Barriga lone Pinoy finalist
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan—London Olympics qualifier light flyweight Mark Anthony Barriga reasserted his superiority over Shahobidin Zoirov of Uzbekistan, 13-10, Thursday and barged into the finals of the Sydney Jackson Memorial Boxing Tournament at the Universal Uzbekistan Sports Complex.
But Ian Clark Bautista, the only other PLDT-Abap semifinalist in the tournament, ran into a flashy Shexriyor Isakov, also an Uzbek, and lost, 10-13, in their 52-kilogram bout and settled for the bronze medal.
Barriga had beaten the same boxer in the finals of the same tournament last year.
Article continues after this advertisementAn injured left hand and a strained shoulder muscle handicapped the 17-year-old Bautista, who fought with practically one hand in the last two rounds.
Barriga led, 4-2 after the first round and never looked back. He next faces another London-bound fighter, the power-punching David Ayrapetyan of Russia.
