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| Jhanlo Sangiao and Carlo Bumina-ang both insisted they support each other's quests in the ONE bantamweight division despite both fighters getting closer to a possible title shot. ONE Championship (file photo) |
MANILA––Team Lakay's Jhanlo Mark Sangiao spoke about his relationship with fellow ONE Championship bantamweight Carlo "The Bull" Bumina-ang as they both traverse the divisional ladder with the same goal in mind – win the title.
One of them will eventually have to play second fiddle should they reach the top, but the 22-year-old doesn't expect an issue with it, noting how they've always been supportive of each other's rise.
"Being in the same division with Carlo isn't that big of a deal for us if we're being honest. We're both doing our thing and we support each other in this division," Sangiao said.
Since losing to #4-ranked Enkh-Orgil Baatarkhuu in his main roster debut, Bumina-ang has racked up consecutive wins – both coming from impressive finishes – proving that he indeed belongs in the main roster.
Sangiao, on the other hand, won three consecutive fights to start his ONE journey but fell to the aforementioned Baatarkhuu in his last fight, putting them around the same level in the mid-tier of the division, just outside the top five.
For "The Machine," instead of looking at Bumina-ang as competition, he's making sure to learn everything from him, and vice-versa, as they look to climb the division together.
"It's actually nice to have a brother-like figure who can relate with you when it comes to the division," Sangiao said.
"He's the perfect training partner here in the gym. They say iron sharpens iron and that's what we're doing here."
In fact, seeing Bumina-ang win consecutive fights actually lit a fire in Sangiao as he's inspired to win his next fights, seeing all the success of Bumina-ang and the rest of the team.
"I'm excited to get back and join the fray because if you would look at the progression of our gym, we've been winning. Our fighters have been impressive," Sangiao said.
"Even here in the Lumpinee stage, we're seeing how they truly want to join the ONE main roster and that gives me so much energy and motivation to keep pushing forward."
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