Fill me in on LaBarba fighting McLarnin SO EARLY

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by MrOliverKlozoff, Mar 27, 2011.


  1. MrOliverKlozoff

    MrOliverKlozoff The guy in shades Full Member

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    Was there a call for this fight? Was McLarnin himself a name fighter by then? Did LaBarba take this on from the confidence of his gold medalist amateur background? What was the context? Any footage of these fights out there? Do you particularly rate these victories for McLarnin or was it too early for LaBarba?

    How is it viewed on his resume and how good is LaBarba's draw with him on his own resume, considering the timing? I don't know anything about these match-ups beyond boxrec's mentioning them. I'm very curious. Thanks for any input. This really sticks out as a curious trilogy.
     
    MrOliverKlozoff, Mar 27, 2011
    MrOliverKlozoff, Mar 27, 2011
    #1
  2. El Bujia

    El Bujia Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Me and McGrain had an extensive debate on this very topic. It was eventually agreed that these wins were the defining point of McLarnin's career.
     
    El Bujia, Mar 27, 2011
    El Bujia, Mar 27, 2011
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  3. MrOliverKlozoff

    MrOliverKlozoff The guy in shades Full Member

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    ...I'm learning toward sarcasm, but if you're serious, could you link me to your discussion, if public?
     
    MrOliverKlozoff, Mar 27, 2011
    MrOliverKlozoff, Mar 27, 2011
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  4. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    :lol::lol:

    McLarnin was very young but was the more experience pro. He'd had his own "smoker" am background which was a far better grounding. Both were teenagers. Locally, there was excitement concerning the fights. LaBabs seems to have been a slight favourite for 1.
     
    McGrain, Mar 27, 2011
    McGrain, Mar 27, 2011
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  5. El Bujia

    El Bujia Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Nah, I'm not searching through all that **** to find it, but you have a keen eye for sarcasm. Anyways, I believe the wins are notable for that stage of each fighter's careers, but not among McLarnin's most telling overall. LaBarba was proven to be a swell fighter very early on in his career, likely due to that accomplished amateur pedigree. Even as a youngster he was holding his own with the majority of the top Flyweights around at the time, and while he had fewer fights in the pro game, it was McLarnin who was actually the younger and probably greener of the two in their meetings.
     
    El Bujia, Mar 27, 2011
    El Bujia, Mar 27, 2011
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  6. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    In the name of peace in our time, I'll say I think they identify McLarnin as a very special prospect, along with some of the other more impressive wins from that time in his career. Nice indicators and it's nice to have them via a name opponent, but they should remain a boxrec footnote in terms of overall importance.

    Not that more information on the fights themselves wouldn't be very welcome.
     
    McGrain, Mar 27, 2011
    McGrain, Mar 27, 2011
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  7. El Bujia

    El Bujia Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Have you read the report on LaBarba's fight with Newsboy Brown just a few months after his series with McLarnin, McGrain? It's a nice read. Apparently both guys were pretty highly touted youngsters at the time.
     
    El Bujia, Mar 27, 2011
    El Bujia, Mar 27, 2011
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  8. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Yeah, i've seen that one.

    My read, partly arbitrary, is that McLarnin finished Lababs education, not the other way around. I think that series saw him sharpen his am tools right up.

    In my heart, I believe Jimmy was the serious man in those fights, even though he was just a boy.
     
    McGrain, Mar 27, 2011
    McGrain, Mar 27, 2011
    #8