Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Martin Nguyen pulled off the night’s biggest stunner after knocking out Eduard Folayang for the ONE lightweight championship Friday in the Legends of the World card at Mall of Asia Arena.
Nguyen (10-1) found the sweet spot with 2:20 into the second round, ducking under Folayang’s spinning heel kick and connecting on a right straight that put the Filipino fighter to sleep.
“Hats off to Eduard, he showed relentlessness,” said Nguyen after becoming the promotion’s only two-division World champion after adding the lightweight belt to his featherweight strap.
Nguyen, however, was initially on the receiving end of Folayang’s early offense with the Filipino landing head kicks at will.
Folayang (8-6) was also the first to assert his offense landing a spinning back fist at the start of the first round.
And although Nguyen walked away with Folayang’s belt, the 28-year-old Aussie couldn’t help but feel hurt seeing his friend get knocked out.
“Honestly I’m really hurt, I never wanted someone I know get through that,” said Nguyen. “We put our friendship aside but I couldn’t help but feel hurt after what happened to him.”
Folayang had his four-fight winning streak snapped exactly a year after he won his first world title in Singapore.
He did not appear at the post-fight press conference.