ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Champion Tawanchai PK Saenchai is hot off a defense over Superbon at ONE 170 and hopes to parlay that into two-sport gold at ONE 172 on Sunday, March 23.
As Superbon recovers on the sidelines, Tawanchai dons the 10-ounce gloves against Masaaki Noiri for the ONE Interim Featherweight Kickboxing World Championship.
Ahead of the colossal collision inside Saitama Super Arena in Japan, Tawanchai reflected on his kickboxing past and how he’s preparing for his return to the sport.
“I love Muay Thai, but kickboxing is another challenge. I’m trying to adjust my style to be more suitable for kickboxing,” Superbon said.
“Have I changed anything? I just keep telling myself ‘don’t use elbows.’ But I’m a fighter who rarely uses elbows or clinch and knees. So I just need to change my tactic a little bit.”
In 2024, the Thai star was vocal about his harshest critics. The words of his past performances, specifically in kickboxing matches, have served as fuel for his fire.
“And I swore to myself that one day I will be a kickboxing champion and they will not look down on me anymore. I’ll make them speechless. And now I have a goal and what I should focus on. When I feel tired because of training, I will know that my suffering will not go to waste,” Tawanchai said.
His focus is solely on the task at hand. While a sterling victory would propel his legacy to new heights, Tawanchai believes he is just getting started.
In fact, the 25-year-old wants to etch out his eternal mark on the sport before he lays his chisel to rest.
“In 10 years, if I can still fight, I’ll probably keep fighting,” Tawanchai said. “But in 20 years, I probably won’t be able to fight anymore. When the time comes, I want to open my own Muay Thai gym in Pattaya, my hometown.”
ONE 172: Rodtang vs. Takeru airs live on Sunday, March 23, from Japan on global pay-per-view via watch.onefc.com.
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