■ Harley F. Palangchao
Former strawweight world champion Joshua Pacio will be back to training anytime soon in preparation for a possible rematch with reigning ONE strawweight world champion Jarred Brooks.
Brooks of the United States called for a rematch with Pacio after the latter routed previously unbeaten Mansur Malachiev of Russia in the undercard of ONE Friday Night 15 at the Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand on Oct. 7.
“Joshua Pacio wins! Hey, round two, baby. Round two! Hey, you got the win, but you ain’t going to get no win from me. You ain’t going to get no belt, you ain’t going to get nothing,” Brooks said after he watched the bout between the former champion and the Russian.
Pacio earlier outclassed Malachiev in their three five-minute bout, as the Filipino fighter almost came victorious with a rear-naked choke submission of the Dagestani fighter in the third round.
The 27-year-old Pacio also punished Malachiev with a leg kick in the opening round and he admitted it was a mistake that he did not capitalize on it.
The Lions Nation MMA representative said in a post-fight interview that the plan was to kick his opponent early on, which he has executed but failed to follow up.
He said he was the more dominant fighter reason why he knows he earned a unanimous decision even before the verdict was announced.
“I was throwing heavy shots and I think I won in the damage category. He took me down, but he wasn’t doing much in my guard,” Pacio said.
Pacio has improved his record to 21 wins against four losses while the 30-year-old Malachiev dropped to 11 wins and one loss.
