‘Little Pacman’ goes to the ring with both barrels blazing

Philippines’ Mark Barriga, right, reacts after defeating Italy’s Manuel Cappai during a light flyweight 49-kg preliminary boxing match at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 31, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

LONDON—Mark Anthony Barriga fights as a southpaw and his left straight hits opponents like a thunderbolt, as Italy’s Manuel Cappai found out on Tuesday.

But Barriga, a light flyweight, packs a mean wallop with his right hand as well, as does Manny Pacquiao. The reason: The tiny man from Panabo, Davao Oriental, is a natural righthander, says his coach, Roel Velasco.

Somewhere in his early career, he switched to the southpaw stance. The result: He goes into the ring with both barrels blazing.

He fights and moves like Pacquiao, the reason he has been dubbed the “Little Pacman.’’ But Velasco says Barriga is no copycat. While he idolizes the eight-division world champion, his style is all his own.

“That’s just how he moves,” he says. “He has his own natural talent.”  Artemio T. Engracia Jr.