With less than a week before One Championship’s first heavyweight title fight; one-half of the main event got scrapped from the card leaving Brandon Vera without an opponent.
Good thing for them, Taiwanese heavyweight Paul Cheng answered the call and replaced Aussie Chi Lewis-Parry to face Vera on Friday’s title fight.
Vera (13-7) praised Cheng (5-1) for accepting the fight in less than a week’s time as both fighters made weight in Thursday’s weigh-in.
READ: Vera faces Parry for first-ever ONE Championship heavyweight title
“Big ups for Paul Cheng for taking this fight on short notice. It takes a warrior-mentality and a lot of guts to step inside the cage, especially against a guy like me,” Vera said who clocked in at 247.5 lbs.
“This fight means a lot to me, my family, and my country, and I will do everything in my power to bring home the belt. I’m ready as I’ll ever be.”
READ: Vera wants ONE FC fight in Manila to define his legacy
Cheng, who made weight at 250 lbs, knew what he would get into against Vera but it’s a fight nonetheless.
“This is definitely the toughest fight of my life. Brandon Vera is one of the most well-known fighters in the sport. I don’t expect anything easy by all means, but I’m always down for a good scrap, even if the fight goes one round or five. I’m never giving up.,” Cheng said. “I have a lot to fight for – I’m fighting for the people of Taiwan, represent! I’m ready to get in there and put on a show.”
One Championship: Spirit of Champions’ complete weigh-in results are as follows.
MAIN CARD
Bantamweight bout: Mark Striegl (134.4lbs) vs. Recce McLaren (134.0lbs)
Flyweight bout: Eugene Toquero (125.0lbs) vs. Li Wei Bin (124.5lbs)
Flyweight bout: Ana Julaton (125.0 lbs) vs. Irina Mazepa (124.0lbs)
Strawweight bout: Angela Lee (114.0lbs) vs. Lena Tkhorevska (114.0lbs)
UNDERCARD
Featherweight bout: Bruno Pucci (144.5lbs) vs. Anthony Engelen (144.0lbs)
Flyweight bout: Alex Silva (124.0lbs) vs. Ruel Catalan (123.5lbs)
Featherweight bout: Christian Lee (143.0lbs) vs. David Meak (143.5lbs)
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