On Friday, Japanese kickboxing sensation Takeru Segawa joined a plethora of A-listers ringside at the Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Thailand to watch two of the greatest Muay Thai fighters of this generation battle for flyweight dominance. The fight was for the championship of the flyweight division.
In the main event of ONE Friday Fights 34, which took place on September 22 at Bangkok’s renowned Muay Thai venue, ONE flyweight Muay Thai world champion ‘The Iron Man’ Rodtang Jitmuangnon traded bombs with ONE flyweight kickboxing world champion ‘The Kicking Machine’ Superlek Kiatmoo9.
After landing a knockdown in the second round, which swung the momentum in his favor, Superlek emerged victorious in the end, prevailing via unanimous decision in a fight that was hotly contested.
The action-packed bout began with Rodtang drawing first blood in the first round with a slicing upward elbow that caused a massive gash on Superlek’s forehead. The fight continued to be exciting from that point on. ‘The Kicking Machine’ wore a scarlet mask for the remainder of the bout as the two boxers continued to throw elbows, punches, and kicks back and forth until the referee stopped the action.
Takeru watched all of the action from ringside, and the Japanese star emerged from the experience feeling inspired to compete for the first time in ONE Championship.
During a media scrum for ONE Friday Fights 34, Takeru talked to the reporters and said the following:
“The performance I saw tonight left me feeling inspired. The competition for martial arts in Japan is also highly thrilling, and there are a number of matches that are entertaining to watch. But there is a distinction to be made. You are literally fighting for your life in [ONE’s conflicts]. This is exactly the kind of conflict I want to engage in. I’m itching for a battle right about now!”
A replay of the banger between Rodtang and Superlek as well as the rest of the action from ONE Friday Fights 34 is available for fans in the United States and Canada to watch on the ONE Super App as well as the official YouTube account for ONE Championship.
Takeru made the announcement earlier this year that he had signed with ONE Championship; however, he has not yet made his debut in a promotional bout. As the largest martial arts organization in the world works to bring the fight against Rodtang into the realm of possibility, this might happen very soon.
Before the end of the year, fans can anticipate seeing Takeru compete in the ring or circle of the ONE Championship.
