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Boxing: Amateur winner Mark Anthony Barriga looks for success in the pros

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Dennis Gasgonia, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/news/06/04/060417_barriga.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">Mark Anthony Barriga</div></figcaption></figure></div>MANILA – For a while, Mark Anthony Barriga enjoyed a measure of public attention as an amateur boxer.He won the gold in the 2013 Southeast Asian Games in Myanmar and was a bronze medalist in the 2014 Asian Games in South Korea.He was the lone Filipino boxer in the 2012 London Olympics and became somewhat of a media darling because of his charisma.Barriga was supposed to make a second Olympic push in the 2016 Rio Games, but an injury to his right knuckle changed his plans.That&#x27;s when he decided to leave the amateurs and join the pro ranks.“Para sa akin OK naman ang paglipat ko from amateur to pro. Iyon nga lang, may malaking pagbabago,” Barriga said. “Kung mayroong pagbabago, iyon ay sa training.”“Kasi sa amateur kumbaga mabilisan lang at stamina, pero sa professional hindi ganun ang training mo,&quot; he added. &quot;Kelangan may laban o wala, hard training ka, you improve your power. Iyong strength mo, conditioning mo, stamina, lahat. Napakahirap maging professional boxer, pero kaya ko naman.”He had to start from scratch in the pros, but doesn&#x27;t regret it.He now fights as a minimumweight under manager-coach Joven Jimenez, the same trainer who handles junior bantamweight champion Jerwin Ancajas.“Nung una kasi ang pangarap ko sa buhay ay makasama sa national team, makalaro sa world championships, makalaro sa SEA Games, sa Olympics,” Barriga, 23, said.“Nakamit ko iyon sa paghihirap ko bilang amateur. Pagkatapos ng lahat ng iyon, kahit hindi ko nakuha ang gintong medalya sa Olympics, nag-decide na ako to turn pro . . . Ang goal ko naman ay maging world champion.”He currently has a clean record of 4-0 and has an upcoming fight in Dipolog, Zamboanga del Norte, on Sunday.Barriga admitted he wouldn’t have taken the risk of plunging into professional boxing if he wasn’t compensated as an amateur.“Malaking naitulong sa akin iyong pagiging member ko ng national team,” he said. “Iyong pamilya ko sa Davao, nabuhay ko dahil sa pagsisikap ko. Malaking tulong iyon.”Barriga said he now has to strengthen his resolve if he wants to make it as a pro fighter.“Kumbaga, sa ngayon nagsisimula pa lang ako. Para sa akin tama ito. Tulad noong nagsimula ako sa wala, pinagsisikapan ko lang,” he said.“Hindi pa tapos ang career ko, kumbaga nagsisimula akong muli.”For more sports coverage, visit the ABS-CBN <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com" target="_blank">Sports website.</a>

The SEA Games and Asian Games medalist had to start from scratch and learn the ropes again in the pros, but doesn't regret it.

The SEA Games and Asian Games medalist had to start from scratch and learn the ropes again in the pros, but doesn't regret it.

Boxing: Amateur winner Mark Anthony Barriga looks for success in the pros

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Boxing: Amateur winner Mark Anthony Barriga looks for success in the pros

Dennis Gasgonia,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jun 04, 2017 08:25 AM PHT

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Mark Anthony Barriga

Boxing

Amateur Boxing

Professional Boxing

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