By Jun Ray Navarres
Team Lakay looks to end the year in the most explosive way possible as four athletes are slated to make appearance in ONE: Winter Warriors II, a previously recorded event set to broadcast via tape delay on December 17.
Former ONE Bantamweight World Champion Kevin Belingon leads the squad of Baguio-based warriors together with Danny Kingad, alongside promotion debutants Stephen Loman and Jhanlo Mark Sangiao.
Head coach Mark Sangiao is confident that his pupils will surely deliver on the fight night.
“I think all our four fighters are ready. We’ve been training continuously and we’ve had no injuries in our training, so we’re prepared for that,” he said during the team’s media availability on Wednesday.
With less than a month left, the fighters are eager to show the improvements that they have been working on as they all aim to be more well-rounded fighters.
Especially the newcomers Loman and the younger Sangiao.
“The Sniper”, who’s been a dominant force in BRAVE CF takes on no. 3-ranked bantamweight Yusup Saadulaev of Russia as he seeks for a memorable introduction in ONE Championship.
“One of my goals is to face the top contenders and I know that I have to show that I belong so that I can face the champion,” said Loman.
Jhanlo on the other hand, will step inside the Circle with a lot of pressure knowing that his father’s name is well-known in the sport. “The Machine” locks horns with Indonesian Paul Lumihi, hoping to step the right foot forward.
“This is my dream and I’ve waited for this opportunity since I was a kid. So, I’m very excited to fight and show my best come fight night,” the younger Sangiao said.
Belingon will take on Korean Kwon Won Il, who has undergone extensive boxing training in the Philippines to improve his strikes.
“I think he’s a tough fighter, and it gives me great pride that he trained here in the Philippines for his boxing, so that means that he acknowledges that the boxing here is world-class,” said Belingon, the former titleholder who is aiming to snap his three-fight losing skid.
Lastly, after some cancellations Kingad will finally meet #4-ranked Kairat Akhmetov in a fight that will surely place the winner in a path that leads to ONE Flyweight kingpin Adriano Moraes.
“It has come true, so I’m excited to finally face him and I think I’m ready for him,” remarked Kingad.
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