Masaaki Noiri refuses to leave his championship destiny in the hands of the judges when he faces Superbon in the main event of ONE 173 on November 16.
The Japanese interim titleholder will challenge for the undisputed ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Championship at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan, and he has made his intentions crystal clear ahead of the unification bout.
"He's a great fighter whom I respect, but I am absolutely confident in prevailing against him. I believe that it is crucial for me to knock him out. I have absolutely no intention of scraping by with a decision victory. I'm confident I can finish him decisively," Noiri stated.
The 32-year-old recognizes the significance of transitioning from interim champion to undisputed king, and settling for anything less than a spectacular victory is unacceptable.
"Right now, I'm holding the belt as an interim champion, but it's not the official belt. Since it's a temporary one, I want to win decisively and be able to proudly proclaim myself as the undisputed World Champion," he explained.
Noiri arrives at this career-defining moment riding a two-fight winning streak with both victories coming by stoppage. His most recent performance saw him knock out Tawanchai PK Saenchai in the third round at ONE 172 to capture the interim title, finishing the same opponent who handed Superbon a rare defeat.
Before that, Noiri defeated Shakir Al-Tekreeti in January, building momentum that has positioned him for this historic opportunity on home soil.
The Japanese star has envisioned this matchup for years and comes prepared with multiple strategies to dethrone the Thai legend.
"I have been gunning to fight Superbon ever since he became the champion. I've got my game plans locked in and ready. It's just a matter of figuring out which one to apply," Noiri revealed.
ONE 173: Superbon Vs. Noiri will be broadcast live on live.onefc.com at 9:30 a.m. IST on Sunday, 16 November.
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