Team Lakay’s Lito “Thunder Kid” Adiwang has turned into one of the most exciting strawweights in ONE Championship today, and he credits three people with inspiring him.
The 26-year-old ran through Rich Franklin's ONE Warrior Series and quickly made his presence felt in the main roster with consecutive first-round wins over Senzo Ikeda and Pongsiri “The Smiling Assassin” Mitsatit.
Adiwang would not be in this position if it were not for three people who paved the way for him.
“My first ever idol in martial arts, of course, is our pambansang kamao [national fist] Manny Pacquiao. He showed me how I can change my life through my hands. He inspired me to take up boxing when I was a kid,” Adiwang said.
“We all know his life story and I can totally relate to it. That’s why I was inspired, and I am grateful that he showed me what to do.”
Adiwang discovered martial arts through his older brother, who used a different type of martial arts to prosper – wushu.
“My older brother, Edgar Adiwang, showed me how to make all of this work,” Adiwang said.
“He entered wushu and he used it to get a scholarship and finish his course in nursing. I saw that no matter how hard our life was, he never used it as an excuse to give up.”
Following in his brother’s footsteps, Adiwang joined the Wushu Varsity team of the University of Baguio and he met another inspiration – Eduard “Landslide” Folayang.
“Then there’s Eduard Folayang. His story is inspirational as well. Every time I hear his name, the first thing that comes up is ‘hero.’ He is one of the few people who is a champion inside and outside the ring. He does not need a belt to be a champion,” Adiwang said.
“I always take inspiration from him in reaching my dreams. I’m grateful because he showed us what it takes to be a World Champion and how to act when you’re a World Champion already. He is definitely my role model.”
Now Adiwang wants to pay it forward.
Knowing the type of impact an athlete can have on a young man, “Thunder Kid” vows to be an excellent role model to the youth both in and out of the Circle.
“That’s one of my dreams, that one day I inspire people through martial arts,” Adiwang said.
“The stories of these three men pushed me to be the athlete that I am today and pushed me to change my life. I want to do that as well.”