If Lito “Thunder Kid” Adiwang’s 2019 is any indication of the year that he is about to have, then expect big things from the newest sensation from Team Lakay.
In the past 12 months, Adiwang broke out from Rich Franklin’s ONE Warrior Series and onto the ONE Championship main roster in seamless fashion, going unbeaten in all of his matches from the developmental league to the big stage.
The 26-year-old scored impressive wins over Alber Correia “Magayver” Da Silva and Anthony “The Antidote” Do in OWS before culminating his year with a first-round stoppage victory over veteran Senzo Ikeda at ONE: CENTURY PART I.
“It’s like a dream,” Adiwang said. “It was a fruitful year for me in my career. I was successful in OWS and then in my debut with ONE, so I am very happy. I learned a lot this year. I saw how if you are entirely focused with what you truly want, then you will get it.”
The scariest thing for the rest of the strawweight division is that Adiwang will only get better.
He gets a chance to prove that when he battles Pongsiri “The Smiling Assassin” Mitsatit at ONE: FIRE & FURY on January 31 at the Mall Of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines.
The key for the Baguio City native is to not get lost in the moment.
“I just have to make sure I remain grounded and focused. I just have to keep the fire burning, even though I have reached my earlier goals,” Adiwang said.
“The fire should always be there, the desire to always improve and be a better version of yourself should always be there so I don’t remain stagnant and I always remain expecting.”
He knows that he has the capability of being one of the best martial artists to come out of the Philippines – and the only way to prove that is to keep on impressing in The Home Of Martial Arts.
“I am visualizing that I will keep on winning, and hopefully be a top contender,” Adiwang said.
“I want to close 2020 and enter 2021 as one of the top athletes and closer to a title shot—that’s what pushes me to keep the fire burning in this sport.”
In the meantime, ONE Championship returns to martial arts action on January 10 for ONE: A NEW TOMORROW at the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand.
Catch all the action live and for free on the ONE Super App