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Philippines, 25 Jan 2026 |
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WILL BARRIGA DELIVER A WORLD TITLE? By Rene Bonsubre, Jr. PhilBoxing.com Thu, 22 Nov 2018  Mark Anthony Barriga (9-0,1KO) of the Philippines will take on Mexican Carlos Licona (13-0,2KO?s) for the vacant IBF minimumweight world title on December 1 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Barriga secured his title shot last May by beating Colombian Gabriel Mendoza by unanimous decision at the SM Skydome in Quezon City. He is currently ranked number one by the International Boxing Federation (IBF) with Licona at number three. Licona will have the homecourt advantage. He was born in Mexico and currently residing in California. The 23 year old Licona won the vacant WBO Latino minimumweight title by unanimous decision last April against Janiel Rivera of Puerto Rico. The 25 year old Barriga, from Panabo, Davao del Norte, represented the Philippines in the 2012 London Olympics as a light flyweight but lost to Kazakhstan?s Birzhan Zhakypov in the round of 16. He was also a bronze medalist in the 2014 Asian Games. A few hours ago, Team Barriga posted photos on social media that they were departing for the United States. Barriga turned pro in 2016 and captured his first major ranking title last September 29, 2017 in Beijing when he beat Thai Samartlek Kokietgym by unanimous decision for the WBO International miniflyweight belt. Barriga?s uncanny quickness in defense and counterpunching earned him comparisons to defensive geniuses like Pernell Whitaker and Floyd Mayweather. Barriga vs Licona will be on the undercard of the highly anticipated heavyweight match between WBC Heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder of the USA and Tyson Fury of the UK. If Barriga wins a world title in his tenth professional bout, how does he stack up against other Filipino boxers who didn?t take long to win a world crown? Malcolm Tu?acao was 10W-0L,6KO?s and in his second year as a professional when he dethroned Thai Boonsai Sangsurat (Medgoen 3-K Battery) for the WBC flyweight title in 2000. Marvin Sonsona was 13-0,12K0?s when he won the WBO junior bantamweight title from Puerto Rican Jose Lopez in 2009. As far as the world record is concerned, Ukraine?s Vasyl Lomachenko got the vacant WBO world featherweight title in his third pro fight in 2014. This feat was first accomplished by Saensak Muangsurin of Thailand, who in 1975 in his third pro bout, beat Spain?s Perico Fernandez for the WBC junior welterweight title. The difference being that Saensak was 2-0 going into his title shot while Lomachenko lost to Mexican Orlando Salido in his first crack at the title in his second pro fight. An Olympic medal eluded Barriga but he could very well find success in the pro ranks. It is rare for a Filipino boxer who has reached the Olympic level to turn professional. 1964 Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Anthony Villanueva turned pro in 1965 but in five bouts had a record of 1W-3L-1NC. Winning a professional title will give Barriga a unique place in Philippine sports history. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..  |
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