Barriga heads Filipino pugs sweep in China

FILIPINO light flyweight Mark Barriga (blue). INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/RAFFY LERMA

Olympian Mark Anthony Barriga thoroughly dominated Thai Wittawas Bassapean to clinch the WBO international minimumweight crown and lead a Filipino sweep of foreign opponents Friday night in Beijing, China.

So imposing was Barriga, a Southeast Asian Games champion and Asian Games bronze medalist, that he earned a unanimous 100-90 decision from the three judges at Heyuan Royal Garden Hotel, according to a Philboxing report.

It was the seventh straight win in as many bouts for the 24-year-old Barriga, who handed the 32-year-old Thai his seventh loss against 33 victories.

Unbeaten Ronnie Baldonado also put up a remarkable performance for the six boxers sent by MP Promotions, knocking out Indonesian Iwan Zoda in the sixth round with body shots to retain his WBO interim Oriental flyweight belt.

Only 21, Baldonado notched his 10th victory, seven via the short route.

Other Filipino victors over Chinese foes were Jay-ar Inson, Rdene Mark Cuarto, Vincent Astrolabio and Genesis Libranza.

Inson bested Jin Yancheng, the reigning WBO China welterweight champion, by unanimous decision while Cuarto knocked out Li Guangxiong in the third round.

Astrolabio and Libranza both won by unanimous decision over Ayati Sailike and Zeng Yuzie, respectively.