Kevin Belingon balances training and family time for title defense

TOKYO, Japan - ONE bantamweight world champion Kevin Belingon of Team Lakay is known for being ferocious inside the cage, but he is quite hushed when he steps outside of competition to be with his family.

The 31-year-old who hails from Ifugao Province is set to defend his title in a trilogy against his bitter rival Bibiano Fernandes in the co-main event of ONE: A New Era on March 31 at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo, Japan.

"I start the day with my family. I think that’s the best way to start any day. I want to spend as much time as I can with them before heading off to training," said Belingon.

"Breakfast in the mornings is something that I look forward to every day because it means I can be with my family early. We typically go for a break in the afternoon and then resume our training in the evening. After training, we all head back to our homes to spend time with our families again. The next day, we repeat. This is the daily grind," he added.

Belingon acknowledges that his upcoming showdown against Fernandes could be the toughest bout in his career yet. He tries to balance work and time with the family the best way he can, so he efficiently plots his daily schedule to juggle his responsibilities.

"I proceed to meet the team [after breakfast] and undergo various training sessions like cardio training, endurance training, strength and conditioning exercises," Belingon said.

"Anything that will make us physically and mentally stronger. It all helps in preparing us for our matches. The evening sessions are reserved for skills polishing. This is where we learn new techniques to add to our game."

Belingon underscores that he has family in mind in everything he does. He says his sacrifice is for them, as he prepare himself for the grueling task in the evening of the 31st of March.

"I know what’s at stake here. I know the tough challenge ahead. But with the strength from the people I love, I can conquer any mountain," he said.

"I’m working extremely hard so that I can get the win in Japan. I want my family to be proud of me," he added. — BAP, GMA News