When Denis Puric steps into the ring against Takeru Segawa at ONE 173: Superbon vs. Noiri, two seasoned warriors will collide in what promises to be an unforgettable flyweight kickboxing encounter on 16 November.
The 40-year-old Puric views this three-round contest as the defining moment of his career, facing one of kickboxing's most decorated champions in front of a Japanese crowd."It means everything. It's a chance to prove myself on the biggest stage, against one of the biggest names, in the home of kickboxing. This is why I fight," the Bosnian-Canadian said.
Despite the magnitude of the challenge, Puric refuses to be intimidated by his opponent's legendary status.
The fighter with three ONE Championship victories acknowledges Takeru's skills while maintaining confidence in his own abilities.
"Takeru is one of the best in the game – fast, explosive, and dangerous. I respect what he's done, but I'm here to test him and show him my style," Puric explained.
The 34-year-old Takeru enters this homecoming fight carrying the weight of recent disappointments.
Since his ONE Championship debut loss to Superlek Kiatmoo9 in January 2024, the three-division K-1 Champion has experienced mixed results, including a knockout victory over Thant Zin in September 2024 before suffering a knockout loss to Rodtang in March 2025.
Takeru recognizes Puric's aggressive style will create the perfect storm for an exciting encounter.
"Denis Puric is an incredibly aggressive fighter who loves to trade shots, so I believe it's going to be an all-out war in the ring," the Team Vasileus star predicted.
More importantly, Takeru sees this fight as his pathway back to championship contention and a potential rematch with Rodtang.
“For me, this fight is also about my goal to face Rodtang again. Puric has already fought Rodtang once and took him to a decision. If I can knock him out, I think it will be a strong statement that leads to that rematch,” Takeru said.
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