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| Joshua Pacio, left, is currently training with his fellow Team Lakay fighters for his rematch against Yosuke Saruta. Dennis Acosta |
By Ivan Saldajeno
QUEZON CITY--Joshua Pacio and Yosuke Saruta will go at it again.
As announced on Thursday, both fighters will meet again for the One strawweight championship at One: Roots of Honor on April 12 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
Pacio and Saruta first met at One: Eternal Glory, the first fight card of One for the year, at the Istora Senayan in Jakarta on Jan. 20.
Saruta, a replacement opponent for Hayato Suzuki, pulled off a stunner by beating Pacio via split decision to take the belt from him.
[Related Story: Saruta becomes 1st One champion for 2019, dethrones Pacio]
However, debates began to surface overnight as many pundits, including no less than One's CEO Chatri Sityodtong, believed Pacio had enough to defend his title.
In the rematch, however, Pacio will have a home country advantage as he will try to reclaim the belt in front of his fellow Filipinos.
The Pacio-Saruta rematch is not the only world title fight confirmed for One: Roots of Honor as Martin Nguyen defends his One featherweight belt against Narantungalag Jadambaa in the main event.
Nguyen is making a return from an injury that forced him to relinquish the other championship belt he had, the One lightweight title.
On the other hand, Jadambaa looks to take back the featherweight belt that he lost in 2016 against Nguyen, the current champ.
Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno
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