Ni Gilbert Espeña
NANGAKO si Colombian boxer Gabriel Mendoza na tatalunin niya ang bagitong si dating amateur champion Mark Anthony Barriga sa kanilang 12-round IBF mini flyweight eliminator sa Linggo (Mayo 13) sa SM City North EDSA Skydome sa Quezon City.
Dumating nitong Martes ng hapon si Mendoza sa Pilipinas kasama ang kanyang koponan at nangakong magwawagi laban kay Barriga para mahamon si IBF minimumweight champion Hiroto Kyoguchi na nakatakdang magdepensa sa Pilipino ring si Vince Paras sa Mayo 20 sa Ota City General Stadium sa Tokyo, Japan.
“It’s a great pleasure to arrive in the great land of boxing legend Manny Pacquiao,” sabi ni Mendoza sa Philboxing.com pagdating sa Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
Goodbye PBA? John Amores, tinanggalan na ng professional license!
“I had a really long trip from my home in Colombia to the Philippines, but I feel good and I am truly delighted to be here. Thanks be to God for that.”
Gagamitin ni Mendoza ang kanyang karanasan bilang two-time world title challenger taglay ang kartadang 29-5-2, na may 23 pagwawagi sa knockouts.
“My fight against the Filipino Mark Anthony Barriga means so much to me. The winner will go on to fight the world champion. I want it to be me,” ayon sa 38-anyos na nakalistang No. 7 sa IBF rankings.
Top two contenders kay Kyoguchi at No. 3 ranked si Barriga na may perpektong rekord na 8 panalo, 1 sa pamamagitan ng knockout.
