Sean Climaco is not a man who rests on his laurels.
As he gears up for his next bout at ONE 168, he’s determined to show beyond doubt that his success is no fluke.
The Filipino-American striker steps back into the spotlight at the 21,000-capacity Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado on September 7 (Philippine time), where he takes on Johan Estupinan in a three-round Muay Thai clash.
Climaco made a powerful statement in his promotional debut this past May, where he thwarted Josue Cruz with a devastating body shot that ended the bout in the opening frame.
The performance turned heads and established Climaco as a fighter to watch in the division.
Even now, “The One” still has to pinch himself when reflecting on the emphatic win.
“Everything happened so fast in that moment. I didn’t really have time to soak it all in. Everything happened so fast, let alone the fight,” he told Tiebreaker Times.
“It showed that this is where I belong. I belong to be fighting against the world’s best. I’ve been training for the last 16 years now and it’s all paid off. This is where I want to be.”
However, Climaco knows that his most recent accomplishment has a fleeting shelf life and that one impressive victory isn’t enough to secure his place among the elite.
(C) ONEFC.com
The road to the top is paved with tougher opponents and stiffer competition, and he is eager to rise to the challenge.
“I try not to let all the spotlight and media stuff get to me. I just think that this is part of the job now,” he said. “To me, it’s still another day in the office once I step into the ring. All the lights, camera, it doesn’t matter. It’s just going to be me and my opponent in the cage or in the ring.”
Against Estupinan, the 30-year-old San Jose, California native faces his toughest test yet.
The Colombian standout is undefeated in his professional career, boasting a flawless 24-0 record.
Despite Estupinan’s impressive resume, Climaco remains unfazed by the gantlet that awaits him.
“I’ve faced a lot of guys before that are hungry and coming up, and I think it’s different once I’m able to touch them,” he stated. “Once they get hit by me, they experience nothing like that before. So I’m excited to put it on them.”
Climaco’s confidence is not misplaced. He struts his wares in a weight class stacked with talent, featuring names like Rodtang Jitmuangnon, Superlek Kiatmoo9, and Johan Ghazali.
To thrive in such a competitive environment, Climaco recognizes he must continue to evolve and prove himself with each outing.
“Winning is like the only option for me. I know I’m going to run through this guy. I’m just taking it one fight at a time,” he shared.
“I’m slowly starting to make my way up, you know, become more of a bigger name, trying to build my following, so I’m just taking it one fight at a time.”
