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Brandon Vera teases fans of possible comeback fight

Sports

Brandon Vera teases fans of possible comeback fight

By Carlo Anolin

brandon vera — Filipino-American Brandon Vera (Photo from ONE Championship)

Reigning ONE Championship heavyweight king Brandon Vera teased fans of his much-awaited comeback in the Circle.

"I would say abangan niyo for the first half of the year," said Vera, who recently returned to the Philippines to finish a film and commercial shootings.

That said, the 43-year-old Filipino-American has since set sights on future contenders for his third world title defense.

A couple of heavyweight matches are scheduled in ONE: Unbreakable II at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on Friday. Mauro Cerilli of Italy will take on Russian Abdulbasir Vagabov while Cameroonian-born Alain Ngalani of Hong Kong will lock horns with Oumar Kane of Senegal.

"These guys are amazing heavyweights, each with their own attributes to solve and figure out," said Vera, who holds a 16-8 record.

Read: ONE: Brandon Vera honored to guest in ‘The Apprentice’

"I’m excited to see this event, and even more excited to watch and learn. I’m beyond hyped for all the recent signings of world-class heavyweight talent. It makes me nervous, which in turn, makes me train even harder."

The names Arjan Bhullar of India and Amir Aliakbari of Iran, two renowned wrestlers who signed with ONE Championship last year, are also expected challengers for Vera.

Vera was scheduled to fight Bhullar last May at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City but the coronavirus pandemic put the events on hold.

The Fil-Am champion last saw action in the Circle in October 2019 when he yielded to former light heavyweight champion Aung La N Sang of Myanmar, who lost the title over Dutch fighter Reinier de Ridder last October.

Since then, Vera focused on family time in Guam after he and wife Jessica Craven welcomed their son Atreyu Timothy last July amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

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