ONE Championship is back in Metro Manila, Philippines for its second of four shows in 2018. In a press conference held at the Grand Ballroom of the City of Dreams in Paranaque City, Metro Manila on April 17, 2018, the promotion kicked off its latest event “ONE: Heroes of Honor,” which will be headlined by Kevin “The Silencer” Belingon and Andrew Leone.
Representing Team Lakay of Baguio City, Philippines, Belingon is currently riding a four-bout winning streak. He has 17 wins and 5 losses while Leone, who hails from Cortland, New York, has 8 wins and 3 losses.
As former bantamweight world title challengers, both Belingon and Leone are seeking a rematch against reigning ONE Bantamweight World Champion Bibiano “The Flash” Fernandes, but will have to go through each other to secure it. Fernandes defeated Belingon at “ONE: Dynasty of Champions” on January 23, 2016 and Leone at “ONE: Kings and Conquerors” on August 5, 2017.
“Beating Leone would be the next step to the title,” Belingon said during the press conference. He thanked ONE Championship for allowing him to be a part of “ONE: Heroes of Honor,” which he referred to as an historic event.
“I can’t leave anything to chance,” the Team Lakay fighter said. “I have to give another great performance.”
Belingon said he has to be at his best to win as he acknowledges that he is facing a tough opponent in Leone. For the Team Lakay fighter, it is going to be one of his biggest matches to date.
Also in the panel during the “ONE: Heroes of Honor” press conference were ONE Championship chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong, City of Dreams Manila chief operating officer Kevin Benning, Team Lakay’s Honorio “The Rock” Banario and opponent Adrian “The Hunter” Pang of Australia, Giorgio “The Doctor” Petrosyan and opponent ‘Smokin’ Jo Nattawut of Thailand and Nong-o Gaiyanghadao of Thailand and opponent Fabio Pinca of Italy. Petrosyan, Nattawut, Gaiyanghadao and Pinca will compete in ONE Super Series, which is making its debut in the promotion.
“ONE: Heroes of Honor” will take place on April 20, 2018 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines. Gates open at 6:30 p.m. local time.
CONAN Daily 