MORE than unifying the One Championship bantamweight world title, Kevin Belingon is thrilled to finally get another shot against Bibiano Fermandes.
Team Lakay’s Belingon is scheduled to face reigning bantamweight world champion Fernandes of Brazil in a highly-anticipated title unification bout at ONE: Heart of the Lion set at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on November 9.
“I am super excited. Finally the long wait is over, and now I’m fighting Bibiano Fernandes for the undisputed bantamweight title. Ever since the night I lost to him the first time in China, this moment has been all that I have looked forward to,” Belingon said.
The interim title holder added every opponent he has faced gave him extra motivation to reach his goal of avenging his loss to Fernandes.
“This is what I have worked extremely hard for. I know that nothing will get easier, and I have to work twice as hard to prepare for the biggest bout of my life. This is a career-defining bout for me. I am laser focused on coming into this fight in the best shape ever, and I am working triple on my preparations,” Belingon quipped.
The Ifugao native said he is also motivated after taking home the interim belt knowing he would be facing the champion soon adding he is dedicating his upcoming bout to Filipino fight fans who has been longing for the rematch.
Belingon added fight fans will expect the best performance of his 11 – year pro career.
“Fernandes is an incredible champion. For so long I have looked up to him as a martial artist, and I have complete respect for him. But I have zeroed in on facing him. He has been on my mind for more than two years now. I have upgraded my skills where necessary. This time around, things will be different. I am a completely different fighter. I know the mistakes I made in the first bout. This is my chance to erase that memory. See you inside the cage Bibiano,” he added.
‘Heart of the Lion’ also features a world champion vs. world champion super-bout as reigning women’s strawweight world champion Xiong Jing Nan of China defends her title against women’s atomweight world champion Angela Lee of Singapore. (Roderick Osis)