By Kevin Estrada
It is two wins out of three for the Filipino contingent in ONE: King of the Jungle Friday evening at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
For the first time, the organization holds its event behind closed doors due to the threat of the coronavirus that grappled the entire world. After the Warriors Code three weeks ago in Jakarta, Chatri Sityodtong’s group waste no time to protect the safety and the health of everyone involved.
And with that, Honorio Banario and Denice Zamboanga come up with contrasting decision wins as New Zealand-born Mark Abelardo came up short in the lead card.
The Rock of Team Lakay was solid in his return to featherweight, coming up with a split decision victory over Thailand’s Shannon Wiratchai, thanks to his wushu skills to snap his three-bout losing skid, all of which came at lightweight last year.
On the other hand, the menacing lass from Quezon City took out former title challenger Mei Yamaguchi of Japan in a unanimous fashion in women’s atomweight.
It was a dominating performance by Zamboanga, not only did she win her second straight win at ONE, but it sends her closer to her wish: a title shot against the reigning atomweight queen Angela Lee.
Sandwiched in between was Abelardo’s loss to American Troy Worthen in a unanimous decision at their three-rounder in bantamweight.
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