Barriga: brainy, blazing, brave
By Recah Trinidad
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 01 Aug 2012
WASN?T he also a whirlwind of a warrior?
Tiny Mark Barriga on Tuesday was every pesky inch a brainy blizzard that blasted and slammed his way to a first win for the beleaguered Philippine contingent in the London Olympics.
He was both powerful and fast but it was his big fighting heart which visibly overwhelmed and terrified his tall Italian foe, en route to an amazing 17-7 conquest.
Barriga, 19, did great defense, preferring to sway side to side, a big improvement from the befuddled toddler who, after a brave, sensational start, froze and got banged on the ropes to drop his opening bout in last year?s Southeast Asian Games in Palembang, Indonesia.
The lone Filipino boxer in London on Tuesday night never paused and very seldom stepped back.
**
Definitely delighted, the cheering crowd could only wonder how Barriga, so tiny he could be mistaken for a straying tot, fought like a big brave man to subdue a foe no less than four inches taller than him.
After that SEA Games fold-up, Barriga received a severe dressing down from his superior, PH boxing executive director Ed Picson.
But on Tuesday, a very pleased Picson could only swear that, while skill can be transferred, courage can never be taught.
Barriga already had loads of it from the very start.
**
Peddled as the Little Pacquiao in London, the wonder kid from Panabo, Davao del Norte indeed has a big left punch like Pacman, his idol.
Barriga, of course, cannot be exactly speedy or sharp as Pacquiao, who at his best is a blazing blur when feasting on bigger foes.
Pacquiao masterfully shoots with sharp, snapping punches, thrown like a spear.
But Barriga tends to throw punches from the side, slamming, using his fists like a bludgeon.
**
Unlike in his punching picnic against the flatfooted Italian Manuel Cappai, Barriga is expected to encounter problems in succeeding bouts.
In fact, he will need timely adjustments against Kazakh Birshan Zhakypov in their round- of-16 match today.
Today?s boxing program should also help assess how far Barriga could go.
His erstwhile conqueror, defending Olympic light flyweight champion Zou Shiming, after drawing a first-day draw, clashes with the fearsome Veitia Soto Yosbany of Cuba.
**
It will take a total of five wins for Barriga to capture the elusive first Olympic gold medal for the country.
There had been prayers for Barriga not to draw Shimming in his first bout.
That first win against the befuddled Italian can be taken as only a measly investment in his Olympic quest.
The win has only rendered the elusive gold visible, but not in anyway within reach.
A win over his Kazakh foe would go a long way in pushing Barriga farther ahead.
A third win puts him only one victory within a bronze medal.
By that time, it should be tantalizingly close for tycoon Manny V. Pangilinan, Smart Communications big boss, to book a flight to London, with the P12 Million he has promised to reward the first Filipino Olympic gold medalist.
Meanwhile, the dream first gold remains only that--a dream.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Recah Trinidad.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
CLARESSA SHIELDS VS. LANI DANIELS PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
Wed, 18 Jun 2025Brian Norman Jr.: "This Championship Belt Means Everything to Me!"
Wed, 18 Jun 2025Julian Gonzalez Takes on Former World Title Challenger Jason Sanchez in Main Event on Friday, June 27th at The 2300 Arena in Philadelphia
Wed, 18 Jun 2025IBA reaffirms its commitment to good governance and stability in Africa
Wed, 18 Jun 2025Day One of the USA Boxing Junior Olympics and Summer Festival Concludes
Wed, 18 Jun 2025The Past Week in Action 16 June 2025: Hitchins Stops Kambosos; Wins by Andy Cruz and Teremoana; Donaire Returns
By Eric Armit, Tue, 17 Jun 2025THRILLA IN MANILA GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY 9 - MUHAMMAD ALI WINS WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE
By Maloney L. Samaco, Tue, 17 Jun 2025OKC Nears First NBA Title in Thunder Era; Outclasses Indiana, 120-109 in Game 5
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Tue, 17 Jun 2025Crawford Refutes #3 P4P Ranking; WBA Doesn't Forget Nonito Donaire
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Tue, 17 Jun 2025GM John Paul Gomez joins Touchmove in Roxas City
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 17 Jun 2025Perfect foe, perfect outcome
By Joaquin Henson, Tue, 17 Jun 2025Prospects Collide Results: Rajon Chance Defeats Yan Carlos Perez
Tue, 17 Jun 2025Undefeated Russian super middleweight Petr “The Surgeon” Khamukov to headline This Friday in Long Beach on DAZN
Tue, 17 Jun 2025International Boxing & MMA Consultants Appointed to serve as El Salvador Professional Combat Sport Commission
Tue, 17 Jun 2025Sasotize teams champion and 1st runner up in 2nd JCI Senate Chess Tourney
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 17 Jun 2025