Veteran Japanese fighter Taiki Naito is prepared to showcase a dramatically evolved version of himself when he faces undefeated Colombian Johan Estupinan on 7 June at ONE Fight Night 32.
After nearly a year away from competition following a knockout loss to Elias Mahmoudi, the 29-year-old flyweight has been quietly reinventing his fighting approach. Working with a professional boxing trainer three times per week since September, Naito has transformed from a predominantly counter-striking specialist into a more aggressive, well-rounded striker.
"I've been training during this time, and I've incorporated some new elements since my last loss. As a fighter, I do feel that it's been quite a long gap, but I believe this time away has actually helped me grow in certain ways, so I'm really looking forward to it," Naito said.
Naito now feels comfortable initiating exchanges with his hands rather than waiting for counter-opportunities. This represents a fundamental shift in his tactical approach.
"I'm naturally more skilled with kicks. In my previous fights, I think I used significantly more kicks than punches, but now, I've become better at balancing kicks and punches together. People probably think of my punching as mainly counter-punches, but I've started to develop more of an offensive punching style, and I'm excited about that aspect of myself," the Japanese star said.
Despite being the underdog against Estupinan's perfect 27-0 record, Naito views his opponent's aggressive style as the ideal testing ground for his improvements. Rather than avoiding the Colombian's pressure, he plans to meet intensity with intensity.
"Since he'll be coming forward, I'm 100 percent sure it will be an intense fight. I need to throw myself into those tough exchanges. If I can do that, I believe my chances of knocking him out will increase, and I think I can finish him," Naito said.
For Naito, this reinvention at this stage of his career represents both courage and growth, embracing change after 50 professional fights to discover new dimensions of his abilities.
ONE Fight Night 32 will be broadcast live on JioHotstar and Star Sports Select 2 at 6:30 a.m. India Standard Time (IST) on Saturday, 7 June.
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