Today is Philippines Independence Day and Lito Adiwang is commemorating the occasion. It is 125 years since the county declared its independence after 300 years of colonial rule by Spain.
Adiwang appears to currently be based in Phuket. He has not fought since suffering a devastating knee injury during his fight with Jeremy Miado at ONE: ‘X’ last year.
So he could be referring to his own career as well as a significant date for the Philippines when he writes that it is a,
New Beginning
View this post on Instagram
Right decision
He was booked to face Mansur Malachiev at ONE Fight Night 6 in January. But Adiwang pulled out of that fight because his knee was still troubling him.
In a curious twist of fate Malachiev found himself facing Miado instead, albeit five months late. The Filipino had benefitted from Adiwang’s unfortunate injury, getting a TKO win when his opponent was unable to continue.
Malachiev made short work of Miado and if Adiwang was watching he would probably have felt it was the right decision not to accept the bout in January. Since then he has visited numerous gyms in Phuket, sharing photos of himself at Bang Tao Muay Thai, AKA Thailand and Absolute MMA.
View this post on Instagram
Potential comeback
After several weeks training in Phuket he must be much closer to full fitness than he was at the start of the year. Adiwang doesn’t currently have a fight booked but could be close to a potential comeback.
He was one of the top contenders at strawweight but came up short against Jarred Brooks in a title eliminator. Adiwang appeared to be getting the better of Miado before suffering the knee injury, which required surgery.
He is also part of the exodus of fighters from Team Lakay. So next time Adiwang fights he will be representing a different camp although it is not clear which one it will be.
He is the only former Team Lakay member to head to Phuket after the breakup. He will presumably rejoin the likes of Eduard Folayang, Joshua Pacio and Kevin Belingon when he returns to Baguio.
But whatever the future holds for Adiwang he hopes for a fresh start in 2023, Just like the one his country got when it achieved independence in 1898.
