WHEN one door closes, another opens. Such is the case for ONE Championship’s upcoming ONE 165 card on January 28.
With Rodtang “The Iron Man” Jitmuangnon having to pull out of his long-awaited clash with kickboxing superstar Takeru Segawa, ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Champion Superlek “The Kicking Machine” Kiatmoo9 will step in to save the main event.
ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong confirmed the news on social media on Friday.
It will be a massive debut for the multi-time K-1 World Champion in Takeru as he looks to add the only missing belt from his illustrious trophy cabinet. He’s already won the K-1 Super Bantamweight, Featherweight, and Super Featherweight World Championships.
The Japanese superstar has come in as ONE’s biggest signing last year, toting a 41-3 record with 24 stoppages on his resume.
This clash has been long fantasized by fight fans all over the world, given Superlek’s stronghold in the stacked flyweight division of ONE Championship.
Superlek holds an 11-1 record in the world’s largest martial arts organization, and he will come into this match with eight straight wins, including a massive decision victory over Rodtang.
Whoever ends up winning here will certainly get the distinction as not only the best fighter in the division but also the top pound-for-pound fighter of the planet.
Rodtang, on the other hand, took to social media to address his decision to pull out, explaining and apologizing to his fans.
“I would like to officially announce that my left hand was injured during training,” Rodtang said in a statement translated from Thai.
“I apologize to the fans who were following and waiting for this fight. I will definitely recuperate and heal and come back on stage again.”
