Olympic gold in Barriga's sights

MANILA, Philippines - Lightflyweight contender Mark Anthony Barriga said yesterday he’s going for gold in the London Olympics and the lofty goal is what drives him to stay focused in his quest to end the country’s long medal drought in the quadrennial Summer Games.

The Philippines has never captured a gold medal since making its Olympic debut in 1924. Onyok Velasco claimed the last Philippine Olympic medal, a silver, in Atlanta in 1996. The previous two medals, both bronzes, were brought home by Roel Velasco from Barcelona in 1992 and Leopoldo Serrantes from Seoul in 1988. Coincidentally, the Velasco brothers and Serrantes bagged their Olympic medals as lightflyweight boxers. And Barriga fights in the same division.

“I don’t think about the pressure of winning,” said Barriga in Pilipino. “Of course, there’s pressure especially because I’ll be the only Filipino boxer in London. But I just ignore it. I’m staying focused. In the Olympics, you can’t take any fighter lightly because everyone is a champion. Every fight is like a fight for the gold medal. I’m not just thinking of Zou Shiming. So I’ve got to do my best in every fight.”

Barriga, 19, said he has worked doubly hard in training since qualifying for London at the World Championships in Azerbaijan last October. “I’ve learned a lot and I’m still learning from coach Roel (Velasco),” continued Barriga who arrived in Manila yesterday from a weekend furlough in his Panabo hometown and leaves for Cardiff today to check in at the Pre-Games Training Camp set up by the London Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games. “Every day is hard work. One of our priorities is building stamina. Another is improving technique. Coach Roel has Olympic experience and I’m just going to where he’s been. I’m working on my footwork, defense and quick counter-punching. I know body shots don’t often count so I’m concentrating on head shots. When the body’s open, I’ll stick in some shots just to open up the head. I’ve got to be quick on my feet because if you stand still, you’ll get hit.”

Barriga said he’s not the type to spend hours viewing tape. “I do my adjustments in the ring,” he explained. “Sometimes, you watch too much video and prepare for a fighter but what happens in the ring is different and you’re lost. I take the fight as it comes. I don’t know what will happen in London but I’ll do my best. It’s a big factor that my parents (Edgar and Melita) will be in London to watch my first fight (on July 31).”

Barriga said representing the country in the Olympics is a dream come true. “I’ve watched others fight in the Olympics and now, I can’t believe it’s my turn,” he said. “This isn’t just about making my name popular. It’s about me holding up the Philippine flag and fighting for our honor. I’m very proud to represent our country in the Olympics.”

Barriga chuckled when told his father Edgar, who taught him the rudiments of boxing as a boy, said he fights like Nonito Donaire Jr. from the waist down and like Manny Pacquiao from the waist up. “They’re both my idols and Roy Jones Jr.,” said Barriga. “I try to do Donaire’s footwork and hit like Pacquiao. I’m confident in what I can do in the ring but I never take anything for granted.”

Asked to choose a preference between speed or power, Barriga picked speed. “Hitting is about timing and if you don’t have the quickness, you won’t be able to hit,” he said. “I fight left-handed but I sometimes fight right-handed. My preference is to fight southpaw. Between utak or gulang, I pick utak because no matter how magulang you are, if you’re not smart, you won’t be able to use your gulang.”

Barriga said he’s looking forward to facing his tormentor Zou Shiming again. “He’s very experienced but he’s also getting old,” said Barriga. “Imagine, he even fought kuya Harry Tañamor. He’s tall and rangy. But I’ve studied his style closely. I’m ready for him. I won’t make any promises except that I’ll do my best in the ring. I leave everything up to God.”

Barriga said he’s too young to think of marriage although he’s known his girlfriend Ana Margarita Sianas since they were in elementary school. “Marriage is far away,” he said. “I’m still a teenager. If it’s in God’s plans for Ana and me to be married, then it will happen even if years from now. My focus at the moment is boxing. Fighting in the Olympics is a rare opportunity and I’ll make the most of this chance to bring honor to our country.”