Philippines, 23 Mar 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


MVP wishes Barriga success in opening bout


PhilBoxing.com


MANILA (PNA)-- Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines chair Manny V. Pangilinan won?t be watching prot?g? Mark Anthony Barriga open his campaign Monday (Tuesday in Manila) in the Games of the 30th Olympiad but he sent his message of concern and wishes that the 19-year-old light-flyweight succeed in his quest for the country?s first ever Olympic gold medal in the quadrennial conclave which opened shop last Saturday in London .

Barriga, a native of Panabo City in Davao del Norte, battles Italian fellow Olympic first timer Manuel Cappcai, hoping to key-off his campaign with a victory and advance to the next round.

The son of a machine operator in his hometown, along with Fil-Am BMX rider Daniel Caluag, is the brightest hope in the 11-athlete contingent to break the country 16-year medal drought in the Games known as the ?Greatest Show On Earth.?

?Mark,nasa dasal kasama ka lagi sa aming dasal dito sa ABAP at sa bawa?t Pilipino na sana ay magtagumpay ka sa misyong iniatang sa iyong balikat,? Pangilinan, MVP to the business and sports circles, who is also the president of the Samahang Basketbol Ng Pilipinas, said in an inspirational text message to Barriga sent tothis reporter.

?Focus lang tayo. One fight at a time at mangarap tayon ng gintong medalya,? the media and telecommunications mogul said. ?Kaya mo yan.?

His hectic business schedule that includes two to three meetings a day the past week and this week, Pangilinan said, prevented him from flying to the Olympics site although he promised that should Barriga wins his initial bout, he will go to join him and the national delegation in London.

?Sangkatutak ang mga miting ko dito na hindi ko maiwan,? Pangilinan told this reporter. ?But I will try my best to squeeze through the schedule. Siguro sa second fight nya, nandoon na ako sa London.?

?Through prayers, para na rin akong nandoon. I am very confident naman na malalampasan niya ang mga laban nya. He?s prepared hard to qualify and being there in the Olympic already, he will try his best na matupad kung ano ang inaasahan natin sa kanya,? he said.

Besides his recent victorious march to victory the past two years capped by his title triumphs in the Sydney Jackson Memorial held in Uzbekistan that cemented his earning his ticket to London, history looks on the side of the bantam-sized Filipino fighter.

The last four of the Philippines? total nine-medal haul in the once every-four-year gathering of the world?s finest athletes, came in boxing. This includes a silver medal, the country?s first, courtesy of Anthony Villanueva in 1964 in Rome. A bronze each by Leopoldo Serrantes in Seoul 1988 and Roel Velasco in Barcelona 1992 and another silver by the latter?s younger brother Mansueto ?Onyok? in 1996 in Atlanta.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • SD FIGHT NIGHT: FAMILY BUSINESS DOUBLE MAIN EVENTS SET AS JULIUS “JUJU” BALLO SQAURES OFF AGAINST ROMAN REYES AT FRONTWAVE ARENA ON SATURDAY, APRIL 18, 2026
    , Mon, 23 Mar 2026
  • "I'M A MAN OF MY WORD": GEORGE LIDDARD COMPLETES MATCHROOM BRENTWOOD HALF MARATHON FOR CHARITY – HOURS AFTER DENNY WIN
    , Mon, 23 Mar 2026
  • Lester Martinez Wins WBC Interim World Super Middleweight Championship with Unanimous Decision over Immanuwel Aleem
    , Sun, 22 Mar 2026
  • IBF Pan Pacific champion Vince Paras set to face unbeaten OPBF champion Aoi Yokoyama in Kyrgyzstan
    , Sun, 22 Mar 2026
  • King James sets NBA all-time record for most games played
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sun, 22 Mar 2026
  • Loaded boxing schedule
    By Joaquin Henson, , Sun, 22 Mar 2026
  • WEIGHTS, IMAGES, RUNNING ORDER AND THE LAST WORDS AHEAD OF ADAMES VS. WILLIAMS IN ORLANDO
    , Sat, 21 Mar 2026
  • COPPER BOX ARENA FIGHT NIGHT: WEIGH-IN RESULTS AND RUNNING ORDER CONFIRMED AS LIDDARD AND DENNY FACE-OFF FOR FINAL TIME
    , Sat, 21 Mar 2026
  • Weights From ‘Martinez vs. Aleem’ Event from the NOS Event Center in San Bernardino and Broadcast live on ProBoxTV
    , Sat, 21 Mar 2026
  • Jordan Orozco Training Camp Notes
    , Sat, 21 Mar 2026
  • Towns vs. Bordin for PAT Belt; De Barbo, Nancholas, Samiei in Supporting Bouts at Brico Santig's Exciting Show in Pattaya Beach, Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 20 Mar 2026
  • YOENIS TELLEZ TRAINING CAMP QUOTES
    , Fri, 20 Mar 2026
  • Lebron James ties the most game played in NBA history
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 20 Mar 2026
  • Pichay supports GM Antonio's Australian chess circuit campaign
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 20 Mar 2026
  • LIDDARD-DENNY PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES IN FULL: EVERYTHING THAT WAS SAID AHEAD OF SATURDAY'S COPPER BOX FIGHT NIGHT
    , Fri, 20 Mar 2026
  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaiman: The WBC Continues the Fight for the Good of the Sport
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Fri, 20 Mar 2026
  • AMMO: ADAMES FIGHT WILL BE EXPLOSIVE
    , Fri, 20 Mar 2026
  • Carlos De Leon Training Camp Notes
    , Fri, 20 Mar 2026
  • The Highly Anticipated  Box Fan Expo Invitational 2026 Returns with A  USA Boxing Amateur Show
    , Fri, 20 Mar 2026
  • Placibe, Sales tops Sprint Challenge
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 20 Mar 2026
  • Lester Martinez vs. Immanuwel Aleem Los Angeles Media Day Quotes
    , Thu, 19 Mar 2026
  • MAPUA, PSKAI R-10 to play in Best of Best
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 19 Mar 2026
  • IIEE Metro East dominates the 4th D’ Engineers’ Darts Cup 2026
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 19 Mar 2026
  • LIDDARD: WHY I'M RUNNING MATCHROOM HALF MARATHON AFTER TITLE DEFENCE AGAINST DENNY
    , Thu, 19 Mar 2026
  • Press Conference Notes: DAZN and Top Rank Sign Multi-Year Rights Deal
    , Thu, 19 Mar 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.