At first glance in the ONE Championship official athlete rankings, ONE Strawweight World Champion Joshua “The Passion” Pacio knows first hand that things would not get easier from now on.
That does not mean he will cower away from the pressure.
“If you see your name on the top of the food chain, you feel like you need to triple your effort so you can maintain your place at the top,” Pacio said.
“I know there are a lot of people gunning for my belt but I have no plans of relinquishing it. I just have to remain eager and determined so I can succeed in this sport.”
Pacio is not surprised to see the names in the rankings, which includes his teammate Lito “Thunder Kid” Adiwang at number five.
Nonetheless, Pacio cannot wait for this pandemic to be contained so he can start protecting his throne once again.
“I am very excited and eager to return to the ONE Circle. I really miss competing, and I am excited to welcome whoever my next challenger is,” Pacio stated.
“But of course for now we have a different battle we’re facing. I just hope things go back to normal soon. I am not sure when I’ll be able to compete again but I remain positive.”
One thing is for sure, though. When things go back to normal, expect Pacio to remain as hungry and innovative as ever.
“As I’ve been saying, the goal is to show a different Joshua Pacio in each match. We’re not just focusing on one part of my game, but all of its aspects,” Pacio said.
“There are a lot of challenges now, but if there’s a will, there’s a way. We cannot stop looking for progress.”
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