Pacio, determinado para sa Cordilleras

JAKARTA, Indonesia – Target ni Pinoy star Joshua ‘The Passion’ Pacio na maiuwi ang korona sa pagsabak kontra ONE Strawweight World Champion Yoshitaka ‘Nobita’ Naito ng Japan sa ONE: Conquest of Heroes ngayon sa Jakarta Convention Center.

Mabigat ang laban, ngunit handa si Pacio na magtagumpay na aniya’y alay niya sa mga kababayan sa Cordilleras na nasalanta ng bagyong ‘Ompong’ kamakailan.

“I have waited two long years for this, working on my skills every single day and improving with every bout. This is no doubt the biggest fight of my professional career. I am a completely different fighter now compared to before when we first met. I think I will surprise him a lot with how much I have changed. I have worked extremely hard with my team, with my coach, on developing a fight-winning strategy for this Saturday night. All that’s left is for me to execute. Winning the world title means a lot to me. It will give me a chance to provide a better life for myself and for my family. I have only victory on my mind in this bout,” pahayag ng Team Lakay member na si Pacio.

Nagpahayagn naman ng paghanga at respeto si Naito sa kanyang challenger.

“I have a lot of respect for Joshua Pacio, he is a very talented kid and a great martial artist. I have no doubt that one day, he will be champion. But that day hasn’t arrived yet. Right now, it’s my time. He will have his chance, but I am in the best condition of my career and I fully expect to walk out of the arena this Saturday the winner, with title fully intact. He has improved immensely in the two years since we last met in the cage, but so have I. I am a much more complete martial artist now than ever before. This will be an exciting bout for sure, but one that I will come out of still champion,” aniya matapos ang isinagawang open workout kahapon.

Mula nang mag-debut sa ONE noong 2012, isa si Naito sa matagumpay na mixed martial arts fighter mula sa Japan.