Barriga foils Chinese for RP's 1st win

MANILA, Philippines - Lightflyweight contender Mark Anthony Barriga of Panabo, Davao del Norte, pounded out an upset 7-3 decision over China’s Zhang Liang to score the Philippines’ first win in three bouts at the 16th World Youth Amateur Boxing Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan, last Monday.

Barriga, 17, moves on to battle Thailand’s Tanes Ongjunta in another preliminary outing today. Ongjunta defeated Mohamed Bin Hamid, one of only two Singapore bets in the tournament, to arrange the showdown with Barriga.

Two of five Filipinos are now out of contention. Last Sunday, featherweight Nathaniel Montealto of Puerto Princesa lost a 7-2 verdict to Nigeria’s Tosin Kazeem Oliwo. And last Monday, bantamweight Ricky Dulay of Calbayog City, Samar, was trounced, 16-4, by Patrik Velky of the Czech Republic. Barriga and two other Filipinos are in the ring calendar today. Lightweight Michael Delorino of Catarman, Northern Samar, drew a bye in the opening preliminaries and faces the winner of the bout between Egypt’s Walid Mohamed Sedik and Mauritius’ Jonathan Agathe while flyweight Jenno Cabugngan of Tagbilaran City, Bohol, takes on Korea’s Hong Min. Cabugngan also drew a bye in the openers.

Philippine team coach Elmer Pamisa said he’s counting on Barriga and Cabugngan to qualify for a ticket to the Youth Olympics in Singapore on Aug. 14-26. Only the 44 medalists in 11 weight divisions from the Baku meet will earn slots for the Youth Olympics.

Pamisa said Barriga fights just like Olympic silver medalist Onyok Velasco but is headier. “Their styles are similar only Onyok is stronger but Barriga is smarter,” noted Pamisa who is in Baku with another coach Sonny Dollente. “Barriga doesn’t get nervous, no matter whom he fights. I think he has a long career ahead and I can see him give fighters a lot of trouble. Even our seniors in the national pool find it difficult to outbox Barriga.”

Pamisa said he also has high hopes for Cabugngan who’s a hard hitter. “What’s important now in amateur boxing is to win, you’ve got to have power,” continued Pamisa. “That’s why I think Cabugngan has a chance in Baku because he hits hard.”

As for Dulay, Pamisa said despite his power, the kid from Calbayog was no match for Velky.

“We didn’t expect Dulay to lose because he’s one of our strongest punchers,” said Pamisa. “But Velky was too quick and he moves like a veteran. Dulay showed his inexperience. He couldn’t land consistently.”

Barriga, Cabugngan and Delorino are a win away from barging into the quarterfinals which begin Friday. The semifinals are set on Sunday and the finals on Monday. It will take five wins to capture the gold in the lightflyweight, flyweight and lightweight divisions where the Philippines’ chances are still alive.

ABAP executive director Ed Picson described Barriga as the most talented and most cunning in the team.

“Mark’s diminutive,” said Picson who flew to Baku for the delegation managers’ meeting last Sunday and returned to Manila yesterday to arrange the five-day coaching workshop with USA Boxing high performance director Patrick Borkowski in Baguio on May 4-8. “Jenno is the veteran who’s been in the pool almost two years and we’ve moved him down from 54 to 51 to give him a better chance with his height. We’ve got a talented and spirited team with a fighting chance. If it comes down to talent, skill and will to win, then we stand a good chance of qualifying. Undoubtedly, the road is tough with only 44 gaining the opportunity to compete in the Youth Olympics. Our boys are anxious to be included in the list.”