Although there was nothing he could do against two-time AIBA World Champion and 2010 Guangzhou Olympic gold medalist Zou Shiming of China, spitfire Mark Anthony Barriga still has a chance to earn a slot for the 2012 Olympic Games.
Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines president Ricky Vargas told philboxing.com/insidesports.ph that should Zou win a gold or silver medal in Baku, Azerbaijan then Barriga who lost to the Olympian 12-5 in the quarter finals will automatically qualify for the Olympics.
Zou scored an impressive win over the 18 year old Barriga who gave away several inches in height and reach to the skilled Chinese boxer who took the opening round 4-1 to set the tone of the bout.
Zou edged Barriga 3-2 in the second round before piling up the points in the third 5-2 to win handily.
The 30-year-old Chinese missed the last edition of the AIBA World Championships but won the National Games and the Asian Games in this Olympic era. Zou was very excited before the championships started but only led 4:3 after the first round in his opening bout against Pan American Games Qualification Tournament winner, Juan Gabriel Medina of the Dominican Republic. But he finally celebrated a clear 17:9 victory.
Zou Shiming is still unbeaten since June 2007 and after overcoming against Hungary's European Championships bronze medallist, Istvan Ungvari 12-2 in his second bout overcame Barriga to book a place in the semi finals.
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