It is not easy to prepare for a fight; let alone for a championship fight. But if you’re Crisanto Pitpitunge, or Police Officer Crisanto Pitpitunge to be exact, you have to – even when duty calls.
Stationed at the Police Regional Office – Cordillera (PROCOR), the former PXC bantamweight champion admits it is tough to do fighting and police work side by side, but doing two things he loves is enough reason for him to continue on.
Cris Pitpitunge
“Time management lang talaga. It’s a huge responsibility, to have a profession at the same time to be a martial artist. I’m taking it as a challenge in life.”
MMA-wise, it was not smooth sailing for the fighter-policeman after being commissioned to the police force. He lost his title to Michinori Tanaka (who was signed by the UFC after) and experienced the same fate again to Han Bin Park months after.
Despite the setbacks, “The Slugger” carried on like it is just another day in the field. Soon he got rewarded after dropping down to flyweight where he had a resurgence after back-to-back wins over Josh Duenas and Rambaa Somdet which set him up for a shot at the flyweight belt.
“It feels great! It gives me more motivation during training…there are times that you will give up or become lazy, but by only thinking that your fighting for other belt the second time, it will gave you the strength to perform at your best,” said Pitpitunge, who hopes to become a two-division champion as he challenges Filipino – American titleholder Alvin Cacdac.
