FILE – Honorio Banario celebrates after his knockout win over Jaroslav Jartim. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/ INQUIRER.net
Former ONE World featherweight champion Honorio Banario is putting his money on Team Lakay teammate Eduard Folayang when he goes up against Singaporean Amir Khan.
Folayang will take on Khan in the main event of ONE: Conquest of Champions on Nov. 23 at Mall of Asia Arena for the vacant ONE World lightweight strap, the same belt the Filipino mixed martial arts icon once held for nearly a year.
“When it comes to strength, striking, and wrestling, Khan will have a hard time against Eduard in those areas,” said Banario (13-7) who lost to Khan (11-3) in September in Shanghai, China.
“I’m not underestimating Khan, but Eduard is simply on another level. Both are complete fighters, but Folayang is a much more experienced veteran.”
Folayang (20-6) won the ONE World lightweight belt on Nov. 11, 2016 after scoring a technical knockout win over Japanese legend Shinya Aoki (42-8) at Singapore Indoor Stadium.
The owner of three Southeast Asian Games gold medals, Folayang held the belt for 364 days before losing to Martin Nguyen via knockout at Mall of Asia Arena.
Banario said Folayang never expected to get another shot at the title and this motivated the 34-year-old lightweight to put everything in training.
“I see a highly-motivated Eduard Folayang in training because he didn’t expect to be blessed with another shot at the world title,” said Banario. “He’s just so motivated for this bout and is ready reclaim the world title.”