Jorge Barrios’ Argentine Fire
Jorge “La Hiena” Barrios made his name in fights that rarely stayed calm for long. The Argentine super featherweight was an aggressive, all-action boxer, and his 2003 challenge of Acelino Freitas showed why crowds followed him: Barrios pushed the unbeaten champion through a bruising contest before Freitas stopped him in the final round. The loss did not quiet Barrios. It made him a fighter fans wanted to see again.
The Freitas fight made him a name
Barrios was born in Tigre, Buenos Aires Province, in 1976 and turned professional in 1996. In August 2003, he met Brazil’s Freitas in Miami for the WBA and WBO super featherweight titles. The fight swung repeatedly, with both men hitting the canvas. Barrios came close to an upset, but Freitas rallied for a 12th-round stoppage. Even in defeat, Barrios had announced himself on the international stage.
A title won in the fourth round
Barrios returned to Miami in April 2005 to face WBO champion Mike Anchondo. Anchondo had BoxRec record, so the championship was vacant when they entered the ring. Barrios settled the contest in the fourth round, stopping Anchondo and claiming the WBO super featherweight crown at 130 pounds. It was the breakthrough he had been chasing since the Freitas fight.
The scale and Joan Guzmán
Barrios held the title through several defenses, but his reign ended in 2006 under unusual circumstances. He came in overweight for a scheduled defense against Joan Guzmán and was stripped of the belt before the bout. Guzmán won their 12-round fight by split decision. Barrios had to leave Las Vegas without the championship, while Guzmán departed with the victory and title.
Barrios returned to professional boxing in 2019 after years away from the ring. His career remains tied to the fearless style that made him a draw: an unforgettable near-upset of Freitas, a fourth-round championship finish, and a title reign that ended at the weigh-in. Explore more champions and contenders in our boxing archive.
Sources: Página/12 on Barrios’s title win over Anchondo; Página/12 on the Guzmán weigh-in and fight; Clarín on Barrios’s return to boxing.
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Article Tags
Jorge “La Hiena” Barrios, Boxing, Boxing History, Championship Boxing
