Barriga 105, Mendoza 104 for IBF Min Flyweight Eliminator Sunday May 13 @ SM Skydome, Metro Manila (PHOTOS)
By Carlos Costa
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 12 May 2018
MANILA, Philippines -- Filipino Mark Anthony Barriga (8-0, 1 KO) scaled at 105 lbs while his more experienced opponent Gabriel Mendoza of Colombia made 104 lbs ahead of their 12-rounder IBF mini flyweight (105 lbs) eliminator Sunday May 13 at SM City North EDSA Skydome here in Metro Manila.
Both fighters looked confident and willing to trade blows for their ESPN 5 Philippines televised event.
The Barriga-Mendoza IBF eliminator is important as it will determine who becomes the mandatory #1 challenger to the IBF-105 world champion.
"I am happy to fight the friendly Filipino boxer Mark Anthony Barriga. He (Barriga) looks really nice kid, and its a great honor to fight in the Philippines, land of great boxers. But when the bell for the first round sounds, Barriga is the one who has to prove to himself and prove to the fans his real value as professional boxer. Him, not me," said the experienced Mendoza, 38, during the ESPN presscon hosted by popular sports reporter Lorenzo "Renz" Ongkiko at ESPN 5 studios today Saturday.
Then, the Colombian Gabriel Mendoza said, "Honestly, I have already fought really tough men and I have been a challenger to a world title two times, one in Peru and once in Mexico, and I have scored 23 knockouts in my life. How many knockouts Barriga has scored with his Floyd Mayweather style? I doubt that his amateur imitation of Floyd is a good thing that is going to help Barriga in boxing over the long run."
"Fans can look at what happened to the Mayweather imitator Adrian Brother. Remember what happened to Broner when he faced Maidana? My humble opinion is that in boxing and in life you have to be yourself," said the quiet Mendoza (29-5-2, 23 KO's), a committed Roman Catholic and an active soldier in Armed Forces of Colombia.
Meanwhile, during the presser today, the younger Mark Anthony Barriga, 24, said that he is in excellent shape and positive that he will come out victorious in the most important fight of his young career, a fight that he "can not afford to lose."
THE BARRIGA-MENDOZA IBF OFFICIALS
The third man will international Filipino referee Mr. Silvestre "Robocop" Abainza; while the judges at ringside will be Judge Mr. Arnie Najera of Cebu, Philippines, Mr. Zac Young of Los Angeles, California, and Mr. Jonathan Davis of Buena Park, California. The IBF Supervisor will be Mr. Fritz Gaston of the Philippines.
In addition, to the Barriga vs Mendoza eliminator, eleven more bouts are scheduled to thrill fans.
Fans will watch some exciting fighters as two-time world title challenger AJ "Bazooka" Banal (35-2-1, 23 KO's), tough world-ranked featherweight Genesis Servania (30-1, 13 KO's) and the return of former WBO World Champion "Marvelous" Marvin Sonsona (20-1-1, 15 KO's) among others.
Present during the weigh-in ceremony was IBF Super Flyweight World Champion Jerwin Ancajas, Las Vegas matchmaker Sean Gibbons, GAB commissioner Eduardo B. Trinidad, Ms. Jackie L. Cacho of the GAB, as well as GAB's boxing chief Mr. Dioscoro B. Bautista.
"Survival Instinct Matira Matibay" Sunday May 13 at SM Skydome in North EDSA, Quezon City, Metro Manila is a production of Filipino promoter Joven Jimenez of Joven Sports Promotions in cooperation with ESPN 5 Philippines. The card will be broadcast live by ESPN 5 Philippines, the telecast beginning at 3 PM.
The author Carlos Costa of Panama is a boxing judge and fight reporter based in Cebu, Philippines. He will attend the Barriga-Mendoza IBF Eliminator Mayr 13 at SM Skydome in Quezon City, Metro Manila. Carlos can be reached by email: Carlos512@hotmail.com and by WhatsApp +639184538152.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Carlos Costa.
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