By Nick Giongco
LOS ANGELES – Mexican-American Carlos Licona is tailor-made for Mark Anthony Barriga, according to US boxing man Sean Gibbons, who facilitated the Filipino’s world title shot this Saturday at Staples Center.
“He (Licona) is right there for the taking,” said Gibbons on Wednesday as he dissected Barriga’s chances against Licona in their clash for the vacant International Boxing Federation minimumweight crown.
Licona is a pressure fighter and his aggressive style suits the counter-punching of Barriga.
Even Barriga’s lead trainer Joven Jimenez insists that the Philippines
stands to win another world boxing crown.
“We have the edge in the ability to land the more telling blows,” said Jimenez, who has been training Barriga the last seven days.
Helping put Jimenez in the training sessions include reigning world champion Jerwin Ancajas, conditioning coach Delfin Boholst and ex-amateur standout Charly Suarez.
Barriga and Licona meet for the first time Thursday when they appear in a press conference.
The official weighin will be Friday.
SPARKS FLY
LOS ANGELES (AFP) – Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury needed to be separated here Wednesday as tempers boiled over in an explosive final press conference before their heavyweight title showdown. World Boxing Council heavyweight champion Wilder and Fury will collide in a high-stakes showdown at the Staples Center on Saturday which could see the winner advance to a money-spinning unification bout.
After trading verbal blows before reporters on Wednesday, the two unbeaten heavyweights engaged in an angry face-off that threatened to erupt into a full-scale brawl.
British challenger Fury finished the press conference stripped to the waist and offering to engage with Wilder as the two men hurled insults.
Fury, the trash-talking “Gypsy King”, appeared to have clearly rattled Wilder, who looked by far the angrier of the two fighters.
The 30-year-old Fury, who has battled back from depression and drug abuse to land his shot against Wilder, opened by stating bluntly he expected to knock out the American champion (40-0, 39 knockouts).
