Filipino martial arts veteran Rene “The Challenger” Catalan has nothing but praise for reigning ONE Strawweight World Champion Joshua “The Passion” Pacio after the latter's scintillating performance against Yosuke “The Ninja” Saruta at ONE: ROOTS OF HONOR.
Pacio and Saruta electrified the crowd at the Mall Of Asia Arena in Manila on Friday, 12 April, as the Team Lakay phenom registered a jaw-dropping fourth-round knockout to reclaim the World Title that he lost to the Japanese competitor via split decision three months earlier.
For Catalan, he was particularly impressed with the changes “The Passion” made in their second encounter.
“The adjustments that Pacio made were evident. He was really determined to get that belt,” Catalan said.
“I think he had a good training camp, and it showed. He stuck to his game plan because he knew what Saruta would be doing in their rematch.”
Pacio earned his 14th professional victory, but most importantly, he brought the ONE Strawweight World Title back to the Philippines after a forgettable first quarter in 2019 for Team Lakay.
While there are many things the 23-year-old did right in the rematch, Catalan believes it all boiled down to willpower.
“The hometown advantage was a huge factor for him, but it was his will to put Team Lakay back on top which ultimately did it,” the veteran explained. “He was thinking about his team, and he fought for them.”
Catalan, who is on a six-bout win streak and possibly next in line to challenge for the ONE Strawweight World Title, admitted to seeing some familiar traits in Pacio.
While the 40-year-old Iloilo native does not particularly want to battle a countryman, he believes a potential match-up will give fans a treat should it materialize.
“I see myself in Pacio. That determination and that discipline are the things that I see in him,” Catalan explained.
“I’m so happy that a fellow Filipino is a World Champion again. I really don’t want to fight a fellow Filipino, but if it happens, then expect a good match between us.”