ONE Championship: ‘The Bicolano’ Seeks Bigger Challenges After Manila Spectacle
Credit to Author: Tempo Online| Date: Wed, 24 Apr 2019 07:04:41 +0000
Ramon “The Bicolano” Gonzales is shooting for the stars as he continues his upward trajectory in ONE Championship.
With his latest performance, that confidence is warranted.
Gonzales hardly broke a sweat in dispatching Akihiro “Superjap” Fujisawa, as he scored a quick submission victory in the kickoff bout of ONE: ROOTS OF HONOR, which broadcast from the Mall Of Asia Arena in Manila on Friday, 12 April.
The Filipino impressed in his first promotional appearance in his native country, and now, he is asking for more.
Ramon Gonzales (ONE Championship photo)
“I’m very excited for my next fight,” he stated.
“I hope that ONE Championship is noticing me and my team, and they see that I’m capable of giving excellent fights and I’m ready to take on high-level opponents.
“I’ll work even harder. Expect better performances in my next fights.”
While his start in The Home Of Martial Arts was far from desirable, Gonzales has slowly but surely turned himself into a well-rounded martial artist as time has passed.
After a 1-2 start, Gonzales has now won three consecutive bouts by submission — proving that he is more than just an accomplished Kyokushin Karate practitioner.
Now, it’s all about taking that next step, probably the hardest one as he looks to break into the World Title picture.
“I’ve always dreamt of becoming a World Champion,” Gonzales admitted.
“For that to happen, I have to believe in myself and my team, get all the support from all my loved ones, and mostly, be determined to succeed.
“I’ll work on all of the aspects of my game to get there. I’ll be training every day until my next fight.”
The 31-year-old will be ready to take on anyone, especially if it means getting a chance to move up the flyweight ranks.
Gonzales, however, has reservations in battling fellow Filipinos. He is not necessarily keen on the idea of it.
“I’m willing to fight anyone,” he offered. “We trust ONE Championship and sir Matt Hume (Senior Vice President of Operations and Competition) to decide on that, but I hope it does not come against a fellow Filipino.”