Pinoy fighter Mark Abelardo will show to the world the fighting spirit of Filipinos as he prepares for a match against Daichi Takenaka of Japan at the upcoming ONE: Clash of Legends happening on Saturday at the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand.
While Abelardo will be fighting as part of Team Quest Thailand, he was born and raised in New Zealand by Filipino parents. “I am based in Thailand, but I will be out to show the fans that I possess the Filipino fighting spirit that Pinoys are known for. I proudly represent the Philippines in ONE Championship,” he said in an interview with the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
Abelardo is likewise known as “Tyson” due to his punching power and believes that he is ripe for the next level.
“I feel ready to display the product of my hard work on the global stage. This is what I dreamed and trained for all my life, and I will make sure to make the most out of it on fight night,” he said.
The 27-year-old Abelardo anticipates a back-and-forth battle against Takenaka, who is a former Shooto featherweight world champion.
Takenaka is also undefeated after 11 fights.
“He is a well-rounded athlete capable of winning by knockout, submission or even going the distance. He is yet to taste defeat for a good reason,” he said of Takenaka.
“A difficult fight is exactly what I wished for. I feel that Takenaka is the kind of opponent I needed in order to step up my level and go up the rankings in the bantamweight division. Fans will surely see fireworks between us.”
The report from Philippine Daily Inquirer adds that despite the tough challenge that awaits, Abelardo is eyeing for a convincing win.
“The goal is to win in highlight-reel fashion, get my name out there, and represent the Philippine flag on a global stage.”
Photo from ONE Championship
