Lasiri Dishes On World Title Clash With Prajanchai: I Have Nothing To Prove

Top-ranked strawweight Muay Thai contender Joseph Lasiri will get the biggest opportunity of his career when he takes on Prajanchai PK.Saenchai for the ONE Strawweight Muay Thai World Championship at ONE: 157 Petchmorakot vs. Vienot on Friday, 20 May.

The Italian-Moroccan star has shown time after time that he has a fighter’s heart. He initially struggled when he entered the ONE roster, losing five of his first six fights, but he found success and a more positive headspace when he dropped to a lower weight class. 

“It’s not just my physical power, but the new division helped me a lot from the mental point of view. Having the opportunity to compete in a heavier division against elite athletes and champions gave me an incredible mental confidence to fight in the new division,” Lasiri said. 

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“It was an incredible opportunity to get moved to my [more natural] weight division, and I took the chance and exploited it with two wins.” 

Back-to-back victories against Rocky Ogden and Asahi Shinagawa propelled the WBC Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion up the strawweight rankings, and now he’s ready for the ultimate test.  

Lasiri has faced some of the top competitors that ONE has on offer, and he can take that experience into his upcoming World Title tussle with Prajanchai – but the Thai is on another level. 

The PK.Saenchai man has nearly 400 fights to his name, with an astonishing 338 wins. He is also a two-time Lumpinee and Rajadamnern Stadium World Champion. 

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A resume like that may be intimidating for some opponents, but “The Hurricane” is looking at this fight with more than just ONE gold in mind. 

“I don’t have to prove anything to anyone. I only care about my coach, my training partners, and my family. These are the only people for whom I really care that my name is respected,” Lasiri said. 

In the meantime, download the ONE Super App to catch all the action at ONE 157: Petchmorakot vs. Vienot on Friday, 20 May, at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.  

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