PHOTO FROM ONE CHAMPIONSHIP
SINGAPORE—It may not have been the title match she had initially prepared for, but Mei Yamaguchi’s upcoming bout against Filipino fighter Gina Iniong was something she had hoped to happen again a long time.
The last time these two fighters met in 2014, Yagamuchi went home with the seventh loss—a split decision—of her career.
Now the Japanese martial artist gets a shot at revenge when they clash in ONE: Immortal Pursuit on Friday at Singapore Indoor stadium here.
“I was glad that Gina answered ‘yes’ to the match on the Singapore card with me,” said Yamaguchi. “I have always looked for a chance for revenge. It is the perfect moment.”
Yamaguchi was supposed to challenge ONE Atomweight Champion Angela Lee for the belt, but the Singaporean star met a car accident two weeks before their scheduled title fight.
Iniong, a native of Baguio City, was tapped a replacement just 14 days after her last bout in Manila, but she is ready as ever to try to repeat over one of the top Atomweight fighters in the continent.
“My image of the last match was Gina getting some points with her boxing, and me with my ground game,” she stated “It was back and forth, but all of my team thought I won.”
Both fighters have vastly improved since their last match and Yamaguchi is well aware of Iniong’s power.
“Gina has a really good right hand she throws, and she is strong and physical. I am better with the ground game and improved more in my boxing skills compared to our previous match,” she said.
Yamaguchi is confident enough to guarantee that this time, she will get her hands raised in victory.
“It is going to end early. It will be a clear finish by me. It is going to be a knockout,” she said.