This year is proving to be a busy one for Superlek Kiatmoo9.
Aside from spending the past few days in Tokyo for the city's annual Thai Festival that showcases Thailand's food, goods, and culture, the ONE flyweight kickboxing world champion has just gotten his latest assignment.
He takes on two-time Rajadamnern Stadium world champion Kongthoranee Sor Sommai as part of the stacked ONE Lumpinee 68 event scheduled for June 28 at the historic Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
The fight happens under ONE Championship's Muay Thai rule set.
The 27-year-old Kongthoranee earned a coveted 3.5-million-baht contract with ONE Championship after a seven-fight rampage on the ONE Lumpinee platform, which included a win over third-ranked flyweight kickboxing contender Taiki Naito.
In his first fight under contract, Kongthoranee has landed an opportunity to seize Superlek's No.1 spot in the promotion's flyweight Muay Thai rankings.
Superlek, for his part, took home the ONE flyweight kickboxing world title during his current nine-fight winning streak, which includes wins over Japanese superstar Takeru Segawa, ONE flyweight Muay Thai king Rodtang Jitmuangnon, and the ever-dangerous Danial Williams.
After his fight with Kongthoranee, Superlek will shoot for double-champ status when he faces Jonathan Haggerty for the latter's ONE bantamweight Muay Thai world title at ONE 168: Denver on Sept 7.
In the meantime, however, Superlek has been enjoying his time off.
In Tokyo, he demonstrated his mastery of Muay Thai techniques for an adoring Japanese audience at the Thai Festival, which was organised by the Thai embassy in Japan's capital.
While touring Japan, Superlek also attended a local football match where he met with Thai football star Supachok Sarachat. One of Thailand's finest footballing exports in recent years, Supachok plies his trade for J1 League club Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo.
This wasn't Superlek's first visit to Japan. He spearheaded ONE Championship's highly anticipated return to the country this past January, where he scored a destructive win over Segawa in the ONE 165 main event.
