A HERO’S welcome was bestowed to One Championship’s lightweight champion Eduard Folayang and three-time world wushu champion Divine Wally, as wishing fans lined the streets Friday afternoon, December 9, to welcome the fighters.
Dressed in traditional attire, Folayang was with his mother Mercedes while Wally with her mother Joyce, as they alighted separate floats prepared by the Baguio City Buildings and Architecture Office with vehicles by City Sports Office and Association of Barangay Councils which paraded down session road to city hall amid crowds waiting in the city’s main thoroughfares.
The champions were received and awarded at the city hall grounds by Mayor Maurico Domogan who presented a resolution of congratulations, lauding the international win of both prize fighters and now world champions.
In a historic fight, Folayang knocked down Japan’s pride Shinya Aoki in their lightweight title bout in November while Wally bagged her third gold medal at world wushu championships, first in Indonesia, second in Taiwan and in China.
Folayang is said to defend his belt this upcoming year albeit opponent for his first title defense is yet to be announced by the One Championship network.
Wally is set to resume her studies in January.
“Balik school muna ako para makatapos na din sa pag aaral, although maglalaro pa rin naman ako under the National Team, at bababa pa rin ako para sa ensayo kung kailangan (I'll go back to school to finish my studies, although I'll still be playing under the National Team, I'll go down for practices when needed),” Wally said.
The city is yet to confirm whether a bid to host the venue for Folayang’s first defense match is coming, as logistics and preparations will be a challenge for an mixed martial arts show like the One Championship.