MARK Barriga faces the biggest fight of his career after the Olympics when he shoots for the vacant International Boxing Federation minimumweight title against Carlos Licona Sunday at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
The 25-year-old Barriga easily tipped the scale during Saturday’s official weigh-in, coming in at 103.8 lbs. Licona meanwhile, came a pound heavier at 104.8.
The 12-round fight, serving as an undercard for the Deontay Wilder-Tyson Fury heavyweight title match, will be the biggest test for the lefty Filipino since being the country’s lone boxing bet during the 2012 Olympiad in London.
Six years after that failed Olympic bid, Barriga hopes to exorcise the ghost of the past.
“Hindi natin sasayangin ang pagkakataon na ito. Gagawin natin ang lahat para maiuwi ang korona,” said Barriga, who was finally feasting on rice and other food stuff shortly after the weigh-in.
Both Barriga and Licona will carry with them to the ring unbeaten records.
The Filipino has a 9-0 mark (1 KO), while the 23-year-old Licona, an American-Mexican now based in Westminter, California is 13-0 (2 KOs).
The two will also have world champions in their respective corners.
Licona is being handled by champion trainer Robert Garcia, while Barriga’s trainer Joven Jimenez will be assisted by reigning IBF super-flyweight title holder Jerwin Ancajas, a stablemate of Barriga at Survival Camp.
“Mag-a-assist din sa akin si Jerwin. Aakyat din siya sa taas ng ring,” said Jimenez of Ancajas, a boyhood friend of Barriga from their days in Panabo, Davao del Norte.
“Eto na po ang malaking pagkakataon ni Mark,” added Jimenez.
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