Folayang to defend ONE lightweight title in massive Manila event

After overcoming a legend, Eduard Folayang is set to defend the gold in front of his own countrymen.

This will be Folayang’s first defense after winning the ONE lightweight title from Shinya Aoki in November and he’ll be doing it at Mall of Asia Arena.

ONE Championship Chairman Chatri Sityodtong said in a statement Folayang’s opponent on April 21 is yet to be determined but he promised the fight card would live up to this early hype.

“April 21st in Manila is going to be a massive, massive event, we are going to have a crazy card for the fans in the Philippines,” said Sityodtong. “You’ve got to come out and show your love. We’re going to see some fireworks, it will probably be our biggest event in the Philippines.”

Folayang (17-5) won the title in ONE Championship’s Defending Honor card after raining down punches on Aoki, who is regarded as one the best Asian fighters of all time, in the third round prompting referee Yuji Shimada to stop the fight in the third round.

“In order to become a legend, you have to beat a legend,” said Sityodtong of Folayang. “He did that despite being dominated by Shinya Aoki in the first round. Eduard Folayang showed what it’s like to conquer the odds.”

“He is going to defend it [the belt] in his home country for the first time. I want the entire country, if you’re a Filipino or have a Pinoy heart, you’ve got to watch this fight.”

ONE welterweight champion Ben Askren will also defend his title in Manila, in what would be his third fight in the city.

Askren kept his unblemished record of 15-0 after scoring a unanimous decision win over Russian Nikolay Aleksakhin back in April 2016.

As for Askren’s opponent, Sityodtong said it would still be determined.