Barriga hammers Uzbek; two boxers take early exit

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan – This ancient city provided the setting for mixed results for the members of the PLDT-ABAP national boxing training pool who are participating in the annual Sydney Jackson Memorial Tournament.

First timer Dennis Galvan put up a courageous front but lost 7-1 to the more experienced Zakaryan Armyu of Russia last Sunday. Delfin Boholst followed suit in a slam-bang affair that saw him get the shorter end of the stick, 5-2, against Kazakh Svaev Rustam.

Monday started off on a bright note for the Philippine campaign in the tournament named in honor of the American who introduced boxing in Uzbekistan some 90 plus years ago. The diminutive Mark Anthony Barriga waylaid Uzbek Ismatullaev Mansurjon, 4-2, to barge into the quarterfinals of the 48 Kg class.

He followed this up with a mesmerizing performance the following day against tough Ulugbek Djuraev who started out trying to intimidate the deceptively smaller Davaoeño.

He paid dearly for it as Barriga displayed slippery moves in evading the attack of the bet from the host country.

Crisp counter-punches combined with the difference in size prompted the crowd to liken him to the world-renowned Manny Pacquiao whose name could be heard being chanted in this unlikely, far-off place.

On his heels was Baguio native Crisanto Godaren who outfought Kashegulov Nursultan with a similar 4-2 finish Monday.

However, the last-minute substitute for Gerson Nietes, who was injured a week before departure, could not sustain the momentum and ended his campaign here in what started off as a close fight, but which ended in a win for Sherov Mirbek, the reigning 52 Kg national champion of Kyrgyzstan, 7-4.

On the comeback trail, 2006 Asian Games gold medalist Joan Tipon shook off the rust of more than a year’s absence with the first of two wins so far, outclassing Russian Solimov Robert, 6-1, and then following it up a masterful quarterfinals win against Sharipov Asil of Uzbekistan, 1-0.

Barriga and Tipon face separate opponents next in a bid to crash into the final round Thursday. Coaches Pat Gaspi and Boy Velasco and ABAP executive director Ed Picson expressed optimism the Accel-backed squad is on the right track.