Joshua Pacio Is Proud Of His Igorot Warrior Spirit

Joshua “The Passion” Pacio is proud to represent his people on the global stage.

Most people know him as one of the stars of Team Lakay from Baguio City, Philippines, who will be helping him in his rematch against Yoshitaka “Nobita” Naito for the ONE Strawweight World Title at ONE: CONQUEST OF HEROES.

However, the 22-year-old will also step into Indonesia’s Jakarta Convention Center in the name of the Igorot people, from his native La Trinidad in the province of Benguet in the Philippines.

Pacio explains that the Igorots are known for their warrior qualities, which he says will be essential for his main event clash with Naito.

“Igorots are known for bravery, for being strong, and of course, for being fighters,” he says.

“They should always be humble and mentally prepared for what challenges will come.

“I’m a proud Igorot. Every time I enter the cage, I’m ready for a challenge.”

The task he faces is likely to be the toughest of his career. He knows the Japanese star is a dangerous opponent, because he has faced him once before, and ended up on the wrong end of a third-round submission.

Though Pacio returned to the drawing board after that match and has looked better and better since, Naito’s skills have continued to evolve, too.

As a result, their bout in Jakarta on 22 October promises to be a fascinating battle between two world-class athletes.