Pinoy fighter honors mom

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines’ Lito Adiwang will dedicate his straw weight showdown with Chinese Hexigetu on Jan. 22 in ONE: Unbreakable in Singapore to his late mother Leticia, who passed away last Dec. 30.

“There is nothing a mother wants more than to see her child happy and successful. I know my mother loved me so much, and she just really didn’t want me to get hurt, which is why she didn’t fully accept me being a fighter with her whole heart,” said Adiwang.

“But I chose this career, and I believe she would be happy to see me succeed in what I love to do. I know in my heart she is proud of me, and I will continue to live my life in her honor,” he added.

Adiwang is also bent on bouncing back from a heartbreaking split decision defeat to Japanese Hiroshi Minowa in November last year and improve his 11-3 (win-loss) record.

He will take on a foe that has an 8-4 slate and is coming off a three-fight streak.