ANOTHER Filipino guns for a world title today, Dec. 2, in the US. Former Olympian Mark Anthony Barriga takes on fellow unbeaten prospect Carlos Licona in the undercard of the Tyson Fury vs. Deontay Wilder heavyweight duel in Los Angeles, California.
Barriga, the No. 1 ranked fighter, faces No. 3 rated Licona for the vacant International Boxing Federation (IBF) minimumweight title.
The 25-year-old Barriga is known for his stint in the Olympics, wherein he dropped out in the round-of-16. He also bagged a gold medal for the Philippines in the 2013 Southeast Asian Games and bronze medal in the 2014 Asian Games. One of his biggest wins in the amateur ranks is a points victory over two-time Olympic bronze medalist Paddy Barnes in the 2011 World Amateur Boxing Championships.
Since his pro debut in 2016, a unanimous decision win over Melvin Manangquil here in Cebu City, Barriga has been impressive and quickly moved up to the minimumweight rankings.
Barriga is coming off a lopsided unanimous verdict over two-time world title challenger Gabriel Mendoza last May.
Barriga is unbeaten with a 9-0 slate with a knockout, while Licona is 13-0 with two knockouts. EKA