ESPN5/Aksyon TV Survival Instinct: Mark Anthony Barriga vs. Gabriel Emilio Mendoza Lora RBR

Round 8

Barriga is tripling and quadrupling up on the jab now, lingering in the pocket to gauge Mendoza's next move, still in the Philly shell, jerking away from every Mendoza telegraphed blow long before Mendoza can get a fist near him. Barriga is ducking jabs and coming up with short bursts of counter fire. Barriga able to duck halfway in and just pull his near-side shoulder inward to slip the Mendoza jab, then countering from just below & inside Mendoza's line of sight. Barriga tickles Mendoza's face with a double jab but gets grazed with a lead right for his troubles, but is able to pull back and mostly roll with it. Barriga is almost clipped with a looping right but ducks & spins, very slick. Jab, jab, left by Barriga while twirling Mendoza like a weathervane.

10-9 Barriga

80-72 Barriga

 

Round 9

Barriga is drifting & simultaneously turning away from Mendoza, making him miss and making it look easy. Barriga countering with jabs. Time out for some reason - gob of Vaseline on Barriga's cheek, I guess? Time in. Mendoza is taking a lunging step inside with his lead foot but then just pausing, unsure what to do. Barriga takes the initiative, banging Mendoza's kisser with jabs and short lefts. Mendoza gets in a short looping shot in between Barriga's flurries while he's darting in and out, seemed to carry some good power on it but Barriga stood up to it well and is outscoring him a zillion to one. Barriga is starting to open up now, hooks off the jab. Multiple right jabs on the face, walking Mendoza nearly into a corner. Mendoza now slides forward, attacking with his patented descending right toward the body, coming up short with it as usual.

10-9 Barriga

90-81 Barriga

 

I can definitely see where he picked up the "Pinoy Mayweather" tag.

 

@MVC! get your ass in here, you say you miss PBF being active, this is the closest you're going to get.

 

Round 10

Barriga is jabbing, stepping back, jabbing, stepping right, jabbing, hunching forward to bait and then yanking himself back, then in to land another jab on Mendoza. Barriga just playing with the IBF #7 rated minimumweight in the world like a cat with a ball of yarn. Barriga is ducking in, ramming his right shoulder into Mendoza to buck him off a few steps, then slicing him up with the jab at mid-range. Barriga twists leftward every time Mendoza comes barging in with a right hand, making them collide flank to flank with Mendoza having no prayer of finding his target. Barriga is skirting along the ropes and caught by a grazing right hand.

10-9 Barriga

100-90 Barriga

 

This 5'2" Pinoy southpaw does a better/more functionally effective Floyd impersonation than I think I've ever seen from any of the American wannabes. (Broner et al)

 

Round 11

Barriga is leading Mendoza around the ring, trolling him with footwork basically, pretending he's about to drift into the ropes and then suddenly materializing several feet off in another direction. Barriga just gliding, making everything seem effortless and graceful while Mendoza try as he might just seems to be clumsily plodding along eating jabs, his upper body held stiff & tense, firing into the night sky in upward diagonals from the chest with both hands, missing horrendously. Barriga stutter-steps all the way into a corner, a ruse, he check-hooks Mendoza across the jaw.

10-9 Barriga

110-99 Barriga