Japanese youngster Hiroba Minowa is not too keen on accepting the challenge for a rematch with Team Lakay's Lito Adiwang.
In a recent interview with ONE Championship, Minowa responded for the first time to Adiwang's demand for part two of their unfinished business.
"I’ve been asked these questions a lot since my last fight. I understand everyone was expecting Lito to win, but that didn’t happen. I’m happy with the result of that fight,” said Minowa, who holds a 12-2 record.
It would be recalled that Adiwang suffered a controversial split decision loss against the 21-year-old Minowa in ONE: Inside the Matrix III last November.
Many fans pointed out that the Igorot warrior should have won the fight and criticized the call for a split decision as spectators stressed that Minowa was seen tapping out while in agony of Adiwang's kimura lock.
Though not particularly happy with the outcome, Adiwang believed that a rematch would have sufficed to determine the real winner.
Should the 27-year-old Adiwang win, perhaps a trilogy might be down the line anytime soon.
Minowa, just like Adiwang, reiterated that the rematch is up to ONE Championship.
"If we have to rematch, then I’ll rematch him. But to be honest, I already beat him. I’m not interested in fighting him again in the near future. I’m more interested in competing against the higher-ranked fighters and making it to the top," said Minowa, who is set to face former strawweight champion and current No. 5 contender Alex Silva of Brazil in ONE: Fists of Fury III at the Singapore Indoor Stadium next Friday, March 19.
Adiwang, meanwhile, bounced back with an impressive second-round knockout win over Japanese newcomer Namiki Kawahara in ONE: Unbreakable last January to improve at 12-3 record.