What looked like a difficult night for Suablack Tor Pran49 turned into one of his finest moments.
The Thai star overcame a first-round knockdown at ONE Fight Night 45 to stop Stephen Irvine in the second round via knockout, collecting a well-earned US$50,000 performance bonus for a comeback that had the crowd on its feet.
Irvine caught his opposite number with a sharp right hand in the first round to secure the opening knockdown. But Suablack steadied himself, composed his thoughts, and made it to the end of the round with one thing on his mind.
"After I got knocked down, I tried to stay calm and then tried to stay up to finish the round because I already said to the fans, to my family, that I want this victory," he said.
The second round belonged entirely to Suablack. He came out hunting, dropping Irvine with a devastating right hand before unleashing a ferocious elbow strike that landed with predatory precision.
Irvine hit the canvas and could not answer the referee's count, handing Suablack one of the most satisfying victories of his career.
The US$50,000 performance bonus that followed was a reward not just for Suablack, but for the person who has stood beside him through every training camp and every fight.
"I didn't have any plan to spend on this bonus yet, but I want to give it all to my wife, because she is always by my side and supports my career path," he explained.
With the momentum of a dramatic comeback win firmly behind him, Suablack is already looking ahead to the next challenge.
A defeat to Japanese kickboxing sensation Hyu earlier this year remains unfinished business, and the NP Suablack product is eager to settle that score while simultaneously positioning himself for a shot at divisional gold.
"I'm ready for both Muay Thai and kickboxing. Definitely, I want to rematch with Hyu in kickboxing, and later on, anyone. I'm not that far [from World Title shot]. I think a couple more wins and it should be that time," he added.
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