Joshua Pacio embraces pressure of being first Team Lakay to defend ONE title in 2019

JAKARTA, Indonesia—Filipino Joshua Pacio would be lying if he said he’s not feeling pressure as he defends his strawweight title against Yosuke Saruta in the main event of ONE: Eternal Glory on Saturday.

Pacio is just one of four current titleholders out of Baguio City’s Team Lakay.

“I’m excited but at the same time there’s a bit of pressure because I’m the first one on my team who will be defending his title,” Pacio told Filipino scribes on the eve of his bout.

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Pacio doesn’t see the pressure as a burden but rather as a constant reminder to be at his best not only for himself but for his entire squad.

“The pressure is not stressful at all. The pressure is more on the positive side that I just need to win for my team,” he said. “And whether I’m the first or not, my goal is the same which is to win.”

Pacio just turned 23 on January 10 and he hopes to give himself the best birthday gift on Sunday the way his teammate Eduard Folayang won his title fight against Amir Khan last November which was a day after his birthday.

“This will be the best birthday gift for me. It happened to kuya Eduard last November where he got himself the belt so it would be nice if I get to defend my title.”