Filipino light-flyweight Mark Anthony Barriga Advances to Final 16

        Filipino boxer Mark Barriga capitalized on a strong first round to emerge victorious against Italian foe Manuel Cappai of Italy, 17-7, to advance to the final 16 of Men's Light Fly 49 kgs in the 2012 London Olympic games, Tuesday.

        Barriga was effective as a counter-puncher in the first round, forcing the referee to give Cappai a standing eight count in the final 15 seconds. With the knockdown, Barriga won the round, 5-2.

        In the second round, Barriga defended well, even with Cappai hooking and locking the Filipino's right hand to win anew, 4-2. The final round was all about Barriga, who scored on a combination late in the third to seal the win, 8-3.

         Barriga now faces Kazakhstan's Birzhan Zhakypov, who won a close bout against Jeremy Baccu of France, 18-7. The Filipino will meet his Kazakhstani foe on Saturday, 8:45 pm, Manila time. Zhakypov is the reigning Asian Games silver medallist, losing to Olympic defending champion Zou Shiming in the finals.