JAKARTA -- For the first time in Jomary Torres' career, the crowd won't be cheering for her.
The charming atomweight who catches everyone by surprise with her hounding offense will be an overwhelming underdog when she steps inside the cage at ONE: Conquest of Heroes on Saturday at Jakarta Convention Center.
Torres (4-0) stakes her unbeaten record against SEA Games wushu bronze medalist Priscilla Hertati Lumban Gaol (3-3) with the crowd expected to cheer their hearts out for the hometown girl and none for the Filipina.
And somehow, the Zamboangueña fighter does acknowledge feeling the nerves in the buildup for her bout, saying, "Tuwing matutulog ako, medyo hindi nga ako makatulog ng masyado kasi taga-rito yung kalaban ko. Para akong kinakabahan na ewan eh."
It doesn't mean that it bothers her that much, though, with Torres already used on hearing and tuning out naysayers, both for her and for her home gym, Catalan Fighting System.
"May nagsasabi na, 'Ah, wala yan. Ah, wala yang mga Team Catalan na yan.' Pero alam ko sa sarili ko na kaya ko kasi andyan naman si God, andyan naman lahat ng ka-teammate ko, at andyan naman lahat ng sumusuporta. Kung wala sila, wala din ako at hindi ako makaka-akyat sa ganito ka-laki na laban," she said.
"Hinahayaan ko na lang kasi kung papatulan pa, lalaki pa. Ipapakita ko na lang sa kanila yung kakalabasan sa laban, ipapakita ko na kaya natin kasi para sa bansa din natin ito eh."
So far, Torres has proven that she is more than capable to make a name for herself.
Bursting into the scene in Macau back in August last year with a stunning submission win over Thai fan-favorite Rika Ishige, she has also logged wins over Indonesian Nita Dea and Team Lakay bet April Osenio to stay unscathed through four professional bouts -- the last three coming in the ONE banner.
With those already under her belt, Torres wouldn't want to stop now more than ever.
"First time ko maranasan na nandito ako sa lugar ng kalaban ko, pero ako naman, focused lang ako sa training ko," she said. "Sa tingin ko, akin ito. Hindi talaga ako matatalo. Abangan na lang nila."
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