John Lineker Thinks Fabricio Andrade Has A Lot To Learn

ONE Bantamweight World Champion John “Hands of Stone” Lineker is preparing to defend his throne for the first time. No opponent has been announced yet, but one athlete who has made a strong case for himself is young star Fabricio “Wonder Boy” Andrade. 

Andrade dominated knockout artist “Pretty Boy” Kwon Won Il in their much-anticipated battle at ONE 158: Tawanchai vs. Larsen on 3 June, finishing the South Korean in just over a minute with a kick to the liver. 

The win pushed “Wonder Boy’s” record in the Circle to a perfect 5-0, with four finishes, and handed him the #2-ranked spot in the divisional rankings, previously held by Kwon. 

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“Wonder Boy’s” tear through the bantamweight division is undeniable, but ONE Bantamweight World Champion Lineker is still not convinced that his Brazilian compatriot has done enough to earn a shot at his crown. 

“To be very honest, I started to follow Fabrício just recently. What I saw in this fight [against Kwon] is that he knows how to focus. He managed to impose his strategy. I wasn’t impressed because he got a knockout. That can happen in [any] fight, especially between strikers. He’s a good fighter, but he didn’t impress me at all,” he said. 

“I don’t know if he did enough to earn a title shot. It’s not for me to say if he deserves a title shot. I’m prepared. I’m ready to fight anyone in the division. If ONE thinks he deserves it, I’m here waiting.” 

“Hands of Stone” ushered in a new reign in the stacked division when he sparked longtime titleholder Bibiano “The Flash” Fernandes in their bout back in March, and now he is ready for his next challenge. Andrade believes he should be the one to take on Lineker for the strap, and he has called him out on multiple occasions, including after his most recent victory.

Lineker recognizes that a fight between the two of them would be an entertaining battle, given that both men can stand and bang, but he believes that “Wonder Boy” still has some work to do to prove that he deserves to stand opposite a ONE World Champion inside the Circle. 

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“Today, I am the champion. That already answers your question. He’s a good fighter. I don’t belittle him in any way, but he still has a lot to learn,” he said. 

“I believe it could be a great fight. A fight between two strikers is certainly very nice to see. It’s what fans like to watch, striking and punching all the time. If this fight against him happens, for sure, it will be a great show with a real chance of being ‘Fight of the Year.'” 

In the meantime, download the ONE Super App to catch all the action at ONE 159: De Ridder vs. Bigdash on Friday, 22 July, at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. 

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