When a man becomes a father, he becomes an encouraging force in the life of his children.
And because of a father’s inspiration, those children, in turn, can go on to achieve greatness.
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In celebration of this past Father’s Day, we look at the men who have inspired and encouraged some of the greatest warriors in ONE Championship.
Eddie Alvarez
“The Underground King” Eddie Alvarez has had an incredible career in mixed martial arts so far, and he has one man to thank for his success – his father, Lou.
Growing up, Alvarez’s dad always expected the best from “The Underground King,” and the American stopped at nothing to live up to his father’s expectations.
“I lived in a fictional world growing up with my father because it was impossible for me to lose. If I did lose, he would make very good excuses [as to] why I lost,” Alvarez said.
“I’m a byproduct of that, in a way. I’ve come to a greater understanding of being a fighter and how to be a better sportsman. He pushed me in that way. He held me to a very high standard, and I always wanted to do well and make him proud, like every young boy.”
And make him proud he did. Alvarez has gone on to become a four-time lightweight World Champion and now competes on the global stage of martial arts.
Amir Khan
As a child, Amir Khan struggled with Tourette Syndrome, which made him the focus of bullying in school.
But his father, Tajudeen, always made sure that Khan didn’t develop a victim’s mentality. Instead, he encouraged his young offspring to use his challenges to better himself.
“People would always make fun of me. I remember coming home from school crying and asking [my dad], ‘What’s wrong with me?’ But my father never once let me feel like I was different from anybody else,” Khan said.
“He told me in life, it’s normal for everyone to struggle. These are problems we all face, and that it was up to me to make the best out of my situation.”
Khan now shares the number one spot in ONE ‘s history books for most knockouts in the Circle.
Giorgio Petrosyan
To say that Giorgio “The Doctor” Petrosyan had a rough upbringing would be putting it lightly.
His family moved from Armenia to Italy to escape the perils of war, and they were forced to live in a shelter as they adapted to life in a new country.
Despite their circumstances, “The Doctor’s” father, Andrei, encouraged his son to go after his dreams of becoming a kickboxer, and the young Armenian began to train on his own with makeshift gear.
Andrei’s blessings helped him keep his nose clean as he forged himself into one of the greatest kickboxers the world has ever known.
“He would warn you against hitting the town and drinking at night – instead, training hard to make a name for yourself,” Petrosyan said. “I listened to his advice and gave it my all, and that’s how I got here.”
His father’s advice paid dividends, and in 2019, Petrosyan became the ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Grand Prix Champion after defeating some of the best kickboxers on the planet.
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