Former ONE Bantamweight World Champion Kevin “The Silencer” Belingon addressed the rumors about him moving up a weight class to challenge ONE Featherweight World Champion Martin “The Situ-Asian” Nguyen.
In the past, Belingon has repeatedly said that he does not want to leave the bantamweight division, but the Kiangan, Ifugao native is starting to change his mind.
“For me, the priority is still getting the ONE Bantamweight World Title back, but of course I am willing to challenge Martin for the belt if given the opportunity by ONE,” Belingon said.
“Still, regaining my belt remains my top priority.”
The reason being? Aside from his desire to even things out with rival Bibiano “The Flash” Fernandes, Belingon believes he has to check off a few other names at bantamweight.
Shoko Sato, Yusup “Maestro” Saadulaev, Shuya “Stealth” Kamikubo, Daichi Takenaka, and John “Hands of Stone” Lineker are all itching to get past number-one ranked Belingon.
“This is a very deep division now,” the Filipino said. “The names here are just getting bigger and bigger.”
“I believe it’s a tougher division now, and I am still challenged because of all the good fighters we have.”
It was actually Nguyen who went down to Belingon’s division at ONE: REIGN OF KINGS in July 2018 to take on “The Silencer” for the interim ONE Bantamweight World Title.
Belingon won the scrap by unanimous decision, but should he move up a weight class to meet “The Situ-Asian” again, he foresees a more challenging contest.
“If we face each other again, I expect the same tough Martin Nguyen who I faced before, someone who hits very hard and has very good timing,” he said.
ONE returns to action with ONE: NO SURRENDER, a closed-door, audience-free show set for 31 July in Bangkok, Thailand. Catch it for free by downloading the ONE Super App.