Jorge Rodrigo Barrios: The Man They Call “La Hiena” is No Laughing Matter.

Translated from Spanish to English by Sergio Martinez.

“This kid is going to get a brutal beat down on Friday.”-Jorge Barrios on opponent Mike Anchondo.

Unless you are from Argentina, you probably have never heard of “La Hiena” (English translation: The Hyena, a nickname he was given as a child because of his very loud laughter), unless of course, you witnessed that memorable night on August 9, 2003, that the then unknown pugilist from Tigere, Buenos Aires, Argentina, came

within two minutes of being the first man to beat the then undefeated Acelino “Popo” Freitas. Who could ever forget the sight of Barrios, who was cut over both eyes and bleeding profusely, whipping the blood that was blurring his vision out of his sight on the sleeves of the shirt of referee Jorge Alonzo? His crude and gutsy brand of boxing was not beautiful, but very effective as Barrios had Freitas down in the both the eighth and eleventh rounds. With literally one second left in the eleventh round, “Popo” landed a wicked, soul-jarring right hand to the chin of Barrios that would leave his seemingly lifeless body suspended in midair until he finally went down, crashing face first onto the canvas. The bell would ring and, somehow, “La Hiena” would get up and find his way back to his corner. The minute in between the round would not be enough, as Barrios would come out for the twelfth round, on what could have only been instincts, only to be put down two more times before referee Jorge Alonzo would call a halt to the bout. The thing that stayed in my mind the most was that Barrios was battered, bruised, cut, and extremely hurt, but kept getting up and trying to finish Freitas. What drives a person to disregard that kind of pain and just continue to try and exact revenge? “I have anger inside of me that I was born with that I unleash on my opponents when I get into the ring,” said Barrios from his room at the Miccosukee Hotel in Miami, Florida. “This anger comes from deep inside because of the struggles me and my family had when I was a child.”

That anger, coupled with the fact that one of his uncles, Oscar Barrios, was a professional fighter in Argentina, lead a then eleven-year-old Barrios to a boxing gym for the first time. “Boxing was always around my home. I started at eleven years old and would fight a lot of exhibitions all around Argentina. I just fell in love with the sport and am very good at it. I can box very well, and can brawl also. I am very strong and can impose my will on anyone I face.”

And the man he will be facing this Friday, April 8, 2005, on ESPN 2 is WBO super featherweight titlist Mike Anchondo. “He is trying to convince himself that he can beat me because I don’t think he really believes when he says that he will dominate me. I’m a fighter with a record of forty-two wins with thirty KOs and that is very dangerous for him. I don’t think he will be able to take what Freitas was able to take and I had him (Freitas) down twice in that fight. This kid (Anchondo) is going to get a brutal beat down on Friday. I will show him who is the stronger, better fighter and I will give Miami and the fans watching on television a great fight to show them my love and appreciation. When I met Anchondo, I noticed that he is timid and weak minded. He was thinking too much about what he was saying and I knew right then and there that he respects me. He better respect me because I am going to unleash my fury on him.”

That fury, combined with a charismatic personality have brought Jorge Barrios from poverty and relative obscurity to national hero status in Argentina as “La Hiena” is a sought after model, movie star, and national icon in his native land. “I love my people and they love me. I fight for Argentina every time I step into the ring.” Why would he risk life and limb in boxing when he could make a comfortable living from his modeling and movie careers? “I love to fight and it is what I do best. I’m a born warrior and love the challenge boxing brings to me.”

He also fights for his family, as “La Hiena” is a father to an eleven-year-old son and a three-year-old daughter and is currently engaged to their mother, Maria Laura Ramirez. “They live with me in Argentina and I’m going to marry Maria on September 23, of this year. Everything is going very well for me and all is falling into place.”

The only thing standing between Barrios and bigger and better things is Anchondo. Should he win on Friday against the La Puente, California, fighter, Barrios makes it no secret who he wants next. “Erik Morales or Marco Antonio Barrera. I respect both of them and know that I can beat both of them because of my strength and technical superiority. Those would be some great wars.”

For the people that don’t know Barrios, he has this message: “Be watching the fight on Friday and be ready to be amazed with me. And for those who know me, thank you for supporting me. And to the entire nation of America, it is truly an honor and a privilege to be in your country. We as people of this world want peace and may peace reign in this land also.”

He may be talking about peace right now, but come this Friday night, expect to see a WAR.

Sergio Martinez can be reached at srg_mrtnz@yahoo.com