Rene Barrientos (boxer)

Ireneo "Rene" Barrientos (born February 28, 1943) is a Filipino former professional boxer. He competed from 1962 to 1978 and held the WBC Lightweight and Jr. Lightweight title in 1969.[1]

Rene Barrientos
Born
Ireneo Barrientos

(1943-07-25) July 25, 1943 (age 80)
Balete, Aklan, Philippines
NationalityFilipino
Statistics
Weight(s)
StanceSouthpaw
Boxing record
Total fights48
Wins39
Wins by KO14
Losses7
Draws2

Early life edit

Ireneo "Rene" Barrientos was born on July 25, 1943, in Balete, Aklan, the fourth of 10 children whose father was a policeman. Their father died when Barrientos was 12 years old. At a tender age of 15, he joined his brothers working in the farm in Cotabato after their migration.

Like most boxers, Barrientos dropped out of school at age 17 due to poverty and worked as a mechanic's helper in a logging firm. He was promoted to the position of foreman when the company transferred its concession to Samar.

Professional career edit

Upon his return to Cotabato, Barrientos saw upon Gabriel "Flash" Elorde's world title fight against Harold Gomes at a movie house and was fascinated by the sport of prizefighting especially that Elorde became world champion that time. He turned pro on October 2, 1962, knocking out Charlie (Carlito) Kid in the second round. He transferred to Cagayan de Oro and on February 27, 1965, he faced his idol Flash Elorde in a 12-round match for the Orient Pacific Boxing Federation lightweight title at the Cebu Coliseum. Elorde was already the world super featherweight champion at that time but his world title belt was not at stake. Barrientos fought Elorde with a tough fight for 12 rounds, but he lost a unanimous decision. After the match, Elorde commented that Barrientos will become a future champion. Barrientos went on to win over Carl Peñalosa, the father of world champions Gerry and Dodie Boy Peñalosa, twice. In the first encounter, Barrientos won by 4th-round via Technical Knockout (TKO). During the rematch, he won by unanimous decision. Both fights were held at the Cebu Coliseum.[2] After 11 straight victories following the match with Elorde, he lost a decision then draw the rematch in succession with future junior welterweight champion Pedro Adigue Jr. on January 21 then on February 17, 1967.

On April 29, 1967, he won the Philippine super featherweight title via points decision over Raymond Rivera in a fight held in Davao City.

He battled WBC/WBA super featherweight/junior lightweight champion Hiroshi Kobayashi on March 30, 1968, in Tokyo, Japan. The fight ended in a controversial majority draw with the judge and referee from Japan scoring it a draw, while the Filipino judge saw it in favor of Barrientos. The WBC ordered an immediate rematch, which Kobayashi refused, prompting the WBC to strip the Japanese of his title and ordered the number one contender Barrientos to face the number two contender Ruben Navarro of Los Angeles, California.

Barrientos defeated Navarro by unanimous decision at the Araneta Coliseum on February 15, 1969. It was reported that Barrientos vomited an hour before the fight time, but pummeled his opponent badly to win convincingly. Barrientos’ reign as world champion lasted only more than a year as he lost a controversial split-decision to Japan's Yoshiaki Numata in Tokyo, Japan on January 3, 1971.

He retired after his majority decision win over Javier Ayala in Hawaii on July 25, 1972, after injuring his left hand. But he returned to the ring in 1978 for two more victories in fights against Filipino Joe Faune by 2nd-round KO and Thai Jong Satherigym by decision.

During Mayor Oscar Moreno's term, Barrientos offers training, advice, and guidance to Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP) boxers in Cagayan de Oro City under the patronage of the said mayor. At present, Rene Barrientos manage his 3 apartments beside his family compound.[3]

Professional boxing record edit

48 fights 39 wins 7 losses
By knockout 14 1
By decision 25 6
Draws 2
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
48 Win 39–7–2   Jong Satherigym PTS 10 (10) May 27, 1978   Cebu City, Philippines
47 Win 38–7–2   Joe Faune KO 2 (?) February 11, 1978   Gold City Coliseum, Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines
46 Win 37–7–2   Javier Ayala MD 10 (10) July 25, 1972   Honolulu International Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, US
45 Win 36–7–2   Armando Zerpa TKO 9 (10) May 27, 1972   Honolulu International Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, US
44 Win 35–7–2   Tatsunao Mitsuyama TKO 4 (10) June 4, 1971   Rizal Memorial Stadium, Manila, Philippines
43 Loss 34–7–2   Yoshiaki Numata SD 15 (15) January 3, 1971   Sunpu Arena, Shizuoka, Japan For WBC super-featherweight title
42 Win 34–6–2   Guts Ishimatsu MD 10 (10) October 29, 1970   Honolulu International Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, US
41 Win 33–6–2   Roger Zami TKO 7 (10) September 29, 1970   Honolulu International Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, US
40 Win 32–6–2   Suleman Itti Aanuchit TKO 8 (12) August 14, 1970   Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City, Philippines Won OPBF super featherweight Title
39 Win 31–6–2   Shinichi Kadota PTS 10 (10) June 6, 1970   Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City, Philippines
38 Loss 30–6–2   Yoshiaki Numata SD 15 (15) April 5, 1970   Metropolitan Gym, Japan Lost WBC super-featherweight title
37 Win 30–5–2   Yukinori Hiraki PTS 10 (10) February 28, 1970   Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines
36 Win 29–5–2   Eugenio Espinoza UD 10 (10) December 20, 1969   Manila, Philippines
35 Loss 28–5–2   Adolph Pruitt TKO 7 (10) July 29, 1969   Honolulu International Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, US
34 Win 28–4–2   Len Kesey TKO 9 (10) April 15, 1969   Honolulu International Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, US
33 Win 27–4–2   Ruben Navarro UD 15 (15) February 15, 1969   Araneta Coliseum, Barangay Cubao, Quezon City, Philippines Won vacant WBC super-featherweight title
32 Win 26–4–2   Sumio Nobata PTS 10 (10) December 21, 1968   Davao City, Philippines
31 Win 25–4–2   Antonio Amaya PTS 10 (10) June 22, 1968   Araneta Coliseum, Barangay Cubao, Quezon City, Philippines
30 Draw 24–4–2   Hiroshi Kobayashi MD 15 (15) March 30, 1968   Nippon Budokan, Japan for the WBC & WBA super-featherweight title.
29 Win 24–4–1   Hubert Kang PTS 10 (10) January 14, 1968   Araneta Coliseum, Barangay Cubao, Quezon City, Philippines
28 Win 23–4–1   Sumio Nobata KO 6 (10) November 13, 1967   Japan
27 Win 22–4–1   Koji Okano UD 10 (10) October 23, 1967   Chiba City, Japan
26 Loss 21–4–1   Antonio Amaya PTS 10 (10) July 22, 1967   Estadio Juan Demóstenes Arosemena, Panama City, Panama
25 Win 21–3–1   Francisco Bolivar PTS 10 (10) June 19, 1967   Nuevo Circo, Caracas, Venezuela
24 Win 20–3–1   Raymond Rivera PTS 12 (12) April 29, 1967   Davao City, Philippines Philippines Games & Amusement Board Super Feather Title
23 Draw 19–3–1   Pedro Adigue PTS 12 (12) February 17, 1967   Philippines for the OPBF Light Title
22 Loss 19–3   Pedro Adigue PTS 12 (12) January 21, 1967   Araneta Coliseum, Barangay Cubao, Quezon City, Philippines for the OPBF Light Title
21 Win 19–2   Kang Il Suh PTS 10 (10) October 1, 1966   Manila, Philippines
20 Win 18–2   Raymond Rivera PTS 12 (12) August 26, 1966   Gold City Coliseum, Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines
19 Win 17–2   Young Terror TKO 9 (?) February 19, 1966   Araneta Coliseum, Barangay Cubao, Quezon City, Philippines
18 Win 16–2   Ric Penalosa PTS 3 (3) January 15, 1966   Cebu Coliseum, Cebu City, Philippines
17 Win 15–2   Baby Paramount PTS 3 (3) January 15, 1966   Cebu Coliseum, Cebu City, Philippines
16 Win 14–2   Ely Yares PTS 3 (3) January 15, 1966   Cebu Coliseum, Cebu City, Philippines
15 Win 13–2   Love Allotey PTS 10 (10) November 20, 1965   Rizal Memorial Coliseum, Manila, Philippines
14 Win 12–2   Noriyoshi Toyoshima PTS 10 (10) October 2, 1965   Araneta Coliseum, Barangay Cubao, Quezon City, Philippines
13 Win 11–2   Larry Flaviano TKO 7 (?) August 2, 1965   Araneta Coliseum, Barangay Cubao, Quezon City, Philippines
12 Win 10–2   Carl Penalosa PTS 10 (10) June 19, 1965   Cebu Coliseum, Cebu City, Philippines
11 Win 9–2   Carl Penalosa TKO 4 (12) May 15, 1965   Cebu Coliseum, Cebu City, Philippines
10 Loss 8–2   Gabriel Elorde UD 12 (12) February 27, 1965   Cebu Coliseum, Cebu City, Philippines
9 Win 8–1   Francisco Balug PTS 10 (10) January 16, 1965   Cebu City, Philippines
8 Win 7–1   Jose Flash Juezon PTS 10 (10) October 31, 1964   Philippines
7 Win 6–1   Young Terror PTS 12 (12) September 19, 1964   Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines
6 Win 5–1   Arthur Fuego KO 3 (?) August 25, 1964   Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines
5 Win 4–1   Koshiro Shimoji PTS 10 (10) June 27, 1964   Aquino Coliseum, Davao City, Philippines
4 Win 3–1   Rudy Perocho KO 8 (?) May 3, 1964   Davao City, Philippines
3 Loss 2–1   Sampandh Laemfapha PTS 10 (10) March 28, 1964   Gold City Coliseum, Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines
2 Win 2–0   Arthur Fuego KO 3 (?) January 25, 1964   Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines
1 Win 1–0   Charlie Kid KO 2 (?) October 2, 1962   Cotabato City, Philippines

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Rene Barrientos did it his way". Rappler. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
  2. ^ "Rene Barrientos (Boxing) Sports Hero – the Philippines Today". January 8, 2019.
  3. ^ "Story of Philippine Boxing Part XIV: Rene Barrientos, Another Filipino World Junior Lightweight Champion".

External links edit

Sporting positions
World boxing titles
Vacant
Title last held by
Hiroshi Kobayashi
WBC Super featherweight champion
February 15, 1969 – April 5, 1970
Succeeded by