ONE Championship interim flyweight world titlist Geje Eustaquio is a man on a mission as he embarks for another showdown with former tormentor and current champion Adriano Moraes
Both men are scheduled to face each other in a world title unification clash at ONE: Pinnacle of Power, which takes place at the Studio City Event Center in Macau, China on June 23.
"Winning the world title is a dream come true for me. Ever since I started my professional career, the goal was to be a world champion. Now, that goal is a reality," Eustaquio stated.
Believing that it could be sweeter the second time around, the 29-year-old Baguio City native seeks to replicate the same magic as he is slated to lock horns once again with Brazilian flyweight kingpin Moraes.
Out of 16 bouts in his seven-year prizefighting stint, Eustaquio has shared the stage with the same foe on two occasions, walking out in both instances with his arm raised in triumph.
After dropping a split decision to Anatpong Bunrad in April 2015, Eustaquio settled the score with his arch-nemesis two years later by edging out the Thai hard-hitter with his own split decision victory.
The team Lakay stalwart then clinched the ONE Interim Flyweight World Championship, toppling Kazakh rival Kairat Akhmetov by way of five-round unanimous decision in a second encounter this past January.
"There were lots of trials and challenges. My path was not the easiest, but I always knew what I had to do to achieve it. Like I always say, it's either you win or you learn. I learned from my past failures. And here I am today. That is the secret to my success," Eustaquio shared.
Eustaquio and Moraes stood opposite each other for the first time in September 2014 when the two collided for the inaugural ONE flyweight world championship.
Moraes derailed Eustaquio's championship aspirations as he found a way to counteract his opponent's striking prowess in the second round and then forced the 5-foot-5 Team Lakay representative to wave the white flag with a guillotine choke.
Eustaquio admitted that it was a tough defeat to digest, but he pointed out that he took a lot away from it by viewing it as a learning curve.
"On June 23, I have a tough task in front of me. However, it is still an opportunity for me, an opportunity that comes once in a lifetime. On that date, it is my opportunity to become the undisputed champion of this division. And I am coming for it," he added.
Although embarking on an impressive four-bout winning streak, which includes unifying and defending the flyweight world championship, Moraes prepares for what he perceives as the most difficult title defense of his second reign as the division's kingpin.
Moraes may be riding a wave of momentum after defeating Kairat Akhmetov and Danny Kingad to cap off his 2017 campaign, but underestimating a familiar foe like Eustaquio could result to a big blunder.
"Geje Eustaquio has earned the highest level of my respect. If anything, there is no chance of me underestimating him. That would be unwise. We've all seen his improvement as a martial artist," he said.
Against Eustaquio, Moraes stressed that he will be gearing up for the best version of his Filipino counterpart. "I am preparing for the best Geje Eustaquio possible, and that is the only way I can prepare to be at my best. I believe this match is going to be a battle between two top-notch martial artists. It is going to be a battle from start to finish," he expressed.
Moraes was at cageside when Eustaquio toppled Akhmetov, noticing the evident evolution of the 29-year-old Baguio City native from a pure striker to an all-around competitor.
In his cage encounter with Akhmetov, Eustaquio displayed on-point sprawls and his ability to sinuously execute sweeps and guards, as well as his sturdy top control on the mat.
"I have seen many of his fights, including his last one in Manila against Kairat Akhmetov. He's more of a striker, but he has picked up his game remarkably. He is a different fighter now. That makes him so dangerous," he stated. (Roderick Osis)
