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Kelly to test lightweight waters at ONE Macau card

Philstar.com
July 27, 2017 | 8:40am
Kelly to test lightweight waters at ONE Macau card

Eric Kelly of Baguio City | ONE Championship

MANILA, Philippines — Eric Kelly is set to write a new arc to his fighting career.

But his first test as a lightweight will be exactly that: a test.

Kelly, who has been competing for the longest time as a featherweight, will be taking on Japanese mixed martial arts legend Kotetsu Boku in the undercard of ONE Championship’s “Kings and Conquerors” in Macau next week.

“To tell you honestly, I am in a very tough fight. It’s nerve-wracking, in a sense. But I am ready to accept the challenge,” the Filipino said of his upcoming match. “I want to trade strikes with my opponent. He is dangerous in that aspect, but I can see some loopholes.”

With more than 30 professional matches on his resume, Boku has the experience of a seasoned veteran and has seen it all whether it is inside the cage or the ring.

But the Baguio City native said he isn’t going to war unprepared.

“I might be known for my submission wins, but I also have striking in my skill-set,” Kelly offered.
 
“It’s a new beginning for me. It’s somehow a permanent move since this is my walking weight. We have to abide by the weigh-in rules of the company. I am comfortable with the weight,” he said.

“I am excited to be in this new journey. I hope everything will turn our great for me as a lightweight,” he added.

Kelly first started with the Yaw-Yan discipline before making a career out of Wushu Sanshou and repped the Philippines in various competition.
 
And while championship gold has always been his ultimate goal, he does not want to rush into it like he would when he was younger. He is currently in the hunt for his first win after dropping his three assignments in ONE.

“A world title can wait. Right now, I have to redeem myself,” Kelly noted. “I might be 35 years old, but I am not giving up. I am here to stay.”

“I am looking for statement win this time around,” he closed.

Kelly will shoot for redemption at the expense of Boku on August 5 at the Cotai Arena.
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