“Swimming has become therapeutic for him” - Mark Sangiao gives update on Lito Adiwang’s recovery

Filipino star Lito Adiwang is approaching eight months since suffering a devastating knee injury at ONE X. Still on the road to recovery, 'Thunder Kid' is determined to come back stronger than ever.

In his last bout back in March, Adiwang tore his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in the second round against Jeremy Miado. An unfortunate setback, the 29-year-old has been fully focused on recovering back to full strength.

Team Lakay head coach Mark Sangiao provided an update on Adiwang's progress, including what he's doing in physical therapy. Lakay told ONE:

"He joins us for some light training and then proceeds to swim afterward. Swimming has become therapeutic for him and a big part of his recovery process.”

Adiwang underwent surgery in April to repair the ligament in his right knee. Over the past several months, he has been immersed in getting back into fight shape.

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Lito Adiwang determined to come back strong

According to coach Lakay, the strawweight fighter has been taking his recovery seriously:

“Lito’s discipline and desire to recover quickly are something to behold. He doesn’t miss an appointment with his therapists and doctors."

Adiwang has tallied a 7-3 record since joining ONE in 2018. Still only 29 years of age, 'Thunder Kid' might still have his best years ahead of him.

As far as the timeline for when fans can expect him back from injury, Lito Adiwang told ONE this:

“The doctor told me it would take more or less an entire year to fully recover, just to be on the safe side. He also told me that my recovery could be quicker, depending on how my body responds to the physical therapy. It appears I am ahead of schedule, and I think I’ll be back to full intense training in about a month.”

Despite not having a win over anyone in the strawweight top five, those in the know are aware of Adiwang's talent. A fully healthy Lito Adiwang is capable of competing with the very best within the division.

Torn ligaments are never easy for athletes to recover from, but it's clear that Adiwang has the mental fortitude to overcome this obstacle—and be better because of it.