JOSHUA Pacio looks to reclaim the strawweight title as he battles Yosuke Saruta on Friday in One: Roots of Honor at Mall of Asia Arena.
The 23-year-old Igorot fighter knows that title chances don’t come often, and he's looking to make the most of this opportunity.
"I know the magnitude of this matchup and how important this rematch with Yosuke Saruta is. I wasn’t at my best in that first fight, so I want to go out there and prove that I can do much better," he said.
Pacio (16-3) lost the strawweight title to Saruta (19-8-3) in January in a controversial split decision in Jakarta, and the Team Lakay fighter wants nothing but to get back on his feet.
"Saruta is a great fighter, and I have so much respect for him. But I have the hopes and dreams of an entire country on my shoulders, and I can’t let the fans down," he said. "I’m coming to regain the belt. It’s going to be a war this Friday."
Saruta, on the other hand, tries to prove that his win earlier in the year is no fluke.
"Pacio is a very dangerous fighter and he's hungry, but I am determined to keep my world title and take it back to Japan," he said.
Martin Nguyen will also defend his One Featherweight World Championship against Mongolian challenger Narantungalag Jadambaa in the main event, while brothers Eric and Edward Kelly will also hit the cage against Korean foes in the undercard.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph