MANILA, Philippines ? Filipino light flyweight boxer Mark Anthony Barriga kissed his hope for an Olympic gold goodbye today after dropping a close decision to Birshan Zhakypov of Kazakhstan, 16-17, in their boxing bout at the ExCel South Arena in London.
Barriga started out the first round strong, unleashing combinations, but still trailed, 4-5.
The Filipino then fought a more cautious second round, opting to counter-punch Zhakypov to bag the round, 6-3, and entered the last canto with 10-8 upperhand.
But Barriga slowed down and fell prey to his foe?s crisp rights at the start of the third round, with the Filipino being deducted a point for an infraction.
The infraction also netted Zhakypov two extra points.
“It was a judgment call. I don’t necessarily agree with it, but that’s just the way it is,” said a disappointed Ed Picson, executive director of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines.
“That violation called on Mark gave his opponents two extra points, which was critical,” Picson added.
Zhakypov was likewise called for a violation when he pushed Barriga down near the end of the third round.
The loss is a heartbreaker for Barriga, who started his Olympic bid with a lot of promise having scored a 17-7 rout of Italy?s Manuel Cappai in his debut last Tuesday. He is being viewed as the country’s brightest hope to nail the elusive gold medal.
No Filipino boxer has entered the quarterfinals in Olympic boxing in 16 years.
