They are starting to call him Pocket Pacman or Little Pacquiao. But Mark Barriga remains the Bulilit from the Barangay.
The 19-year old Barriga, sporting a more muscular mass and a mean Mohawk hairstyle, is getting some attention in London, days ahead of the boxing competitions in the 2012 Olympics.
Barriga is getting good attention from fellow boxers in the Games Village either because he has shown amazing work ethic during the boxing tests in Cardiff, Wales, or simply because the world thinks every Filipino boxer is as good as Manny Pacqiao.
The Panabo City pride is the lone Filipino fighter in boxing where the country’s last two medals were produced. Like the global boxing icon Pacquiao, Mark is expected by many including his new fans from Cardiff, Wales where he trained prior to the Olympics, to be fighting like the Filipino 8-time world boxing champion.
“Pacquiao o Little Pacman ang tawag sa akin,’’ said Barriga who, despite his diminutive size, won the hearts of Cardiff-based Filipinos and the respect of fellow boxers in the course of his 19-day training in Wales where he displayed a voracious appetite for training.
Barriga made it to the Olympics by the sheer fate of losing in the quarterfinals to the boxer who went on to win the gold medal during the world championship qualifier went on to win the gold medal. That guy was defending Olympic titlist Zhou Zhiming, who outpointed him, 12-5, in their quarterfinal match.
That man is no. 1 in the early forecast by experts owing to his gold medal win in Beijing in 2008 and his steady performance going into the London Games. Barriga has always thought Shiming would be the toughest foe in the Games although current AIBA no. 1 Shin Jong Hun of South Korea is also touted as a sentimental pick to win.
At the 2011 world championships, No. 2-ranked Zou Shiming of China defeated the current No. 1, Korean Shin Jong-Hun.
Russian David Ayrapetyan captured third place at the championship. Salman Alizada of Azerbaijan is placed at the third position of the AIBA rankings as of today, though he will not figure in the Olympics.
Another boxer to watch in the lightflyweight ranks is Paddy Barnes of Ireland who should have the backing of the British crowd. The 25-year old Belfast light-flyweight won a bronze medal in Beijing four years ago but stressed he has not been “feeling any pressure” as the games beckon.
Barriga is ranked 43rd.
There are 24 boxers including Shiming, Shin and Barnes listed in the lightflyweight class. Barriga climbs the ring on July 31.
