The Samahang Kickboxing ng Pilipinas (SKP) is pulling out all the stops to ensure a stellar showing at the upcoming Asian Kickboxing Championships 2024, scheduled from October 6 to 13 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Leading the charge for the Philippines will be two high-profile mixed martial artists, Jeremy Pacatiw and Honorio Banario, who are set to bolster the national team’s lineup.
While the presence of three-time SEA Games gold medalist Jean Claude Saclag brings a sense of stability to the squad, the addition of Pacatiw and Banario signals the country’s intent to field a powerhouse roster.
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Both men have garnered solid track records in various disciplines, making them prime assets for the nation’s medal campaign.
Pacatiw earned his stripes as a globetrotter through his tenure in BRAVE Combat Federation before transitioning to ONE Championship.
His journey to stardom took him across Bahrain, India, Brazil, Morocco, Pakistan, Indonesia, and Saudi Arabia, experiences that refined him into the exciting competitor he is today.
Pacatiw’s stature soared to new heights when he signed with ONE. In his July 2021 promotional debut, he dominated Chen Rui to clinch a shut-out unanimous decision.
Since then, “The Juggernaut” has continued to impress, particularly with a submission victory over Tial Thang in December 2022 to earn a $50,000 performance bonus.
His most recent bout this past April saw him choke out Wang Shuo in just a little over two minutes.
On the other hand, Banario has already cemented his legacy in the all-encompassing sport.
With 25 bouts under his belt, the veteran’s career highlight came in 2013 when he captured the inaugural ONE Featherweight MMA World Championship, defeating compatriot Eric Kelly via fourth-round stoppage.
“The Rock” also boasts notable wins over the likes of Andrew Benibe, Eddie Ng, Rajinder Singh Meena, Jaroslav Jartim, Adrian Pang, and Rahul Raju.
Banario was last seen in four-ounce gloves when he eked out a split decision against Shannon Wiratchai in February 2020.
It’s worth noting that this isn’t Pacatiw and Banario’s first rodeo on the kickboxing stage.
Pacatiw took home silver at the 2023 Southeast Asian Games in the 67-kilogram K-1 category, while Banario accomplished back-to-back bronze medal finishes in the two different editions of the aforementioned biennial meet.
Training camp for the Asian Kickboxing Championships 2024 has already commenced at the newly constructed SKP headquarters in Tagaytay.
For this continental tourney, Banario will compete in the 75-kilogram K-1 bracket, hoping to add more accolades to his already impressive resume.
Meanwhile, Pacatiw will figure in the 67-kilogram full contact event.
