Andrade eyes Lineker title shot

published : 9 Jun 2022 at 04:00

newspaper section: Sports

Fabricio Andrade needed only 62 seconds to make a statement against Kwon Won-Il at One 158: Tawanchai v Larsen last Friday at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.

The Brazilian star shocked the martial arts world, proving that he deserves to face One bantamweight world champion John Lineker when he finished the South Korean knockout artist with a crushing kick to the liver in the first round of their bout.

Andrade had promised to deliver an emphatic victory, and he did just that after moving in and out of the pocket and avoiding his opponent’s range.

The No.4-ranked bantamweight contender then sent the kick that changed everything and which No.2 Kwon was ill-prepared for.

After making contact, “Pretty Boy” initially looked like he could walk it off, but the force of the kick soon settled in, and he crumpled to the canvas in pain.

The win earned Andrade a US$50,000 bonus and catapulted him closer to the top of the division.

Following the bout, “Wonder Boy” made his plans clear by calling out the divisional king.

“I want John Lineker. I want the title. I want that gold, man. I deserve that gold. I have worked so hard for that. I know I can finish him. I deserve that gold,” Andrade said.

“He already knew I am the toughest challenger. I am the best bantamweight in the division, and that’s why he never chose to reply to me.

“Now he knows I’m coming for him, and there is no way to hide. I’m going to finish him. And maybe it’s going to be faster than when I finished Kwon.”

Andrade has been claiming that he is the true king of the bantamweight division for some time, and now he may just get a chance to put his money where his mouth is against Lineker.

The ever-confident 24-year-old believes that his skills and style will be no match for “Hands of Stone” if and when they get to throw down in the future.