Marami na ang nakakaalam kung paano nakaahon sa hirap si Eduard “Landslide” Folayang. Ang makakaharap niyang si Eddie “The Underground King” Alvarez ay alam na alam din ito.

Magtatapat silang dalawa sa semifinals ng ONE Lightweight World Grand Prix sa isa sa mga featured bouts sa ONE: DAWN OF HEROES  sa Agosto 2 sa Mall of Asia Arena, Manila, Philippines.

Bago maging megastar sa mixed martial arts, lumaki si Alvarez sa North Philadelphia kung saan laganap ang krimen at drugs noong kabataan niya.

“Growing up in the neighborhoods in North Philadelphia was okay, and then there was a major change when I was about 7 or 8 years old,” sabi ni Alvarez sa interview sa ONEFC.com

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“The area became really drug-ridden. Heroin made its way into the neighborhood and basically deteriorated the whole neighborhood into a poverty-stricken, drug-driven area.”

Sa tulong ng kanyang mga magulang, nagawa ni Alvarez na maiwasan ito at ibaling ang atensyon sa martial arts kung saan nakakuha siya ng mga World Titles sa UFC at Bellator. Kalaunan ay napunta rin siya sa The Home Of Martial Arts.

“I understood that where I’m from, failure was very common and that it was more likely that I would fail than I would do well. That was a huge motivating factor in my life,” paliwanag ni Alvarez.

“I know I had to work twice as hard – three times as hard as everyone else to make it, or to at least get out of that neighborhood.”

ANg kuwento ng kanyang buhay ay pwedeng makapasa bilang real life Rocky – Hollywood’s favorite feel-good sports story.

Tulad ni Rocky, nahirapan din si Alvarez na makarating kung nasaan siya ngayon pero dahil sa pagsususmikap at determinasyon ay nakayanan niya ang mga pagsubok.

“Rocky was filmed in my neighborhood in North Philadelphia, so fighting, that’s what we did,” sabi ni Alvarez.

“I grew up on Rocky – working hard and the victory at the end of it all. I love that. I love that story. I watched it over and over.”