Inspired by Manny Pacquiao, Lito Adiwang Is Following in the Footsteps of His Hero

Filipino rising star Lito “Thunder Kid” Adiwang is one of the most explosive action heroes on the ONE Championship roster today. A ONE Warrior Series top product, Adiwang has captivated audiences each time he’s stepped through the ropes or entered the Circle.

The 26-year-old stalwart brings with him a unique adrenaline rush with his fan-friendly style, whenever he comes to compete. Under the guidance of legendary Filipino martial artist Mark Sangiao, and his brothers-in-arms at the famed Team Lakay, Adiwang is blazing a trail through ONE Championship’s strawweight division.

But he wasn’t always a martial arts action hero. Growing up in Baguio City, Adiwang had a rough upbringing.

“I was born the youngest in a family of seven children. Life was tough and we had to get through a lot of trials. My parents used to plant crops in an open lot so we would have food to eat, but it wasn’t enough,” Adiwang recounted.

“It really taught me a lot about overcoming adversity in life. I wanted to help my family, but I felt powerless. Then I lost my fourth sibling in a mining accident. My parents separated when I was a teenager. I just felt hopeless.”

Just when things were progressively getting tougher for the young Adiwang, he found hope in a Philippine sporting icon.

Like many children growing up in the Philippines, Adiwang was captivated by legendary boxer, Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao. The young “Thunder Kid” drew strength and inspiration from Pacquiao’s incredible career.

Pacquiao, boxing’s only eight division world champion, is arguably the greatest boxer of his generation. He’s captured multiple world titles, defeated legends, and achieved worldwide fame and fortune.

It soon became Adiwang’s dream to be just like his idol.

“Growing up watching the rise of Manny Pacquiao, I was motivated to become a boxer just like him. I wanted to represent my country and make my people proud too. I wanted to help bring my family out of hardship and poverty,” said Adiwang.

“There used to be an old church on the streets where I grew up, where I initially started to learn how to box. I was 12 years old at the time. I would shadowbox and imagine I was Manny Pacquiao, fighting against legends like Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera. I loved his relentless style. His opponents couldn’t handle him.”

Today, there are similarities in Adiwang’s dynamite-laden strikes and Pacquiao’s ferociousness. Just like Pacquiao, Adiwang features a relentless attack. He throws punches with no caution, and everything he comes forward with is packed with bout-ending power.

The results have been absolutely stunning.

Adiwang is thus far unbeaten in his ONE Championship stint. Gaining his start on the uber popular ONE Warrior Series, Adiwang’s star has truly shined. He won his first three bouts under the watchful eye of mixed martial arts legend Rich Franklin.

Not long after, the 26-year-old earned a six-figure contract with ONE Championship, after Franklin saw immediate potential. He then strung together two incredible finishes as part of ONE’s main roster.

“I knew Lito [Adiwang] was something special the moment I saw him train, and eventually compete. He just has that finishing instinct that not everyone has. With some polish, I knew Lito would make a huge impact in ONE Championship,” said Franklin, ONE Warrior Series CEO.

“He’s a phenomenal athlete and I just see him powering through the division. He still has much to learn, but he’s also developing at such a rapid pace. I’m really proud of what he’s accomplished so far, and very excited for what the future holds for him.”

It’s still early in his career and the possibilities are endless. Whether Adiwang goes down the path of his idol, Manny Pacquiao, remains to be seen. But there’s no denying the “Thunder Kid” is traversing a similar road.

“To be even considered in the same breath as Manny, it’s such an honor. If I can accomplish even a fraction of what he has in his career, I can consider my career a success,” said Adiwang.

“Right now I’m just focused on being the best that I can be. I really want to prove myself against the best opponents, and I feel I am ready.”

ONE Championship’s Singapore Event Converted to Closed Door Event

ONE Championship recently announced that the company has made the decision to convert one of its live events into a closed-door event. ONE: KING OF THE JUNGLE, which is scheduled for Friday, 28 February in Singapore is to proceed as planned, but the Singapore Indoor Stadium will be closed off to fans and media.

The decision was made with regards to the situation in Singapore surrounding the Novel Coronavirus (official name COVID-19). 

Singapore’s Ministry of Health recently raised its Disease Outbreak Response System Condition (DORSCON) level from yellow to orange after having confirmed 75 cases of infection.

ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong made the announcement to convert their event in Singapore to a closed-door event initially on his social media accounts. Shortly after, Sityodtong fielded questions from the media on a global conference call.

“In light of the coronavirus situation in Singapore, I have made the decision to convert ONE: King of the Jungle on February 28 into a closed event for broadcast only. The Singapore Indoor Stadium will not be open to the general public, but the event will proceed behind closed doors as scheduled live on all TV and digital platforms across 150+ countries around the world,” Sityodtong wrote on his official Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/yodchatri/posts/2904888419573300

Fans who purchased tickets to the event will be given a full refund through Sportshub Tix, ONE’s official ticketing partner in Singapore. All bouts are to proceed as scheduled, and will still be available live via TV and digital platforms worldwide, as well as through the ONE Super App.

The main event of ONE: KING OF THE JUNGLE will see two-sport ONE World Champion Stamp Fairtex of Thailand defend her ONE Atomweight Kickboxing World Title against Janet “J.T.” Todd of the United States.

In the co-main event of the evening, reigning ONE Strawweight Kickboxing World Champion Sam-A Gaiyanghadao of Thailand will take on Lachlan “Rocky” Ogden of Australia for the ONE Strawweight Muay Thai World Title.

Representing Singapore on the global stage is former ONE World Title challenger Amir Khan, who is accompanied by fellow Singaporean stars Tiffany “No Chill” Teo and Radeem Rahman. In addition, Singapore-based athletes Troy Worthen and Ritu “The Indian Tigress” Phogat are set to see action.

“We just felt that this was an incredible moment for us to ignite hope and strength across the continent of Asia and to our fans all over the world during this difficult time,” Sityodtong said during the global conference call.

“I also want to say that it is only by love, compassion, and resilience that Singapore as a country and Asia as a continent can overcome and conquer the Coronavirus.”

Sityodtong also says that while Singapore will proceed with its closed-door event, other events the organization has scheduled in other countries will proceed as planned. ONE Championship remains firm in its promise to deliver at least 50 events this year across all of its properties, and will make decisions to alter its events based on various factors as situations change.

“It was not an easy decision for us. In fact, many people were pushing us to cancel the event. But I thought back to why I started ONE Championship in the first place. And our mission since day one has been to unleash real-life superheroes who ignite the world with hope, strength, dreams, and inspiration,” Sityodtong continued.

“It’s a very different mission than all of our other global competitors. Yes we want to put on the greatest fights. Yes, we have the greatest martial artists in the world but there’s a deeper mission for ONE Championship. And in a time of crisis, in a time of fear in the continent of Asia, our heroes are ready to inspire the world.”

ONE CHAMPIONSHIP REVEALS INITIAL 2H 2020 EVENT SCHEDULE

13 February 2020 – Singapore: The largest global sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), has just announced its initial 2H 2020 event schedule. More events will be announced later this year. The organization has also introduced the all-new ONE Infinity Series, the world’s apex brand of martial arts events. A typical ONE Infinity Series event features the very best the world has to offer in terms of global sports and entertainment: three World Championship bouts, a minimum of 12 World Champions in action, Super Fights, A-list celebrities, and much more. In addition, the ONE Championship event in Chongqing, China, originally scheduled for 11 April has now been moved to 10 April in Jakarta due to the Novel CoronaVirus. All other events are set to proceed as scheduled at this time. Chatri Sityodtong, Chairman and CEO of ONE Championship, stated: “It is my pleasure to introduce ONE Infinity Series, the world's apex brand for martial arts events. ONE Infinity Series is a cut above anything available anywhere on the planet. Comprising the biggest events of the year, these blockbusters represent the very best ONE Championship has to offer in terms of world championship talent, star power, martial arts skill, entertainment value, and historical importance.” The first event in this series, titled ONE Infinity 1, will feature a bout between ONE Flyweight World Champion Adriano “Mikinho” Moraes of Brazil and ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix Champion Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson of the United States as the main event. More information on ONE Infinity 1, including confirmed bouts, will be announced shortly. Succeeding ONE Infinity Series events will be announced at a later date. ONE Championship 2H2020 Official Schedule* Singapore Friday, 28 February Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam Friday, 20 March Jakarta, Indonesia Friday, 10 April Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Friday, 17 April Manila, Philippines Friday, 29 May Jakarta, Indonesia Friday, 5 June Shanghai, China Saturday, 20 June Singapore Friday, 3 July Bangkok, Thailand Friday, 10 July Manila, Philippines Friday, 14 August Singapore Friday, 4 September Jakarta, Indonesia Friday, 11 September Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Friday, 18 September Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam Friday, 2 October Bangkok, Thailand Friday, 9 October Tokyo, Japan Sunday, 25 October Beijing, China Saturday, 31 October Singapore Friday, 20 November Jakarta, Indonesia Friday, 4 December Manila, Philippines Friday, 11 December Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Friday, 18 December *Events are subject to change. For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.

About ONE Championship™ ONE Championship (ONE) is the largest global sports media property in Asian history. Headquartered in Singapore, ONE is the world's largest martial arts organization, hosting bouts across all styles of martial arts such as Muay Thai, Kickboxing, Karate, Kung Fu, Silat, Sanda, Lethwei, Mixed Martial Arts, Tae Kwon Do, Submission Grappling, and more. ONE hosts the biggest sports entertainment events across Asia, featuring some of the world's best martial artists and world champions on the largest global media broadcast in Asia. ONE Esports, a subsidiary of ONE Championship, runs Asia's largest global esports Championship Series with some of the biggest blockbuster game titles in the world. With a focus on both martial arts and esports, ONE Championship is currently the largest producer of millennial live sports content in Asia. In addition to its digital platforms, ONE Championship broadcasts to over 2.6 billion potential viewers across 140+ countries with some of the largest global free-to-air and digital broadcasters, including Star Sports, Tencent, ABS-CBN, Astro, ClaroSports, Startimes, Fox Sports, Thairath TV, Turner Sports, Skynet, Mediacorp, Great Sports, Mediaset Italia, ProSiebenSat.1, Dubai Sports, and more.

Believe the Hype: Lito Adiwang Is Coming For the Top Strawweights

Next generation Team Lakay stalwart Lito “Thunder Kid” Adiwang burst onto the scenes from out of nowhere, earning a spot on Rich Franklin’s popular travel series reality show, ONE Warrior Series, in 2018.

A knockout victory in his debut against Jose Manuel Huerta instantly impressed. But despite the scintillating finish, Adiwang had much more to offer as a rising prospect.

In his second outing, Adiwang demolished Alber Correia Da Silva in a mere 45 seconds. This opened up a lot of eyes as to what “Thunder Kid” is capable of. Shortly after, a thorough unanimous decision victory over Anthony Do proved Adiwang could go the distance.

Not long after, Franklin awarded Adiwang with a six-figure contract where he would move on to ONE Championship. He’s appeared unstoppable ever since, like a freight train full of dynamite.

“[Earning the ONE Championship contract] was the greatest feeling of my life, and I was super excited to show the world what I could do,” said Adiwang.

Adiwang then moved on to ONE Championship’s historic ONE: CENTURY card in Tokyo, Japan, against highly-touted veteran Senzo Ikeda. He was expected to face his first real test against the Japanese warrior. What happened next, absolutely no one could have predicted.

Adiwang wrecked Ikeda, swarming him within the first few moments of the contest with his usual blistering pace. But once action hit the mat, Adiwang brandished his unheralded ground game. He took Ikeda into a scarf hold and trapped his arm. Within moments, the Filipino stalwart had already latched onto a deep and secure armlock.

Ikeda had nowhere to go, and Adiwang signalled to the referee that his opponent had already suffered an injury. After Adiwang stood up and walked away, Ikeda’s elbow joint was revealed to have been hyperextended. The bout was over.

“I always go for the finish. That’s one thing fans can count on from me. I have an intelligent game plan, but my goal is to always end the fight early,” said Adiwang.

Just last Friday night, Adiwang made his second appearance inside the ONE Circle. He would take on the highly-regarded Pongsiri Mitsatit of Thailand at ONE: FIRE & FURY. It was the first time Adiwang would perform in front of his hometown fans in Manila as part of the ONE roster.

Once again, Adiwang brought thunder.

The Team Lakay stud pounced on Mitsatit early, overwhelming his counterpart with wild hooks and sharp uppercuts from all directions. Mitsatit could do little aside from try to defend himself.

As the Thai athlete backpedalled, Adiwang advanced looking to end matters early. After action hit the mat, Adiwang shifted into grappling mode and again looked for his favorite scarf hold position. From there, he maneuvered Mitsatit’s arm into a kimura.

It was deep, and with every passing second, it became more and more evident there was absolutely no escape.

“We had a tough training camp. But I’m happy I was able to go out there and perform.I wanted to give the Filipino fans a good show,” said Adiwang.

“My game plan was to go for the knockout, but I knew if it came down to it, I could finish him on the ground too. And that’s what I did.”

Mitsatit was forced to tap or suffer the same fate as Ikeda. The better option was clear.

Rich Franklin’s ONE Warrior Series has produced some incredible talent who have moved on to ONE Championship. ONE Atomweight Kickboxing and Muay Thai World Champion Stamp Fairtex is perhaps the most prominent thus far, but Adiwang is a future world champion according to Franklin.

“The moment I saw Lito perform, I knew he was something special. He’s the complete package. He has the power and the skill. I knew he would move through the ranks quickly,” says Franklin.

“We’re always looking for the best talent in the world. We want to give opportunity to those who we believe can step onto the global stage and make an immediate impact.”

It’s not hard to predict what’s next for Adiwang. A top caliber strawweight could definitely be in the cards. He has certainly earned it. But one thing is for sure, whoever steps into the Circle against Adiwang should be prepared for the thunder that he brings.

“I’ll fight whoever they put in front of me. I’m ready for the big fights,” said Adiwang.

“But if there’s one man on my mind, it’s former champion Yoshitaka Naito. Now that would be a great challenge.”

Lito Adiwang Wants to Finish Pongsiri Mitsatit By Any Means Necessary

A tremendous opportunity awaits rising superstar Lito Adiwang at ONE: FIRE & FURY.

The Team Lakay standout will put his six-bout win streak on the line against Pongsiri Mitsatit on January 31 from inside the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines. 

Following his run through Rich Franklin’s ONE Warrior Series, Adiwang finds himself in prime position to begin the year strong after securing a finish at ONE: CENTURY last October.

“I feel confident heading into this match up,” Adiwang said. “I love Pongsiri’s style. He’s an exciting fighter. It just gives me more motivation and confidence knowing I am up against a good challenge.

“The fact that my teammates are also on the card with me, it is even more special.”

A distinct Team Lakay flavor will be present, as Joshua Pacio defends his ONE Strawweight World Championship against Alex Silva. Eduard Folayang, a former two-time ONE Lightweight World Champion, is also scheduled for action along with Danny Kingad. Pacio, Folayang and Kingad are all teammates of Adiwang. 

The bout serves as a special one for many reasons for Adiwang, including because of the location. He has not competed on home soil since 2013.

“This is my first fight in Manila with ONE Championship, so naturally, I am really excited to fight in front of my countrymen,” he said. “Filipino fans are the best in the world, and I cannot wait to bring the heat.”

Adiwang has done just that since joining the promotion in 2018, earning three first round finishes among his four bouts. Along with besting Pancrase Flyweight World Champion Senzo Ikeda in the opening two minutes of their battle, he also holds stoppage wins over Alberto Correia and Jose Manuel Huerta to go with a decision against Anthony Do. 

Known as “Thunder Kid,” Adiwang hopes to make an impression against Mitsatit. Through his preparation for the bout, he believes there is a potential spot to exploit against “The Smiling Assassin” from Tiger Muay Thai. 

“Pongsiri is a great striker,” Adiwang said. “He is good in the clinch and he has powerful knees. I know his Muay Thai will be exceptional, but I think I see weakness in his ground game.

“I am heading into this fight full of confidence. I know I am going to win. That is my mindset right now. The only thing left to do is perform to the best of my abilities. Then, I will claim victory.”

Over his 10 career victories, Adiwang has secured six knockout wins and three more submission triumphs. His plans for Mitsatit include earning another stoppage by any means necessary.

“I want to win this fight in an impressive way,” he said. “I want the finish, whichever way it comes - on the feet or on the ground.”