TONY LaBARBARA
LIGHTWEIGHT
Born October 4, 1937

When I first met Tony LaBarbara I was amazed by the excellent physical condition he is in. LaBarbara fought professionally until he was in his early 30's. He was still participating in neighborhood boxing exhibitions when he was 50. Tony is still a regular at the gym. Until he began to experience knee problems, Tony LaBarbara was one of the top handball players in the city of Buffalo. He now devotes a great deal of his free time to fishing.

LaBarbara is a very positive, confident, enthusiastic and successful gentleman. LaBarbara feels that a very successful boxing career gave him the confidence that made him successful in his City of Buffalo job and succeeding jobs as a restaurant manager, health club manager and the owner of a very successful used car sales business. His mother's strong religious faith brought him back to the church and helped him deal with some of his personal problems.

It was his father as well as Johnny Sacco that encouraged LaBarbara to begin his boxing career. Tony began training at Singer's Gym under the watchful eye of Frank Alberta. La Barbara's amateur career stretched out over a three-year period and included 18 fights, most of which he won. In his first fight La Barbara KO'd Oscar Monterro in 24 seconds.

La Barbara turned pro in 1959 with Cosmo Militello as his manager. Later in the year Tony switched managers and was signed to a two year contract by Art Raiseen and Phil Gliosca. Tony proceeded to win fourteen consecutive fights over the next three years. On March 15, 1960 La Barbara won a six-round decision over Ray MacNeil. The fight was part of an excellent card at Memorial Auditorium that featured Tony Dupas and Jose Tones in the main event.

On May 3, 1960 LaBarbara won a six-round decision over Carmen Scialabba. Although victorious in the fight Tony suffered a broken jaw and did not fight for 6 months. On April 3, 1961 LaBarbara had an excellent fight with Estella Cruz. It was a six-round fight that was full of action. La Barbara was victorious in a fight that the Buffalo Evening News described as "blistering."

LaBarbara's first ten-rounder and first big fight was against the veteran Ike Chestnut on April 2, 1962 at Memorial Auditorium. It was expected that the winner would receive a fight with Junior Lightweight champion Flash Elorde. The fight ended in a draw and neither fighter received that fight with Elorde. In addition Chestnut never gave LaBarbara a rematch.

After a six-month layoff, LaBarbara resumed his career in N.Y.C. in February of 1963. With the move to New York City LaBarbara's career was taken over by N.Y.C. manager Nunzio DeLucia and Buffalo trainer Tony Pinto. The move had the complete backing of former manager Phil Gliosca. After defeating Pablo Acevedo and Tony Tozzo, La Barbara fought three fights with Angelo Soto, losing on March 23, fighting a draw on May 18, and winning an eight rounder on August 3.

LaBarbara's next fight would be his biggest fight since the Ike Chestnut fight. On January 3, 1964 Tony would fight Frankie Narvaez in Madison Square Garden, the winner to fight Flash Elorde for the Junior Lightweight crown. Unfortunately Tony lost the fight on a TKO in the 5th round. On a more positive note La Barbara made $3,000, the biggest payday of his career. This was a far cry from the $150 check that he received for his first fight in Welland, Ontario. The check actually bounced.

With a growing family and a good civil service job with the city of Buffalo, Tony decided to retire from the ring. He remained close to boxing by training Tony Ventura as well as operating a health club.

After a four-year layoff, LaBarbara returned to the ring in April of 1968. Over the next 2 years La Barbara had five fights, winning 4 and fighting a six-round draw with Tom Kristian. Tony concluded his career on September 16, with an 8 round decision over Willie Williams at Memorial Auditorium. Although both the Buffalo Evening News and the Buffalo Courier Express carried a series of articles concerning a possible Vince Cala - Tony LaBarbara fight, the fight never materialized. It would have rivaled the Jackie Donnelly - Bobby Scanlon fight of 1960. Unfortunately boxing promoter Don Elbaum was unable to fiancially bring the two fighters together. The fight was never held and La Barbara's boxing career came to an end. LaBarbara concluded his career with a record of 22 wins, 2 losses and 2 draws.

Boxing has been very good to Tony, and has also been good to boxing and his fellow local boxers. Tonight Ring#44 is honored to induct Tony LaBarbara into the Buffalo Boxing Hall-of-Fame.