Chop the cherries.
Add the cherries, 1/4 cup of the sugar and the lemon juice to a small heavy bottomed pan and heat over medium heat until it boils. Reduce to a simmer and let cook for about 10 minutes until it is like a thick jam. Set aside and let cool
Alternately you can use 2/3rds a cup of cherry jam. Just be sure to reduce the sugar you use in the cake by 1/4 cup
Butter and flour a 10 cup bundt pan
Preheat oven to 350°
In a medium bowl whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
In a stand mixer with the paddle attached cream together the butter and the remaining 2 1/4 cups of sugar until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes.
Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
Beat in the vanilla
With the mixer on low add in the flour in fourths alternating with the sour cream in thirds, beginning and ending with the flour.
Remove 1 1/2 cups of the batter to a small bowl. Gently fold in the cherry jam mixture and the almond extract.
To the remaining batter, gently fold in the chopped chocolate.
Add the two batters to the prepared bundt pan by placing two dollops of the chocolate mixed batter to one dollop of the cherry mixed batter. Keep alternating the batters until all has been added to the pan.
Use a butter knife to swirl the batters being careful to not overmix them.
Give the pan a couple of good taps to release any air bubbles and then smooth top with an offset spatula.
Bake in the preheated oven for 50 - 60 minutes until a cake tester comes out clean.
Let the cake cool in the pan for 15 minutes and then unmold it onto a wire rack to cool completely.