Big Aiba debut for Suarez, Barriga

National team mainstays Charly Suarez and Mark Anthony Barriga hammered out victories over touted foes in separate venues recently during the inaugural staging of the International Boxing Federation (Aiba) Professional Boxing Tournament.

The tournament complements the more recent World Series of Boxing and guarantees top-ranked national boxers at least four fights a year. Eight boxers are entered per division and will go through an elimination process via six rounds, an 8-rounder and a championship bout over 10 rounds.

Suarez decked two-time Olympian and ex-European and world champion Domenico Valentino in the fifth round, opening a bloody gash on the Italian’s forehead on their way to a split decision in their 60 kg lightweight fight at Daulet Stadium in Astana, Kazakhstan.

London Olympian Barriga, meanwhile, put on an exhibition and dominated every round against Argentina’s Leandro Blanc in their 49 kg light flyweight fight in Guangzhou, China.

Suarez, an Asian Games silver medalist in Incheon, South Korea, faces Kazakhstan’s Berik Abdrakhmanov next on Nov. 21, hoping to avenge a hometown decision he suffered in the President’s Cup in Astana last July despite flooring the Kazakh in the third round.

Barriga battled Ecuador’s Carlo Quipo in his next fight.

“We are elated at the auspicious start of Charly and Mark in the APB,” said Abap president Ricky Vargas. “With help from the POC and PSC, our athletes are reaching greater heights.”