Mohammed Boutasaa says that he is Ready For Top-Ranked Featherweights

Mohammed Boutasaa faced a difficult challenge when he stepped into the ONE Championship Circle for the first time at ONE 157: Petchmorakot vs. Vienot on Friday, 20 May, at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.  

The Morrocan star squared off against Georgia’s Davit Kiria in a featherweight kickboxing battle that could have easily resulted in him taking the first loss of his professional career. After all, Kiria is an experienced and dangerous striker with nearly 60 fights to his name, and he is used to the bright lights of ONE’s global stage. 

That reputation didn’t bother the 22-year-old star in the end, though, and his performance demonstrated just how bright of a future he has ahead of him. 

He landed multiple precise body kicks on Kiria throughout the bout and was able to create distance and evade his opponent's counters seamlessly. 

When all was said and done, Boutasaa earned a unanimous decision win from the judges, and in his post-fight interview, the debuting star made it clear that he wasn’t surprised by how the fight went down. 

“Normally, I am controlling the fight. That’s why they call me “Too Sharp,” because I am one step ahead of you – and that’s what you saw,” Boutasaa said. 

His emphatic victory pushed his record to 15-0 and showed the world that he is capable of holding his own against a heavy hitter, which could put him in line to take on a competitor even higher up the food chain in his next outing. 

An opponent like #5-ranked featherweight kickboxer Tayfun Ozcan or #4-ranked Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong would be an immense test for the Moroccan, and while it may be a quick progression for the up-and-comer, “Too Sharp” feels that he’s ready to rise through the ranks against the best in the division. 

“I want to step up. I want to go a step above me now that I have defeated Davit Kiria. Now I want to [fight] someone above him. In the end, I want to become the champion of course. Everyone better than me, everyone above me, is welcome,” he said. 

Watch ONE 158: Tawanchai vs. Larsen live on Disney+ Hotstar or Star Sports Select 2., beginning with the lead card at 3 p.m. India Standard Time (IST) on Friday, 3 June. The main card broadcasts live on Disney+ Hotstar and Star Sports Select 2 at 6 p.m. IST.  

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