2021 for PH in international sports opens with Adiwang's clash vs. Hexigetu

Lito Adiwang opens 2021 for Philippine sports. One Championship (file photo)

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--Lito Adiwang will ring in the new year for the Philippines' participation in international sports as he will be the first Filipino athlete to be in action overseas for 2021.

Team Lakay, Adiwang's stable, announced on Friday night that he is scheduled to take on Hexigetu at One: Unbreakable on Jan. 22 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.

Adiwang, formerly the fifth ranked strawweight by One Championship, came from a tough defeat to Hiroba Minowa at One: Inside the Matrix 3 last October.

While Adiwang is asking for a rematch considering that the bout ended in a split decision win by Minowa, he has to first take on Hexigetu, who is also looking to sneak into the world rankings, which means one step closer to challenging Adiwang's Lakay teammate Joshua Pacio for the One strawweight championship.

The main event of One: Unbreakable is Alaverdi Ramazanov's defense of his One kickboxing bantamweight title against Asanan Praanekpanansri, known in the muay thai circle as Capitan Petchyindee Academy.

Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno