Barriga A Whiff Of Fresh Air

LONDON — Boxing finally provided the kind of relief Filipinos have been waiting for in an Olympics that have provided very little joy and enthusiasm, only heartbreak and disappointment.

But before Filipinos get carried away, Barriga’s win over a taller but overmatched Italian is just one of a couple more he needs to go all the way to the medal round.

In fact, he needs two more wins to enter the semifinals where he will be assured of a bronze.

But that, of course, is discussing what lies ahead for the pint-sized Filipino warrior whose gritty victory sent waves of jubilation from the small Philippine delegation here in London.

Such was the joy generated by his 17-7 win, a comprehensive one by any standard, that tears flowed and shouts reverberated as he left the boxing hall.

First to meet Barriga, as he proceeded to meet the warm embrace of boxing officials, were his parents who were also among the small but boisterous Filipino crowd in the huge fight hall.

The exultation over Barriga’s win was understandable.

The Philippine contingent has been battered, bothered and bewildered by rivals far superior and methodical than what they could offer.

Our swimmer was almost left to drown, at least in his own sorrows, our weightlifter had so much weight to carry on her shoulders, and our shooter was not exactly firing blanks but could not hit straight, nerves apparently did him in.

Then here comes Barriga, christened the Little Pacquiao, riding to the rescue.

Recalling his fight, Barriga was both humble and proud of his achievement.

“Malakas din sumuntok pero nalusutan natin,” said Barriga, resting his tired legs and body down in his unit at the Athletes Village, his iPod blurting tunes from the Bee Gees and Everly Brothers, somewhat vintage music for a 19-year-old.

With mother Merlita and father Edgar watching and a handful of Filipinos shouting “Kaya mo yan, Mark, Kaya mo yan Mark,” the Filipino southpaw never gave Cappai a chance despite giving six inches in height in a one-sided match that left the Italian champion’s coach fuming mad.

“I told him to attack, attack, attack, but he didn’t do it,” said coach Francisco Damiani, the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics heavyweight champion who, in disappointment after the bout, threw one of Cappa’s gloves to the floor.

The Italian coach accepted the loss graciously and credited Barriga’s performance.

“He’s the better fighter. He counterpunched very well. He’s shorter but that’s no problem with him,” said Damiani, adding the fight was perhaps over as early as the second round. “He dominated it (fight).”

Filipino coach Roel Velasco and boxing official Ed Picson did all the talking as Barriga politely asked not to be interviewed, telling everyone he’s going to rest and think of his next bout which his team said is not going to be easy.

They are telling the truth since his round of 16 bout will be against Kazaksthan’s Birzhan Zhakypov, who rallied in the third round to escape with an 18-17 win in one of the closest light-fly fights in the day’s program.

Velasco said Zhakypov is not new to the team. Although Barriga and the Kazakh haven’t met yet in an international tournament, they know each other pretty well since they’ve sparred several times during the Asian Qualifier in Kazaksthan.

“Magaling din pero kakayanin ni Mark,” said Velasco while noting that Barriga once bloodied the nose of the Kazakh in one of their sparring sessions ahead of the Asian qualifier early this year.

Velasco said Cappai hurt his boy only once in the nine-minute, three-round encounter.