By Nick Giongco
London Olympian Mark Anthony Barriga moves a step closer to a world title shot tonight when he battles Colombian Gabriel Mendoza in an International Boxing Federation minimumweight title eliminator at the Skydome of SM North Edsa.
During yesterday’s official weighin at the TV5 headquarters, Barriga tipped in at the division limit of 105 lbs while Mendoza came in at 104.
Joven Sports, in partnership with TV5 and Sean Gibbons’ Knucklehead Boxing Club, is staging the slugfest that will also feature the return of former world champion Marvin Sonsona, AJ Banal, and Genesis Servania.
Barriga, 24, has an 8-0 win-loss record with one KO while Mendoza, 38, has a 29-5-2 slate with 23 KOs.
A win over Mendoza, who fought almost exclusively in Colombia, will catapult Barriga to a crack at the IBF crown against the winner of the May 20 match between Japanese champ Hiroto Kyoguchi and Filipino challenger Vince Paras.
The first bell starts at 3 pm with no less than world champion Jerwin Ancajas at ringside to cheer for his stablemates at Jimenez’s Survival Camp.
