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[av_heading heading=’ Barriga bags first WBO title ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=’30’ subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
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Sunday, October 1, 2017
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MANILA – Mark Anthony Barriga of the Philippines captured the vacant WBO International minimumweight title with a unanimous decision win over veteran Wittawas Basapean of Thailand at the Heyuan Royal Garden in Beijing, China.
It was the first professional boxing title for the Panabo City, Davao del Norte native, a boxing Olympian before entering the pros in July last year.
Barriga imposed his presence early on Friday night with numerous combinations, including a stinging right straight that wobbled the much-experienced Basapaen in the middle of the match.
He continued pounding on Basapaen with quick attacks in the following rounds. His performance was enough to convince the three judges to award the lopsided decision to the Filipino fighter.
“Gusto ko pong ipakita sa mga boxing fans na kahit maliit ako, may sarili akong istilo,” Barriga said. “Kahit na mahirap iyong kalaban, naka-adjust ako agad at nagawan ko ng paraan para hindi ako mag-struggle.”
With the victory, the 24-year-old Barriga improved to a 7-0-0 win-loss-draw record, including one stoppage win, while the 32-year-old Basapaen’s slate dropped to 33-7-0, with 12 knockout victories.
In the supporting bout, fellow Filipino Ronnie Baldonado retained his WBO interim Oriental flyweight championship after knocking out the Indonesian Iwan Zoda.
Baldonado, 21, also kept his record unblemished 10-0-1 while tallying his third straight stoppage victory. The 20-year-old Zoda’s record slipped 14-3-1./PN
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