Jeremy Miado and Lito Adiwang are set to lock horns once more this Saturday, November 4.
The much-awaited strawweight rematch happens on the undercard of ONE Fight Night 16, emanating live from the world-renowned Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
The first encounter in March 2022 left a trail of controversy and heartbreak, in which Miado prevailed by way of a stoppage victory after Adiwang injured his knee in the second round.
This incident sidelined Adiwang for a grueling 18 months, leaving a bitter taste for most fans who believed that “Thunder Kid” had been winning the bout.
Now, “The Jaguar” is determined to silence all the criticisms and add legitimacy to the victory.
“Honestly, I wasn’t pleased with how I got the win in that fight. I really felt bad for him. Apart from that he is my compatriot, he suffered a career-threatening injury. A lot of people were also saying that Adiwang was winning that match prior to the injury,” Miado told Tiebreaker Times.
“Now, I have a chance to face him again and win the fight the right way. I don’t think there’s any fighter who will feel satisfied getting a win in that manner.”
(C) ONEFC.com
However, Miado is approaching this do-over with a fresh perspective, acknowledging the significant changes that have taken place since their initial meeting.
Most notably, Adiwang made a triumphant return this past September, obliterating Adrian Mattheis in just 23 seconds.
Miado knows that this is a different Adiwang from the one he faced before, and he respects his opponent’s skills and growth.
“I’ll approach it the same way I handle all of my fights. I always show my opponents respect. Every opponent I’ve faced is a great warrior with world-class skills. I commend Lito for recovering from his injuries and returning stronger than before,” he said.
One question that lingers in the minds of many is whether Miado will target Adiwang’s previously injured knee in their rematch.
The 30-year-old knockout artist from Albay, however, dismisses the idea that this should be a focal point, especially since Adiwang performed exceptionally well as if he hadn’t been away from action for an extended period.
(C) ONE Championship
“As seen in his return last September, he can still throw solid kicks as if nothing happened. So I’m not going to treat this fight any differently,” Miado stated.
With the first fight ending under such controversial circumstances, Miado understands that it will be a battle of who can make the “more significant adjustments.”
“Yes, we are quite familiar with each other after the first fight. So I think it will boil down to who makes the more significant adjustment in the rematch. I’ll give my all to walk away with the victory.”
