MANILA--After three straight wins, Kevin Belingon believes he has already earned enough norms that will give him a second crack at Bibiano Fernandes' One bantamweight title.
“I am now on a three-bout winning streak. It’s my first time to win three straight bouts in One Championship, and it’s against two former world title contenders and a tough prospect. I really hope that this victory will lead me to a rematch with Bibiano Fernandes. I think I am back in a position to vie for a world title,” said Belingon, who held off fellow ex-Fernandes challenger Reece McLaren in Kuala Lumpur on Friday night.
[Related Story: Belingon KO's McLaren in all-Filipino clash; Nguyen strikes One gold in KL with own KO of Gafurov]
Belingon, however, admitted he was surprised that his fellow Filipino fighter wanted to fight him in the stand-up game.
"I was surprised that he stood in front of me and tried to test my stand-up skills. We all know that I am comfortable in the stand-up department, so I obliged," Belingon added.
Belingon eventually made McLaren pay for the bold yet dubious move.
“I saw an opportunity to get the finish when I dropped him with my right hand. He was trying his best to get back up, so I put tremendous amount of pressure by pinning him down while clobbering heavy blows. A volley of hard rights got me the finish,” Belingon relayed how the knockout happened.
[Related Story: Belingon KO's McLaren in all-Filipino clash; Nguyen strikes One gold in KL with own KO of Gafurov]
Belingon, however, admitted he was surprised that his fellow Filipino fighter wanted to fight him in the stand-up game.
"I was surprised that he stood in front of me and tried to test my stand-up skills. We all know that I am comfortable in the stand-up department, so I obliged," Belingon added.
Belingon eventually made McLaren pay for the bold yet dubious move.
“I saw an opportunity to get the finish when I dropped him with my right hand. He was trying his best to get back up, so I put tremendous amount of pressure by pinning him down while clobbering heavy blows. A volley of hard rights got me the finish,” Belingon relayed how the knockout happened.
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