Muay Thai legend Seksan Or Kwanmuang has revealed that he had contemplated quitting the sport before his life-changing run with ONE Championship this year.
"The Man Who Yields To No One" will look to extend his win streak to seven when he faces promotional newcomer Karim Bennoui in a 140-pound catchweight Muay Thai battle at ONE Fight Night 16: Haggerty v Andrade on Saturday.
Bennoui is stepping up in place of Seksan's original opponent, Johan Estupinan, to make his debut at the historic Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok.
But Seksan's magical run almost didn't happen.
The 34-year-old considered calling it a day after more than 270 fights as a professional that saw him capture a swathe of stadium titles, including the Rajadamnern Stadium, Channel 7 Stadium, and Omnoi Stadium belts.
With such a complete list of accomplishments, the Thai veteran could've been forgiven for moving on to the next chapter of his life before ONE came calling in 2023.
But Seksan's relentless, all-action style has endeared him to a whole new audience the world over since his unforgettable debut victory over Tyson Harrison in January.
Now, the opportunity to continue his career on a global platform has changed his life.
"My motivation is my family, both of my kids, and my parents. My [ONE] bouts changed my family's life a lot. They can live a better and more comfortable life," he said.
"I have savings for both my kids for college, I have money for my parents. More importantly, I bought a house in Nakhon Si Thammarat. I've been very successful with ONE.
"I was thinking about stopping fighting at the age of 34 or 35. I never thought I would get this much money. I feel so happy."
Tickets to ONE Fight Night 16 are available at www.thaiticketmajor.com.