ONE Championship: Tawanchai plans to ‘steal’ Superbon’s kickboxing belt next with a win at ONE 170
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ONE Championship: Tawanchai plans to ‘steal’ Superbon’s kickboxing belt next with a win at ONE 170

Featherweight Muay Thai champ is wary of his rival’s impressive record in rematches but says ‘everything has its first time’ ahead of Impact Arena showdown in Bangkok

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Tawanchai PK Saenchai is confident of retaining his ONE Championship featherweight Muay Thai title on Friday night – and wants to go and take Superbon’s kickboxing belt next.

The pair will clash in a blockbuster ONE 170 main event rematch at a sold out Impact Arena in Bangkok with plenty at stake.

Victory for the 34-year-old Thai Superbon would make him a two-sport champion in ONE – but Tawanchai is looking to take that particular honour for himself.

“This is the second time he's trying to steal the belt from me. It's very important for me to keep this belt and also very important for me to go over there and steal his belt,” Tawanchai told the Bangkok Post during ONE 170 media day.

“If I get an express ticket then maybe give me some time – two, three months and then I'm ready.” 

Tawanchai defeated Superbon via unanimous decision in an instant classic at ONE Friday Fights 46 in December 2023 amid the more intimate confines of Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium.

This week’s rematch will take place in front of more than 12,000 people at the top of a stacked card featuring three title fights, which is causing plenty of buzz. 

ONE Championship: Tawanchai plans to ‘steal’ Superbon’s kickboxing belt next with a win at ONE 170

Academy Award winner Russell Crowe is set to film scenes on the night for MMA-themed film “The Beast In Me”, and the size of the occasion is certainly not lost on Tawanchai.

“Maybe I'm not as excited as you are but I'm very sure that this fight will be more entertaining than the last fight,” Tawanchai quipped.

“This time I think it's hard to say because we know each other’s game already and I think it's all up to the night.”

Superbon has a remarkable knack of making the necessary adjustments to win rematches whenever he has previously lost to his great rivals, like Marat Grigorian and Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong.

“I understand he has not missed in any of the rematches, but everything has its first time,” Tawanchai said, however.

“I'm one of his fans, I would say, and I've watched him fight since I was younger and I'm impressed by all of his performances. I think he's very good. 

“But I have trained really well and I have a lot of motivation to win this fight.”

The 25-year-old Tawanchai has become somewhat of a poster boy for ONE, with modelling work also now featuring on his burgeoning resume.

ONE Championship: Tawanchai plans to ‘steal’ Superbon’s kickboxing belt next with a win at ONE 170

But his soaring popularity was halted on his last appearance at Impact Arena in June, when a controversial majority decision win against fan favourite Jo Nattawaut saw him booed out of the building – but ONE 170 offers a chance for redemption.

“Well I was upset and I was a little bit sad because it was new – it was something I had never experienced before,” Tawanchai said.

“I felt like I was not a part of the decision. I just did my best in the ring and then that's it. I was not a part of making myself win or lose the fight [on the judges’ scorecards], so I was a bit sad.

“I just want to do my best on Friday. I want the fight to be entertaining. If you love me, please cheer for me. If you don't, that's fine.”

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