Mark Barriga feels his tune-up fights enough to prepare him for upcoming world title shot

Filipino boxing Olympian Mark Anthony Barriga believes that his last two bouts were enough to shake off the ring rust ahead of his upcoming fight against WBO world light flyweight Jonathan Gonzalez on June 24 at the Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee, USA.

Barriga, 28, is coming off back-to-back wins over Filipino journeymen Junuel Lacar and Ramel Antaran last year. His opposition had a combined record of 12-20-5 but Barriga insists that his opponents were no walk in the park.

“My tune-up fights even though not against rated fighters were not cans. I have been boxing for a long time and I have the skills that will not go away. That is an inborn talent,” Barriga said.

“For now the purse is not important to us. What is important is we get another title fight because it is so hard to get one. If God gives me the belt the money would come after.”

Barriga, 11-1 with 2 knockouts as a pro, went on a two-year hiatus when he lost in his first world title attempt against Carlos Licona in December 2021. As far as Barriga is concerned, his last couple of fights were enough to gauge where he is before his second world title shot.

“I think I have had enough [fights] to fight for a title again. As a fighter, I know that the two fights I've had were enough. I am training like a world champion,” Barriga stressed.

—JMB, GMA News