TASHKENT, Uzbekistan --Pinayanig ni light flyweight Mark Anthony Barriga ang Sydney Jackson Memorial Tournament dito matapos na silatin ang hometown bet na si Shahobidin Zoirov, 4-1 upang ibulsa ang gold medal.
Ginamit ng 17-anyos na si Barriga ng Davao del Norte ang kanyang lakas at liksi para talunin si Zoirov.
“Mark utterly frustrated him and forced him to commit mistakes,” sabi ni Ed Picson, ang Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP) Executive Director.
Nakuntento naman sa silver medal si dating Asian Games gold medalist Joan Tipon matapos ang 2-3 kabiguan kay Shohruh Hujabekov ng Uzbekistan.
Kinuha ng 29-anyos na si Tipon, ng Bacolod City ang 2-0 abante sa first round bago tumukod sa sumunod na dalawang rounds na sinamantala ng Uzbek fighter.
“We’re happy with their performance,” ani Picson. “We know now where we need to step up and make adjustments. That’s the important thing. The medals are bonuses.”