Leone Eyes a Comeback at ONE: Heroes of Honor
It’s a Tuesday, the crowd’s buzzing, and Andrew Leone is gearing up for what could be his most pivotal bout yet – a showdown with Filipino wrecker Kevin “The Silencer” Belingon. The fight is slated for the Mall of Asia Arena on Friday, April 20, and the stakes are sky‑high: the victor earns a rematch with ONE Bantamweight champ Bibiano Fernandes.
Been in the Trenches, Now Time to Rise
- After a humbling loss seven months back to Fernandes, Leone’s been doing a full-on cram‑session in Bali. He says, “I’ve been grinding hard since that fight.”
- He’s pumped by the chance to turn that near‑miss into a win. “This is the biggest card EVER in ONE’s history, and I’m ready to put on a show for our Filipino fans and the world,” he adds.
All About That Rematch
Leone’s goal isn’t just a win; it’s a ticket back to title contention. “Everyone’s chasing the belt and I gotta make sure my shot snaps to I don’t sit on the sidelines again.” He smiles – “Imagine, 9 out of 10 times the outcome flips on a single punch. That’s the reason I’m itching for this opportunity.”
Facing a Fellow Tag‑Team of Toughs
Belingon himself has fought his way to title contention, only to fall to Fernandes in 2016. Leone calls him “another tough guy” and says he’s proud of the challenges ONE has thrown his way.
- He lists early wins against Geje Eustaquio, Shinichi Kojima – a veteran he idolized in Shooto – and Shooto champ Koetsu Okazaki.
- These bouts built his confidence that Belingon “knocks everybody out,” and Leone is ready to disrupt that flow.
The Game Plan
Leone doesnt beat around the bush: “I’m aiming to win every single moment. The plan is domination. This means finishing every scenario and, yes, going in for that choke.”
All eyes will be on Friday to see whether Leone can finally close the gap to the belt or whether Belingon earns another shot at the continental throne.
