LOST two of his last three matches that derailed his charge to contention for the featherweight title in ONE Championship, Filipino Edward “The Ferocious” Kelly remains undeterred in living his martial arts dream and continue to be the best version of himself as a fighter.
Set to make his ONE return on Sept. 8 as part of the main card for “ONE: Beyond the Horizon” in Shanghai, China, Baguio native Kelly, 34, said he is bent on getting back on the winning track after absorbing a tough technical knockout loss in June against former champion Narantungalang Jadambaa.
It was the second defeat in three fights for Team Lakay’s Kelly, who lost to Emilio Urrutia by unanimous decision in August last year that effectively halted his three-fight winning streak.
Mr. Kelly though managed to squeeze in an impressive win over Meas Meu in January this year where he knocked out his opponent in just 21 seconds.
Off a loss, Mr. Kelly said it only stoked the fire in him to go out and improve.
“After my bout against Narantungalag Jadambaa, I was so disappointed in myself because I was not able to showcase all the months of hard work I put into training. But although I did not get the victory, it made me realize just how much more I had to improve so that I can become a better martial artist,” said Mr. Kelly in the lead-up to Beyond the Horizon.
“I realized that there are a lot of holes in my game, and that the only way to get better is to recognize my weaknesses,” he added.
At Beyond the Horizon, which will take place at the Baoshan Arena, Mr. Kelly is to face Christian “The Warrior” Lee of Singapore.
Heading into the fight, Mr. Kelly acknowledges that he is the underdog against Mr. Lee but nonetheless does not see it as much of an issue but more a of motivation to prove his doubters wrong.
“It’s good to be an underdog because it boosts my motivation to win. When you’re an underdog, others believe that you have a small chance to win. But in some instances, some fighters use it as an extra drive in their fights,” he said.
“I’m a hundred percent ready to go back in there again. In victory or in defeat, I will never stop doing what I love to do. I never stop training. I train all year round. Whether I have an upcoming fight or not, I’m always prepared. True martial artists are always in search of perfection of their craft. I can’t wait to go back inside the ring or cage and show the world how much better I have gotten,” Mr. Kelly added.
ONE: Beyond the Horizon will be headlined by the women’s strawweight world championship fight between champion Xiong Jing Nan of China and challenger Samara Santos of Brazil.
Co-headlining is the featherweight clash between Honorio Banario of the Philippines and Amir Khan of Singapore. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo
