Olympian Mark Anthony Barriga makes his return to the ring when he clashes against Junuel Lacar in a six-round bout that is part of the 10-card fight on March 27 inside a bubble set up at the International Pharmaceuticals Inc. in Mandaue City, Cebu.

The 27-year-old Barriga has not fought in more than two years, or since a split decision loss to American Carlos Licona for the vacant IBF world minimum weight title last Dec. 1, 2018 at Staples Center in Los Angeles.

“Matagal-tagal din na hindi nakalaban si Mark, kaya ngayon nagbabalik siya (It’s been a while since Mark’s last fight, so now he’s coming back),” said Omega trainer Julius Erving Naranjo in a phone interview withManila Bulletin Wednesday.

As an amateur boxer, Barriga competed in the 2012 London Olympics, where he scored a dominant win against Italian Manuel Cappai in the opening round of 32, but lost to Birzhan Zhakypov of Kazakhstan in the round of 16.

A native of Danao, Cebu, Barriga also won gold medal in the 2013 Myanmar Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, and earned a bronze medal during the 2014 Incheon Asian Games in Korea.

Barriga turned professional in July 2016 and won his first nine fights, before losing to Licona in his US debut.

The 28-year-old Lacar, on the other hand, sports a ring record of eight wins, six by way of knockouts, six defeats and three draws. He lost to Mark Vicelles last October when Omega first organized a boxing event in the country under strict measures due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Naranjo said that the same health protocols would be implemented during the fight.

“Actually we already started with the health protocols,” he said. “Naka-bubble na lahat ng participating boxers, mga trainers, officials. (We’re already in the bubble, the participating boxers, trainers, officials).”

A total of 10 bouts are set on the 27th although the organizers, led by Pio Paulo Castillo III, divided it into two, five fights at 1 p.m. for Kumbati 8, and the other five at 6 p.m. for Kumbati 9.