Four months after his crowning moment, Joshua Pacio looks to slay a ghost that has haunted him for months.
On January 19, Pacio (16-2) will defend the ONE Strawweight World Championship for the very first time. Standing in his way at Istora Senayan in Jakarta, Indonesia is Hayato Suzuki (20-1-2).
The rematch will be the main event of ONE: Eternal Glory.
Pacio, who hails from Baguio City, Philippines, captured the ONE Strawweight World Championship with a unanimous decision victory over former titleholder Yoshitaka Naito at ONE: Conquest of Heroes last September. It was an epic rematch between the two warriors, as Pacio put together the performance of a lifetime to claim the prestigious title.
The 22-year-old Filipino has shown tremendous improvement over the past few years leading up to his title reign. With the ONE Strawweight World Championship firmly in his grasp, he looks to make a successful first defense against the last man to defeat him.
Suzuki, who hails from Takahagi City, Japan, first met Pacio in his promotional debut at ONE: Kings and Conquerors in August 2017. The 32-year-old scored a shocking first-round submission victory, forcing the Filipino to tap out via rear-naked choke.
Since then, the Japanese grappler has been on a tear, winning his last three bouts with the same submission hold.
