BARRIGA WINS, ENTERS QUARTER FINALS IN ASIAN GAMES BOXING
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 28 Sep 2014
Barriga.
Light flyweight Mark Anthony Barriga has scored a rousing win over tough Japanese opponent Tosho Kashiwasaki to enter the quarter finals at the Asian Games boxing competition in Incheon, South Korea.
The little southpaw who lost to two-time Olympic gold medal wiNner and two-time world light flyweight champion Zou Shiming of China at the 2011 World Amateur Championships and lost a heartbreaking 17-16 decision to Birzhan Zhakypol of Kazakhstan in the second round of the 2012 London Olympics was far more impressive than when he won over Syria?s Hussain Al Masri by a split decision in the round of 16 last September 25.
Two judges - Michael Gallagher of Ireland and B. Jumaniyazov of Uzbekistan had Barriga the winner 29-28 while the third judge, M. Aradovskiy of Gernany gave Barriga all three rounds for a 30-27 shutout which underscored his dominance of Kashiwasaki who had won by a TKO in his first bout over Sanad Ali Miqtafi of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Barriga who dropped in his World Championship rankings from No. 9 in 2011 to No, 17 in 2013 fought a smart fight, darting in and out and connecting with solid combinations to befuddle the much taller Japanese.
Amateur Boxing Alliance of the Philippines executive director Ed Picson told the Manila Standard/Viva Sports in an overseas telephone conversation from Incheon that the 21 year old Barriga ?put on a masterful performance and ran rings around Kashiwasaki.?
Picson said Barriga ?felt the guy out in the opening round and then moved in and out and peppered him with one-two combinations with blinding speed.?
Picson said Barriga had sparred with Kashiwasaki before and knew that the Japanese liked to stand up and slug it out but Barriga didn?t fall prey to those tactics and completely out-boxed the Japanese.
Legendary sports patron Manny Pangilinan, chairman of ABAP told us, ?it was great news? especially coming after the bum decision suffered by flyweight Ian Bautista against Korea?s Sangkon Choe on Saturday and sent his congratulations to Barriga.
Pangilinan told Picson ?let?s motivate him for the gold? as the country continues its quest for an elusive gold medal in Incheon with two more boxers, multi-tiled lightweight Charly Suarez and middleweight Wilfredo Lopez still in contention.
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