The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-05-23
TALKING
IT OVER
BY JOE WILLIAMS

NEW YORK, May 23.-There was
quite a bit OF cheering when the
featherweight championship be-
tween Bat Battalino and Fidel La
Barba ended after fifteen rounds in
the garden Friday night =. but it
was hard to tell right of what the
cheering was about.
Personally. I suspected It was because
The thing was over and the customers
didn't have TO look at the two young men
any longer. Certainly It was one OF the
worlds worst fights.
didn't agree with the unanimous de-
eision which enabled the long faced Italian
from Hartford. Conn. to retain his cham
pionship. thought the Californian had
q clear edge in what little fists throwing
vas attempted. But with respect 70 this.
! desire to echo Mr.. Benny Leonsrd's
sentiments. THE thing was so awful !
want to forget about It, pleaded Mr.
Leonard.
Mattalino fought his usual fight. Which
&c 70 say he was in there mugging. and
scovling and stumbling around in his
awkward way trying earnestly to inter
pref the fundamentals Of a simple science
which continues to remain total blank
70 him. he fought the kind Of tight ex-
pected Of him and showed no III enecIs
OF the weight reducing ordeal which peeled
him down from 134 pounds to l2e.
La Barba was the disappointment. Gen
orally there is class and tone and brisk
ness in his work. But Friday night these
qualities were missing. He fought on the
defensive throughout. and this made him
look bad To the customers and the judges.
Ana vet this was the smart thing TO do.
Battalino had 1t on him in height. reach
and weight. Also. he was much stronger.
Had La Barba tried to mix it with the
nrtnegger he probably would have been
blasted out Of the ring. Battalino Is
plenty tough I imagine he reaches the
highest form Of his artistry in boisterous
free for alls.
DATTALNO carried the fight to
ID La Barba from the opening
gong to the last. But he did very
little hitting. don't agree with the
school of exporting which stresses
aggressiveness unaccompanied by
effective hitting.
AS saw the fight. Battalino vas lead
ing with his chin most Of the time. am
sure the records will show that very few
fighters have scored knockouts leading
with the chin.
While La BarbE was on the bicycle
great part Of the inght-still at intervals
ne did pause long cough to get of and
rush I'D to Mr. Battslino and poke him
audaciously in the ribs with long
swinging left hook.
AS matter OF fact. thought he landed
enough of these left hooks to win the
Fight and besides there we're other times
when the young man POSITIVELY threw cat
ton to the wind and stood still long
enough 10 dab the large. expansive Bat
talno snout with dainty left tabs.
I do not claim that either La Barba's
hooks or jabs meant a great deal. as ring
violence is measured. but 1t seemed to me
that these were the only blows in the fight
that we're going home. BattalIno Is not
an easy man to fight. He employs a very
scrambled and cluttered technique. At one
moment he will be giving an impersonation
of the four. Hawaiians. and the next he
will be burlesqueng Amos m Andy.
La Barba at least fought shrewd fight
against him. and for my part I thought
he did well enough. although could have
gotten along Just as we'll without all that
clinching.