TEAM Lakay upstart Lito Adiwang had a rough start of the year, as the 27-year-old from Baguio City, recently lost his mother Leticia, who suffered multiple strokes since 2016.

She passed away on December 30, just before a tumultuous year ended for Adiwang.

“There is nothing a mother wants more than to see her child happy and successful. I know my mother loved me so much, and she just really did not want me to get hurt, which is why she did not fully accept me being a fighter with her whole heart,” said Adiwang.

“But I chose this career, and I believe she was happy to see me succeed in what I love to do. I know in my heart she is proud of me, and I will continue to live my life in her honor,” adds Adiwang.

Adiwang is scheduled to make his return to the ONE Circle at ONE: UNBREAKABLE, scheduled for Friday, January 22, 2021 in Singapore.

It will be his first fight back since losing a close split decision to Japan’s Hiroba Minowa in November and Adiwang maintains that the experiences he’s gone through in the past few months have only made him stronger.

“I am more motivated now than ever to achieve my goals, and apply the lessons I learned in 2020, especially. I know the pressure is on, and I can feel the pressure. I know I have to prove myself to the world again, to earn the people’s trust. I’m working on coming back stronger than ever,” said Adiwang.

ONE: Unbreakable is ONE Championship’s first live event in 2021.

The main event features a ONE Super Series showdown between ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Champion Alaverdi Ramazanov of Russia, who defends his world title against top 2-ranked bantamweight kickboxing contender Capitan Petchyindee Academy of Thailand. (SunStar Baguio)