Rene “Ireneo” Barrientos

Ireneo “Rene” Barrientos (born July 25, 1943, in Balete, Aklan) is a Filipino southpaw who fought professionally from 1962 to 1978. Inspired by Gabriel “Flash” Elorde, Barrientos rose through the ranks and captured the WBC super featherweight title in 1969 with a unanimous decision win over Ruben Navarro at the Araneta Coliseum. His reign lasted just over a year before losing the crown to Yoshiaki Numata in Tokyo. Barrientos compiled a professional record of 48 fights, 39 wins (14 KOs), 7 losses, and 2 draws, earning respect for his resilience and skill. After retiring, he remained active in boxing as a trainer and mentor in Cagayan de Oro, while also managing his family’s properties. He is remembered as one of the Philippines’ world champions in the lightweight and super featherweight divisions.