Moises “The Lion King” Ilogon may not be among the 22 delegates who flew to Paris, France, to represent the Philippines in the ongoing Olympics, but he is determined to bring honor to his homeland from a different stage.
The Cagayan de Oro native reports for duty at ONE Friday Fights 74, scheduled for August 9 at the historic Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. There, he squares off against South Korea’s Lee Seung Chul in a three-round strawweight MMA bout.
Ilogon, who once suited up for flag and country in Kun Khmer at the 32nd Southeast Asian Games, feels motivated heading into his next assignment. Much of this is attributed to the nation’s campaign in the quadrennial meet, which has been commendable thus far.
Among the standout moments, Carlos Yulo made history by becoming the first Filipino athlete to win multiple Olympic gold medals, topping the floor and vault events in artistic gymnastics.
Meanwhile, Pinay boxers Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas are in the medal rounds of their respective weight classes as of press time.
“Seeing my fellow Filipinos achieve such incredible feats on the world stage is inspiring,” Ilogon shared. “It motivates me to push harder and give my best in my upcoming fight.”
Like his compatriots in Paris, Ilogon faces an acid test in his sophomore appearance under the ONE Championship banner.
His opponent, Lee, owns an impressive 7-1 record with a perfect finishing rate — five wins by knockout and two by submission.
Despite the sizeable gap in experience, Ilogon — who has a 3-0 professional slate — is undaunted by what awaits him this Friday.
“I respect Lee’s skills and his reputation, but I’m focused on my own game plan and capabilities,” he stated. “This is an opportunity for me to show that Filipino fighters can excel on any stage, against any opponent.”
As he prepares for this crucial matchup, the 23-year-old draws inspiration from the achievements of his fellow Filipinos in the Olympics.
“Their success is a reminder of what we can accomplish with hard work and dedication,” he mentioned. “I’m inspired to give it my all and contribute to the pride of our country.”
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