Joshua Pacio more motivated to win back world title after ONE: A New Era

MANILA—Team Lakay wrapped up 2018 with four world champions in its stable, and just three months in to 2019, they are left without a single world titleholder in the team.

The string of losses in world title bouts began when Joshua Pacio yielded  his then ONE strawweight world title by way of split decision against Yosuke Saruta last January.

Six days later, it was Geje Eustaquio who lost his ONE flyweight world title by unanimous decision to longtime rival Adriano Moraes in the main event of ONE: Hero's Ascent.

It didn't get any better for Team Lakay as they also lost two of their remaining world titles in ONE Championship's biggest event to date and maiden show in Tokyo, Japan.

Kevin Belingon would go on to lose his ONE Bantamweight World Title by disqualification against Bibiano Fernandes in the co-main event of ONE: A New Era.

The final nail on the coffin unfolded in the main event where Eduard Folayang lost his ONE lightweight world title via first-round submission against Shinya Aoki.

The first to lose the title and also the first with the chance to redeem himself, Pacio cites that what took place in Tokyo is an added motivation to become a world champion again.

"What happened in Japan was certainly an added motivation. It wasn’t too long ago when we had so many World Champions, now we don’t have any. I’m just motivated to get that belt back," said Pacio.

The Benguet native however concedes that there happens to be an added pressure to perform in front of his countrymen.

"The pressure is always there but I am used to it. I have always felt it, from the first time I fought for the belt, there’s always been pressure, but this is a different type of pressure altogether," he admitted.

"Performing for the world title in the Philippines gives a different kind of pressure, but it’s already there and it’s just for the taking, I just have to be 100 percent focused."

Pacio reiterated that Team Lakay is not new to adversity. He remains optimistic despite the rough start this year, and is confident that it is only a matter of time before they get their hands back on the gold-plated belts.

"I am confident that we’ll get those belts again. We’ve already been there," Pacio told.

"Eduard [Folayang] got knocked out in front of our countrymen in the past and he bounced back stronger. This is not a new situation for us, We’ll try to work on our weaknesses and I’m confident we’ll get all our belts back."

Pacio plans to leave no stone unturned in his journey to become a two-time world champion at 23 years old. He vows to give everything he has on fight night, as he looks for clear-cut finish to settle the score with Saruta.

"I’ll try my best not to leave it to the judges this time, if it does, I have to make sure that we’ll dominate all five rounds." —LBG, GMA News