Enkh-Orgil Baatarkhuu is leaving no room for complacency as he gears up to lock horns with Team Lakay’s Jhanlo Sangiao.
Both men are set to face each other in a three-round bantamweight duel on the undercard of ONE Fight Night 13, which takes place at the world-renowned Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand this Saturday, August 5.
The 34-year-old bruiser from Khovd, Mongolia is keenly aware that underestimating the highly-touted Filipino prospect could prove costly and is approaching this encounter with the utmost caution.
“He’s a highly-skilled and promising young athlete, known for his speed and agility. Studying his fighting style has given me a better understanding of what to expect in the upcoming bout,” Baatarkhuu said of Sangiao.
Baatarkhuu has a valid reason to feel a bit wary as the youngster from La Trinidad, Benguet owns an immaculate record of 6-0 with a 100-percent finishing rate.
Sangiao, 21, has been on a roll as of late, scoring three consecutive first-round submission victories since he directed his career path to ONE Championship in December 2021.
During that span, the eldest son of Team Lakay lynchpin Mark Sangiao earned two separate life-changing $50,000 performance bonuses for vanquishing Anacleto “L.A.” Lauron and Matias Farinelli with ease.
On the other hand, Baatarkhuu has steadily risen through the ranks since winning the inaugural season of Road To ONE: Mongolia, walking away with a $100,000 contract and a roster spot in the Singapore-based combat sports organization.
He made his promotional debut back in April, where he manhandled Sangiao’s stablemate Adonis Sevilleno over the course of three rounds to win by unanimous decision.
Baatarkhuu then scored a first-round technical knockout win over Thailand-based Filipino journeyman Rockie Bactol nearly a month later.
While Sangiao certainly poses a serious threat to Baatarkhuu’s ascent, the protégé of former ONE featherweight titleholder Narantungalag Jadambaa is looking to impose his will from the opening bell.
“I’m focused on giving my best performance and aiming for a decisive victory,” he stated.
Understanding the significance of his next ring outing, Baatarkhuu is confident that he possesses the tools to counteract whatever challenges Sangiao throws his way.
“My biggest advantage in this fight will be my well-rounded skill set and the experience gained from previous competitions,” he stressed.
“I’ll strive to play to my strengths and execute my game plan effectively while remaining unpredictable and adaptable in the ring.”
Instead of offering bold predictions, Baatarkhuu chooses a more modest route, pledging to give his best this weekend to have his hand raised in triumph.
“This fight is undoubtedly going to be intense, and I anticipate it will be a hard-fought battle. I’m confident in my abilities and determination to prove myself as a formidable opponent,” he concluded.
