Some of the fighters pictured recently in Hong Kong during a promotional event
Singapore-based mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion agency, ONE Championship (ONE), has announced its first event in Macau “ONE: Heroes of the World,” to take place on Saturday, August 13 at The Venetian Macao.
A total of eight rounds will be held over the evening. In the main bout of the boxing competition, ONE Flyweight World Champion Adriano Moraes will challenge elite wrestler Andrew Leone for the interim world champion title.
According to a statement from the organizers, ONE Championship’s CEO Victor Cui said: “ONE continues its rise as the world’s most exciting mixed martial arts promotor with another massive fight card planned in Macau.”
“We have some tremendous match-ups for fight fans out there, including a thrilling main event between two of the world’s best flyweights in Adriano Moraes and Andrew Leone,” added Cui.
Former ONE Flyweight World Champion Adriano “Mikinho” Moraes is a highly-skilled Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt. As a former champion, he is on the comeback trail to retain his title, but first he will have to get past Andrew Leone.
“Real champions pick themselves up when they are down,” said top contender Moraes. “I feel renewed as a fighter and ready to reclaim my place at the top of my division. I’m going to get back inside the cage against Andrew [Leone] and show the world that I’m back.”
Twenty-six-year-old flyweight Andrew Leone of New York made waves in ONE Championship when he debuted with a victory over Geje Eustaquio of the Philippines in 2013. He has since achieved two solid victories over high-level opponents, including a unanimous decision against Japanese MMA veteran Koetsu Okazaki in his last match.
“It’s my time now. I’ve been working very hard on my game, and feel I’m at that point in my career where I’m ready to just take the reins and show everyone who I am,” said Leone. “With an amazing team behind me, I have all the tools I need to compete at the highest level.”
In the evening’s initial bout offerings, rising Chinese prospects Ma Jia Wen and Ma Hao Bin will take on Filipino veteran Jimmy Tabo and Cambodian star Chan Rothana respectively, while Thai national wrestling champion Kritsada “Dream Man” Kongsrichai takes on Team Lakay’s undefeated competitor Joshua Pacio.
Pacquiao comeback fight vs Vargas is on Nov. 5 in Las Vegas
Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao confirmed yesterday that he will come out of retirement to fight WBO welterweight champion Jessie Vargas on Nov. 5 in Las Vegas.
The boxer and Philippines senator issued a statement confirming the bout, saying he would conduct his entire training camp in his home country so he can also attend to his legislative work, as he promised during the election campaign.
His adviser, Michael Koncz, said there will be a promotional tour from Sept. 8-10 in Los Angeles, after which Pacquiao and his team will go home so he can attend to his Senate duties.
The 37-year-old Pacquiao said he was excited to return to the ring and said he has to fight again to earn a living.
Before his last fight in April, he said that he would retire. During the campaign for the May 9 election, he assured Filipino voters that he would focus on legislative work if elected to the Senate.
“Yes, the fight is on. I have agreed to a Nov. 5 fight with reigning WBO welterweight champion Jessie Vargas,” Pacquiao said.
“Boxing is my passion. I miss what I’d been doing inside the gym and atop the ring,” he added.
Pacquiao, who rose from an impoverished childhood, said boxing is his main source of income. He said he could not rely just on his salary as a public official.
Pacquiao met for two hours with Bob Arum, the head of Top Rank Boxing, on Tuesday night in Manila and they will meet again soon for the contract signing, Koncz said.
Pacquiao’s Senate victory is the latest chapter in his stunning rags-to-riches story. He had worked odd jobs before lacing up the gloves at the age of 12. He rose steadily and became a champion in eight boxing divisions, making him one of the world’s most celebrated and wealthiest athletes.
He had represented southern Sarangani province in the House of Representatives since May 2010, though he had been criticized for seldom showing up for legislative duties due to his preoccupation with boxing. AP
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