Rising ONE Championship strawweight prospect Lito “Thunder Kid” Adiwang is one of the most exciting athletes in his division.
With a knack for scoring highlight-reel finishes and electrifying huge crowds with his fan-pleasing style, Adiwang has captivated audiences in his time inside the ONE circle.
The ONE Warrior Series (OWS) product earned a six-figure contract to join the ONE Championship main roster after blowing away the competition in ONE Warrior Series, Rich Franklin’s reality television show, winning his first three encounters, two of them by knockout.
He remains unbeaten in ONE main roster so far, demolishing top talents Senzo Ikeda and Pongsiri Mitsatit since his global debut.
Needless to say, Adiwang is a man fans have gone wild about. But while he undoubtedly possesses natural talent, “Thunder Kid” is quick to point out that training at Team Lakay has fortified his skill set.
“Training at Team Lakay is intense. I’m very fortunate to be working with a great group of guys who are not just talented and highly-skilled, but also close like family,” Adiwang said.
“There are instances when we are really deep in training and we let loose and forget to hold back. There’s the occasional heavy shot we land here and there, or sometimes we put each other in some painful submissions.
“But we’re all professionals, and we know it’s part of the game. We just say sorry and continue with no hard feelings. After all, we’re like brothers here,” he said
“My goal is to be known as one of the best fighters in the division. Of course, I want to eventually compete for a world title. It’s every athlete’s dream to become a world champion,” Adiwang added.
Adiwang believed that by taking on the promotion’s best talents and former world champions, he will not only get the opportunity to raise his profile as one of the best in the world, but also gain valuable experience to further his career.
He also hopes ONE Championship would put together a strawweight tournament, just as they have in the past, for the flyweight and lightweight divisions.
“My plan is to keep taking on anyone they put in front of me and beat them. I’ll take any fight, no matter how short the notice. I’m always ready, always training, and always ready for action,” Adiwang said.
One thing is certain: Adiwang isn’t taking his eyes off the prize. He’s looking for the biggest and best challenges and says it’s not just the strawweights that he should watch out.
“If Joshua Pacio (the reigning champion) still has the belt in the next couple of years, I have no issues moving up to flyweight to take on challenges there. There’s a lot of great talent in that division that I wouldn’t mind testing myself against. But we’ll cross the bridge when we get there,” he said. – Harley F. Palangchao
