Inside Florida’s renowned Hard Knocks 365 gym, the ONE Light Heavyweight and Middleweight World Champion is deep in camp preparing for his upcoming middleweight title defense against Japan’s Ken Hasegawa.
The two square off for the second time in their careers on 31 March at ONE: A NEW ERA which will be held at Tokyo’s Ryogoku Kokugikan.
The pair’s first clashed was last June at ONE: SPIRIT OF A WARRIOR, in what is considered the greatest World Title bout in ONE Championship history.
“The Burmese Python” emerged victorious from the bruising encounter, stopping Hasegawa in the fifth. However, the back and forth nature of the contest meant a rematch was inevitable.
Now nine months later, they are set to do it again, and for Aung La, the matchup represents a chance to put on an even better display than last time.
When the cage doors shut on 31 March, Hasegawa will find himself facing off against not only a technically sharper version of Aung La but one who is also more physically imposing.
Aung La speaks highly of the environment fostered by the coaching staff at Hard Knocks 365 and feels since making the move to the South Florida gym he has grown as an athlete.
Training alongside him is compatriot and fellow ONE athlete Tial Thang, who will be making his promotional debut at ONE: REIGN OF VALOR.
When asked if he envisions a new generation of Myanmar athletes following in his footsteps, Aung La is optimistic about the future of the sport in his homeland.
Having a trailblazer like Aung La certainly helps when it comes to inspiring Myanmar’s future World Champions, and the 33-year-old is looking forward to fulfilling a lifelong ambition at ONE: A NEW ERA .
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