Mark Anthony Barriga off to LA for title bid

MANILA, Philippines — There’s no looking back for Mark Anthony Barriga as the chance of a lifetime to win a world title is just around the corner. Barriga faces Mexico’s Carlos Licona for the vacant IBF minimumweight crown at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Dec. 1 and he’s confident of bringing home the belt.

Barriga leaves Manila for Los Angeles today with trainer Joven Jimenez and stablemate IBF superflyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas. He’s ready to do what it takes to ascend the throne but the London Olympian knows the undefeated Licona is a tough customer. The scheduled 12-round bout is in the undercard of the main event featuring WBC heavyweight titlist Deontay Wilder against Tyson Fury in a clash of undefeated titans.

Barriga, 25, said he’s armed and fully loaded for Licona. Jimenez said expert nutritionist Jeaneth Aro took care of Barriga’s diet with the goal of keeping his body strong and hydrated while staying on track to make the 105-pound limit. “Handang handa na si Mark,” said Jimenez. “Nasa 108 to 110 ang timbang niya. Ayaw pa namin kunin yung 105 kasi too early. May programa kaming sinusunod sa nutrition na ginawa ni Jeaneth.”

Barriga said he hasn’t watched Licona fight on tape or wherever. “’Di ko alam anong style ni Licona,” he said. “’Di ko pinapanood. ‘Di ako nanonood ng laro ng kalaban.” What matters to Barriga is his own style, that he fights his fight, not his opponent’s. It’s Jimenez’ concern to scout Licona for Barriga.

“Fighter si Licona,” said Jimenez. “Ang style niya parang si (Felix) Alvarado, yung tumalo kay (Randy) Petalcorin kailan lang. Wala lang masyadong power si Licona. Hindi siya kagaya ng mga Mexican champions like (Juan Manuel) Marquez, (Marco Antonio) Barrera o (Erik) Morales na mayroon pampatulog. Pero palaban siya at hindi madaling kalaban. Confident ako na hindi kayang pantayan ni Licona ang skill level ni Mark.”

Barriga, known as the Filipino Floyd Mayweather, Jr. because of his boxing skills and defensive ability, said he won’t waste this rare opportunity to go for the title. The fight was postponed at least twice because Licona’s handlers, Mikey and Robert Garcia, insisted on staging it in the US when the initial plan was for Manila to host.  “Sana makuha natin ang championship,” said Barriga. “Handa ako anytime kahit ilang beses na postpone yung laban. Ayaw ko pangunahan ng panahon. I always pray to God na sana ibigay Niya sa akin ito. Pero kung anong mangyari sa laban, win or lose, nagpapasalamat ako sa itaas at sa lahat ng tao na sumubaybay at sumuporta sa akin.”

Neither fighter has one-punch knockout power. Licona, 23, has scored only two knockouts in compiling a record of 13-0 with three wins in the US, one in Puerto Rico and the rest in Mexico. Barriga’s record is 9-0 with 1 KO and he has seen action once outside of the Philippines, in Beijing last year.

Licona, two inches taller than Barriga at 5-4, has fought only one 10-rounder and is making his debut in a 12-round bout. Last June, he survived a cut over the right eye to pound out a split eight-round decision over Jose Armenta in Cancun. Barriga, in contrast, has gone the distance in three tenners and one 12-rounder. Last May, he earned the ticket to vie for the vacant IBF title by defeating Colombia’s Gabriel Mendoza on a unanimous 12-round verdict at the SM North City Skydome. 

Barriga is ranked No. 1 by the IBF while Licona is No. 3. The IBF’s No. 2 slot is vacant. They were chosen to dispute the throne vacated by Japan’s Hiroto Kyoguchi who has moved up to the lightflyweight division. Kyoguchi will face WBA 108-pound champion Hekkie Budler of South Africa in a title bout in Macau on Dec. 31.