Lito “Thunder Kid” Adiwang has emerged as one of the most exciting young stars in the Philippines, known for his relentlessness and non-stop style.
While there is no question that the strawweight from Team Lakay is destined to do big things in mixed martial arts, “Thunder Kid” isn’t limiting himself.
In fact, Adiwang is willing to move to ONE Super Series should he get to square off against ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Rodtang “The Iron Man” Jitmuangnon in what would easily be the biggest cross-over match in the promotion.
“I’m really willing to fight him – 1,000 percent. I’ll cross over to ONE Super Series if they give me Rodtang. I know I’ll come in as a heavy underdog, but I believe I have the tools to beat Rodtang because I’ve been seeing holes in his game,” Adiwang said.
“I’ve seen the clamor of our fans to see this fight, but it’s not just them, it’s me. I really want this fight, and I really believe that when we face each other, we can bring out an exciting match. I’ll be at my best because I know I can do it once I face Rodtang.”
Adiwang is under no illusion that he’ll come in as a favorite if he faces Rodtang in an all-striking match-up, but he believes he can surprise the poster boy of ONE Super Series.
“I admit, people will definitely see me as an underdog in this but I’ll definitely push for this match to happen,” Adiwang stated.
“But I really believe I got something in the bag, I have the key in beating Rodtang. I see some holes in his game.”
Adiwang noted two of Rodtang’s previous matches where he thought the Thai was vulnerable.
In Rodtang’s clash against Danial “Mini-T” Williams last April and Walter Goncalves shortly before that, both men had success when they worked their own strategies and didn’t engage “The Iron Man” when he egged them on.
“In his last fight against ‘Mini-T,’ it showed his weakness. [Danial Williams] wasn’t really engaging him in a phonebooth battle. He was patient and he was countering with his strikes. In that fight, we didn’t see the go-for-broke Rodtang that much, and that’s because of ‘Mini-T’s’ style,” Adiwang said. “We all know Rodtang is an elite striker. He has strong and fast kicks and he’s very technical, but ‘Mini-T’ hung in there because he countered using his punches. The same can be said against his Brazilian opponent [Walter Goncalves], who was also patient against Rodtang.
“I think the key is to not be pulled in Rodtang’s game. He’s a master in getting in his opponent’s heads. He’s won a lot of fights already because of that. Give him different looks, different combinations from the usual Muay Thai combinations, and I believe he’ll struggle.”
People may doubt him, but Adiwang believes that like him, Rodtang struggles just the same, and if he gets a shot at the Thai star he’s confident he can pull off the improbable.
“I’ve visualized this a hundred times. He’s just human. He’s one hell of an athlete, but he’s human. If I can do my part, I can pull the trigger and make the impossible happen,” he said.
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