Team Lakay’s Lito ‘Thunder Kid’ Adiwang ready to swing back into action after battle with COVID-19
AFTER being sidelined by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) early this year, Team Lakay fighter Lito “Thunder Kid” Adiwang is ready and excited to get back into action in ONE Championship.
Mr. Adiwang (12-3) is to battle Hexigetu of China in a strawweight clash in the lead card for “ONE: Revolution” on Sept. 24 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
It will be the first fight for the Filipino warrior after recovering from COVID-19, which forced his scheduled bout in April to be canceled.
“It (COVID-19) really took a toll on me physically. My cardio and strength were down and it was tough at the start,” shared Mr. Adiwang in an online media roundtable for ONE Revolution on Sept. 17.
“We really needed to come up with a plan to recover the lost strength and get back to the form where I was before getting the virus,” he added.
He was also happy to share that he has fully recovered and has prepared well for his upcoming fight where he hopes to win his second straight match.
Mr. Adiwang last fought in January this year, winning over Japanese Namiki Kawahara by knockout (punch) in the second round.
It was a bounce-back win for him after losing in his prior fight in October 2020, his first defeat in ONE in three fights in the main roster of the promotion.
He said the victory did a lot in getting him back on track mentally and motivated to shore up standing in the game.
“I can say that I have regained my confidence. Since that win over Namiki, my focus has just been on an uphill climb that I’m so excited to get back and fight inside the ONE Circle,” he said. “I’m definitely happy with my performance against Namiki.”
Against noted grappler Hexigetu (8-3), the Team Lakay stalwart is expecting no less than a solid challenge, but vowed to come out fighting and do well.
“Of course, I want to keep our game plan a secret, but all I can tell everyone is that they can expect that everything we planned for is very solid. Coach Mark [Sangiao] has diligently worked with me in preparing me for this, and like in my past wins, I can say that this will be another highlight win for us,” he said.
ONE: Revolution will be headlined by three world title fights led by reigning ONE Lightweight World Champion Christian Lee of Singapore/ United States against no. 3 contender Ok Rae Yoon of South Korea. Also on tap are the bantamweight kickboxing world championship clash between Capitan of Thailand and Mehdi Zatout of Algeria and the world strawweight title collision between Joshua Pacio of the Philippines and Japanese Yosuke Saruta.
Revolution will be broadcast live over One Sports on Friday, beginning at 6:30 p.m.