KUALA LUMPUR – Kahit sa teritoryo ng karibal gawin ang laban, hindi matitinag si Burn “The Hitman” Soriano para maisakatuparan ang minimithing tagumpay ngayong season.
Balik octagon si Soriano kontra Malaysian standout Saiful Merican sa three-round bantamweight contest sa undercard ng ONE: THRONE OF TIGERS sa 12,000-seater Stadium Negara sa Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia sa Pebrero 10.
Pinatunayan ng 30-anyos mula sa Narvacan, Ilocos Sur na hindi siya matitinag kahit sa teritoryo ng karibal nang maitala ang impresibong 15 segundong knockout win kontra Indonesian Mario Sitya Wirawan sa Jakarta, Indonesia sa nakalipas na taon.
“I always want to fight abroad. I want the feeling of entering hostile territory because it brings out out the best of me,” pahayag ni Soriano.
“I am so motivated for this fight because I am facing a hometown hero in Saiful Merican. You all know what happened in my last fight,” aniya.
Laban sa tulad niyang striker na si Merican, iginiit ni Soriano na pinaghandaan niya ng todo ang galaw ng karibal sa pagsasanayniya sa training camp.
“We’re doing a lot of striking since my next opponent is a well-versed striker. I’m also having an intense strength and conditioning program, so on fight night, I will have the best cardio. We have to prepare smart for him because I know he also wants to win,” aniya.
Galing si Merican, tangan ang 4-3 career mark sa mixed martial arts, sa first-round knockout setback kay Team Lakay’s Geje Eustaquio noong Enero ng 2016.
“I know the feeling that you’re so eager to bounce back. I can sense that he is hungry to get that win. But I promise that it won’t be easy against me. I also want to win and establish myself as one of the best fighters in ONE Championship,” pahayag ni Soriano.
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