https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0NDDoJWPhk
Stephen “The Sniper” Loman is up for a very dangerous task when he takes on former ONE Bantamweight World Champion John “Hands of Stone” Lineker at ONE Fight Night 14: Stamp vs. Ham on September 30 inside the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
In a match between two top bantamweights, Loman looks to prove that he deserves a shot at current division king Fabricio “Wonder Boy” Andrade. The Brazilian is currently shooting for the vacant ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Title against Muay Thai champ Jonathan “The General” Haggerty.
“When I found out that I’m going to be facing [Lineker], I was elated because at least I’m not going to be [inactive] for the rest of the year,” he said.
“I know this will be for the true number-one contender’s spot. This is good news.”
While he’s got a challenge ahead of him, “The Sniper” isn’t too worried considering he has an excellent support group at Team Lakay, a camp that’s oozing with talent in the bantamweight division.
Jhanlo Mark Sangiao and Carlos Alvarez have been helping Loman improve his wrestling and takedowns. And given how the two young men have been performing, “The Sniper” couldn’t ask for better training partners.
But that’s not all. Also helping him prepare for Lineker’s heavy hands is the hard-hitting Carlo Bumina-ang. He just made a raucous ONE debut by destroying Reza Saedi at ONE Friday Fights 27 earlier this month.
“We’re sparring hard. They’re pushing me hard, particularly in the striking department, because that’s John’s strength. We work on our striking – hook, hook, body body – and add wrestling to it. I’m really being pushed in this program,” he said.
That said, this gives Loman the necessary confidence he needs to hang with Lineker wherever the match goes.
“I can go toe-to-toe with him on the feet. He likes fighting in the pocket, and I’m working on that right now,” he said.
“In this fight, I’ll use everything, I’ll bring out everything from my tool box. If I can finish him in the first or second, for sure I will.”
