Jorge Rodrigo Barrios: “La Hiena” is Now Golden and Ready to Make His Mark.

Translated from Spanish to English by Sergio Martinez.

“All Golden Boy has to do is put them in line, and I’ll knock them out.”–Jorge Rodrigo Barrios.

After taking the WBO super featherweight title from “Mighty” Mike Anchondo via fourth round stoppage on an ESPN 2 Friday Night Fights televised card, on April 8, 2005, last week, Golden Boy Promotions made the signing of their newest charge, Jorge Rodrigo Barrios, official with a media conference and presentation of the WBO belt. With a high-powered promotional company behind him, and a world title belt to defend, “La Hiena” is looking to make his mark on boxing. Speaking from his home in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Barrios said, “We are champions and now, we have Golden Boy Promotions behind us. There is no stopping us. I’m so happy to be with Golden Boy and look forward to a long and successful relationship with them. I want to show everyone that I’m a great fighter and am a true world champion. I will fight anyone. I don’t care who it is! All Golden Boy has to do is tell me when and where. They don’t even have to tell me who I’m fighting because I don’t care. I’ll fight anybody!” It is that kind of arrogance, self-belief, and attitude that separates Barrios for the other titleholders. He has the bravado, cockiness, and all-out fighting style to excite the masses, attract the “casual” boxing fan, and make new ones in the process.

When asked if he would give Mike Anchondo a rematch, “La Hiena” had this to say: “If he (Anchondo) is a masochist and wants to take another ass beating, I’ll be more than happy to give it to him. Hey, it would be easy money. I already gave him a brutal beat down once, and I’ll beat him worse if we fight again. Don’t get me wrong. I don’t want to hurt the little boy because he has a family, but if he is a masochist, and wants to fight again, I’ll beat him down. I would really much rather fight bigger names because, let’s face it, who is he (Anchondo) anyway? Give me an Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera, or a Manny Pacquiao. I’ll prove my mettle with those guys. Unfortunately, we don’t have a fight scheduled right now, but I’m hoping to fight by no later than August of this year. Also, I want a rematch against Acelino Freitas, but it has to be at 130-pounds. That’s my weight. Like I said, I’ll fight anyone! All Golden Boy has to do is put them in line, and I’ll knock them out.”

And with no fight scheduled, what does a fiery guy like “La Hiena” do in his spare time? “There is no such thing as spare time for me. I’m always training and trying to get better. Also, I’m back in school and want to obtain my high school diploma. I think that having an education is very important and age should never matter. I’m just trying to better myself as an individual.

In closing, Barrios sent out this message: “To my fanatics and all supporters, I send you my love. We’ve arrived! I will fight anyone out there and will continue to respect our sport and treat it with the dignity it deserves. I will prove that I’m the best world champion in the sport. Thank all of you for your support.”

With the revival that our beloved sport is experiencing right now, having “La Hiena” as a world champion and promoted by Golden Boy can only mean that we will see more of him in the very near future. That is great news for us as fans, and for the growth of our sport as this guy is an amazing character, and can really fight. So, strap on your safety belts my fellow fanatics because this is going to be one hell of a ride.

Sergio Martinez can be reached at srg_mrtnz@yahoo.com