Ngayong 2018 ang isa sa magagandang taon para kay Eduard "Landslide" Folayang sa kanyang 11-year professional career
Matapos manalo sa kanyang dalawang laban sa dalawang undefeated Russians, inumpisahan agad ni Folayang ang kanyang 2018 sa pagbawi ng kanyang ONE Lightweight World Title.
Ang 35 anyos na tiga Baguio City ay di mapipigilan sa pagtalo kay Amir Khan ng Singapore sa loob ng limang rounds sa ONE: CONQUEST OF CHAMPIONS noong Nobyembre.
Sa pagsalubong niya sa 2019 bilang isa sa mga nangunguna sa 77.1-kilogram weight class, mas motibado si Folayang na madepensahan ang kanyang gold-plated strap laban sa mga may nais kumuha nito.
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“I am here to prove that I am the champion for a reason. I will never back down from any challenge,” sabi niya.
Susunod na makakaharap ni Folayang ay ang Japanese legend na si Shinya Aoki. Ang laban nila ay nakaplano sa main event ng ONE: A NEW ERA na gaganapin s aRyogoku Kokugikan sa Tokyo, Japan sa Marso 31.
Una silang nagkakilala sa ONE: DEFENDING HONOR noong Mobyembre 2016 kung saan natalo ni Folayang si Aoki.
“I knew that I will someday cross paths again with Shinya Aoki ever since our first encounter in 2016. It is an honor to share the cage with him for the second time,” sabi niya.
“Aoki has been on a hot streak ever since losing the ONE Lightweight World Title. I can tell that he is hungry to get the belt back, seeing his past performances against world-class competition.”
If Folayang comes out victorious in his second clash with Aoki, the winner of the ONE Lightweight World Grand Prix could be next in line as his next challenger.
Kung mananalo si Folayang sa laban niya kay Aoki, ang susunod na makakaharap niya ay ang mananalo sa ONE Lightweight World Grand Prix. Isa sa mga paboritong manalo ay si Eddie “The Underground King” Alvarez na pumirma ng isang exclusive deal sa ONE Championship noong Oktubre.
Nakaplanong makalaban ni Alvarez si Timofey Nastyukhin ng Russia sa opening round ng ONE: A NEW ERA sa Tokyo, Japan sa Marso 31.
Kasama rin sa listahan ay sina Khan at Ev Ting, pati na rin sina Ariel “Tarzan” Sexton at Saygid “Dagi” Guseyn Arslanaliev.
“There are many athletes on the current roster who want a piece of what I have right now. They will have that chance, especially after the announcement of the World Grand Prix next year,” pahayag ni Folayang.
“These challenges give me more reason to be motivated and improve.”
“I am already doing light training for my upcoming fight. After Christmas and New Year, the real work begins. I am happy that I won last month, but it’s time to move on and take on the next challenge,” he expressed
