Eustaquio all set for title defense

Geje Eustaquio during the press conference for ONE: Hero’s Ascent. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Heavy is the head that wears the crown.

And heavier it is for Geje Eustaquio, the reigning ONE Championship flyweight kingpin, who is staring at two steep tasks: Erasing the bitter taste of Joshua Pacio’s loss earlier this month and delivering a convincing performance in the promotion’s first-ever trilogy.

But ever the confident  29-year-old Eustaquio knows that he is equipped for the moment.

“I believe I became hungrier,” Eustaquio said Tuesday in the press conference at City of Dreams in Parañaque ahead of his historic showdown with former champion Adriano Moraes on Friday night.

“I became a better fighter compared to the last time we went at it,” he said. “The camp helped me prepare for this show.”

For his part, Moraes, a two-time champion, acknowledges that fact.

“Geje, all the time, he comes very hungry and he’s a good fighter,” he said. “But I’m hungry too. From my hometown, in six years I came to fight in Asia and [I’ve been always hungry].

“I came from the best gym in the world. I have tough teammates and I fight every day,” he added.

The Team Lakay fighter figures in a rubber match in the co-main event of  “Hero’s Ascent” slated at Mall of Asia Arena—against the man he dethroned via split decision late last year.

Eustaquio is also looking to deny Moraes’ bid to become the first three-time champion of the rising promotion.

“We want to finish the fight swiftly to quiet the outside noise,” ringmaster Mark Sangiao said in Filipino.  “We want Geje to finish the fight via submission or through a knockout.”

The Team Lakay mentor agreed that Eustaquio is a far better fighter than the one that won the title.

“He’s much more prepared this time,” Sangiao said. “Physically, his condition is significantly better.”

Eustaquio preferred to keep his game plan a secret, but said “I’m a world champion. I polished all the aspects in my mixed-martial arts career,” Eustaquio added.

“I’m 101 percent ready,” he said.

Joining Eustaquio in the card are teammates Honorio Banario and Danny Kingad. They face Lowen Tynanes of Hawaii, and Tatsumitsu Wada of Japan respectively.