Fritz Biagtan steps back under the bright lights of the legendary Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand this Friday, December 8 with a familiar face back in his corner.
The 28-year-old Dasmariñas, Cavite resident takes on Afghanistan’s Babar Ali in a pivotal flyweight encounter on the undercard of ONE Friday Fights 44.
“Kid Tornado” is not taking this chance lightly, and he cannot think of a better person than his father, Raysaldo, to be his voice of reason heading into the matchup.
“I can’t express enough how happy I am that my dad is here for my next fight,” he told Tiebreaker Times.
Raysaldo has been a significant influence on Fritz’s mixed martial arts career since the early 2010s.
His guidance played a pivotal role in Fritz’s ascent as a blue-chip prospect, culminating in the younger Biagtan’s first-round technical win over Eddie Estrada to clinch the URCC pinweight championship in April 2016.
However, as Fritz continued to climb the ranks, Raysaldo found himself working as a trainer in Malaysia, frequently having to watch from afar.
With his son on the brink of a breakthrough, Raysaldo decided to return home and be an active part of Fritz’s training camp.
This gesture did not go unnoticed by Fritz, who expressed his heartfelt appreciation for his old man’s effort.
“I was so happy when daddy messaged me that he was coming home to the Philippines. We haven’t trained together for a long time. And I will admit that he adds a significant factor to my training for this very important fight,” Fritz said.
The timing couldn’t be more perfect, with Fritz having only six weeks to prepare for the upcoming bout against Ali.
Fortunately, Raysaldo managed to establish a seamless collaboration with the coaches at T-Rex MMA, creating an environment that fills Fritz with excitement and confidence.
“Our strategies managed to jive, which is a good thing. We were open to ideas. There was no objection; it was easy, and I am thankful for that,” he shared.
The stakes are high for Fritz at ONE Friday Fights 44 as it is believed that he is one decisive victory away from signing a $100,000-worth contract with ONE Championship.
His track record on the weekly show has been nothing short of impressive, boasting a 2-0 record—both wins achieved in rousing fashion.
Fritz feels that he has everything he needs to have his hand raised and celebrate the Yuletide Season in style.
“I want to give my 100 percent in the match. Expect an explosive fight with a lot of movements, punches, elbows, knees, takedowns, takedown defense, grappling, and more. I’m going to give it my all,” he declared.
