Injury played killjoy to the much awaited fight between Benguet’s Jenelyn Olsim and Malaysia’s Jihin Radzuan while another Benguet-born fighter, Jeremy Pacatiw, returns to the circle in a career-defining match after drawing Fabricio “Wonder Boy” Andrade, a top contender.
The clash between Olsim and Radzuan will again be shelved after the Team Lakay lady next generation prospect sustained an injury during sparring.
The Olsim and Radzuan bout were supposed to part of ONE: BLOOD on February 11, 2022 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
Olsim got the call to battle Jihin on short three weeks’ notice. Unfortunately, doctors of Team Lakay diagnosed her unfit to participate in the card and advised the withdrawal.
It was the second time the Olsim-Radzuan bout had to be canceled.
The two fighters were originally scheduled to square off during ONE: NEXTGEN II last November 2021 but Olsim was elevated to participate in the ONE Women’s Atomweight World Grand Prix semifinals to take the place of Japanese Itsuki Hirata .
Olsim, however, lost to her opponent, India’s Ritu Phogat, by unanimous decision in her attempt to get closer to a title shot at Angela Lee’s ONE Women’s Atomweight title.
On the other hand, Pacatiw got an opportunity to stamp his mark in one of ONE Championship’s stacked division when the promotion pitted “The Juggernaut” against “Wonder Boy” on February 25 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
Andrade is currently the No. 4 bantamweight contender per the official rankings and is entering the match carrying a five-fight winning streak.
Andrade scored a first-round technical knockout against Li Kai Wen at ONE: Winter Warriors II last December.
Pacatiw is ecstatic for the opportunity but understands the threats and challenges from the top-rated fighter against him.
“I’d say that my upcoming fight with Fabricio Andrade will be the most ambitious pursuit I have in my career as I get a chance to face a ranked fighter,” Pacatiw declared in a Team Lakay website post.
Pacatiw proved he belongs to the big boys’ league by making a statement in his debut last July at ONE: Battleground, scoring a unanimous decision win against Chen “The Ghost” Rui.
He is also aware he cannot be talked about in the same breath of his peers Kevin “The Silencer” Belingon and Stephen “The Sniper” Loman unless he shows something worthy like winning this bout.
“Getting that win will definitely draw me closer to the top. Indeed, this is another opportunity for me to unleash my skills and I can’t wait,” he continued.
Team Lakay head coach Mark Sangiao acknowledges Pacatiw is coming in as a massive underdog against Andrade but knows fights are won on the canvas and not on paper.
“Fabricio Andrade is carrying five wins in a row to his name and we’re not glossing this over. But we’re also not selling Jeremy Pacatiw short. Our Team Lakay athlete will take great strides to the cage with only one goal, to put his name into that top-flight rankings,” Sangiao said.
With Pacatiw attempting to put his name among the best bantamweights in ONE plus the other high stakes on the line, expect an explosive match come fight night.
By Armando Bolislis
