pei ot the New York boxing commission
 Fields has been coming on at a terrific pace since he discovered the lutllitv of trying 10 make weight for f'athcGWcIGh!s and lishtNcighs and he is perhaps, th" outstanding fight er of the day.