Shadow Singha Mawynn's momentum continues as the Thai striker enters into kickboxing for the first time under the ONE Championship banner.
The 25-year-old will replace injured champion Tawanchai PK Saenchai against Chinese striker Liu Mengyang at ONE Friday Fights 126 on 26 September in Bangkok, Thailand.
The unexpected opportunity arose just days after Shadow's spectacular knockout of Bampara Kouyate at ONE Fight Night 35, which earned him a US$50,000 performance bonus and extended his winning streak to six consecutive victories.
The third-ranked featherweight Muay Thai contender barely had time to celebrate before being thrust into a new challenge.
"After the fight [against Kouyate], I never thought the next one would be so soon. I rested for two days before I found out I was replacing Tawanchai. I immediately took a bus back to the gym to start training," Shadow explained about the rapid transition.
The Team Singha Mawynn representative's willingness to accept such a demanding assignment stems from his opportunistic mindset.
"There's a chance I could get another bonus. You have to strike while the iron's hot," he said.
While kickboxing represents uncharted waters for the Thai veteran, his association with top-level fighters has provided valuable exposure to the discipline.
"I've never thought about trying kickboxing before. I hadn't studied the rules, but I've watched it before, and I was with Superbon. Since I have this opportunity, I have to try. It's a new challenge for me," Shadow revealed about his kickboxing preparation.
The 22-year-old Liu Mengyang brings impressive credentials to this featherweight contest, having defeated current interim champion Masaaki Noiri in his ONE Championship debut before falling to Mohammad Siasarani in his subsequent appearance.
Shadow recognizes the caliber of opponent he faces in his kickboxing debut.
"Facing Liu Mengyang, who beat Noiri, who is now the interim champion and is close to being a world champion, is a very difficult task for me," he acknowledged.
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