by Nick Giongco
Mark Barriga, who had a decorated career as an amateur, will have to deal with Mexican-American punching machine Carlos Licona when he shoots for the vacant International Boxing Federation (IBF) minimumweight crown on Dec. 1 in Los Angeles.
“He’a the typical Mexican fighter who keeps on coming and throwing lots of punches,” said Ricardo Jimenez, the former ace publicist for Top Rank.
Barriga set foot in Los Angeles late Friday joined by his chief trainer and manager Joven Jimenez, strength coach Delfin Boholst, former national teammate Charly Suarez, social media staffer Mark Lontayao and reigning IBF superfly king Jerwin Ancajas.
To get ready for Licona, Barriga had to undergo a weight program since he normally bloats in-between fights.
True enough, Barriga looked terrific when he and his team made the journey to the US with Ancajas looking forward to the coronation of his childhood buddy.
“Mark’s been doing very good in training and I think he’s got a big chance of winning it,” said Ancajas, whose friendship with Barriga, a 2012 London Olympian, stretches back to their days with the Panabo boxing squad.
Barriga’s first try at the world title will be on the same night Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury slug it out in a world heavyweight clash at the Staples Center.
Sean Gibbons, one of Manny Pacquiao’s trusted men, arranged Barriga’s crack at the IBF 105-lb title.
