ONE: Adiwang knocks out Japanese foe

FILE – Team Lakay’s Lito Adiwang. ONE CHAMPIONSHIP PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Lito Adiwang returned to winning form with an emphatic knockout win over Japan’s Namiki Kawahara in their strawweight bout in ONE: Unbreakable Friday at Singapore Indoor Stadium.

Team Lakay’s energetic prospect put Namiki two minutes into the second round landing a looping left cross square on the jaw of the Team Alpha Male fighter.

Adiwang, who endured a personal tragedy after the death of his mother on December 30, improved to 12-3 and has now won eight of his past nine fights.

Lito Adiwang 🇵🇭 does his late mother proud, knocking out Namiki Kawahara in Round 2! #ONEUnbreakable #WeAreONE #ONEChampionship

How to watch ONE: UNBREAKABLE 👉https://t.co/C6OrZbPBFK… pic.twitter.com/0pTx6EMDAW

— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) January 22, 2021

“We’ve been through a lot, and to my family I love you so much. This is for you mama,” said Adiwang as he tried to hold back his emotions.

The 5-foot-4 Adiwang established his striking game at the start of the bout, landing several leg kicks to the taller Namiki, who stands three inches taller than the Filipino, while also mixing it up with his lunging punches.

Adiwang continued the leg kicks in the second round and also landing a stiff left hook to the body of Namiki.

Namiki, who made his ONE Championship debut, dropped to 7-4-2.