On 8 June 2024, ONE Championship, an internationally renowned sports IP, will bring ONE167, Featherweight Muay Thai World Champion Tawanchai PK. Saenchai will defend his title against Thailand's "The Lion" Jo Nattawut. The two had a kickboxing bout at "ONE: PINNACLE SERIES 15" last year, and Natawut was a strong performer, and Tawanchai won't have it easy. Considering that Nattawut was a temporary substitute, Tawanchai's performance was criticized by some fans. This time, Tawanchai is ready to prove himself.
"When I knew I was going to face Nattawut in the title defense, I was happy because I had the opportunity to gag my critics. I received a lot of criticism in my first fight. Nattawut said he only practiced for three days last time and I would give him three months to prepare for this fight. In the first match, I didn't have time to adjust my preparation and couldn't make any plans for him. But for this fight, I was 100 per cent prepared. I think I could have behaved better. ”
The last bout was a kickboxing rule, and Tawanchai didn't have as much kickboxing experience as Nattawut, so it took a while to get used to it in the fight. Despite the toughness, Tawanchai withstood his rival's close-quarters combinations, found his rhythm, and took control with his leg sweeps. "In the last fight I saw that Nattawut was very good at kickboxing, he was a threat from close range, and I was a little surprised that he was able to get into that distance, and I knew that he should not be underestimated. I'll admit I was careless. In this battle, I will definitely not be as careless as I used to be. ”
Tawanchai became a World Champion not only because of his skill, but also because of his brains. He knows how to analyze his opponents, find their weaknesses, and prepare for a five-round title defense. "I've been following Natawut's Muay Thai fight at ONE. He is considered one of the best fighters. He was a very strong heavy gunner. His most dangerous weapon is his heavy punches, and his combos are good, but I've got a plan in place. I've always focused on building a strong body, and as for my brain, I'm smart enough that I can adapt to my opponent's rhythm in the ring and control the big picture. ”
Tawanchai is a strong finisher, with five finishes in his eight victories in ONE Championship. Even against a veteran like Nattawut, he wants to defend his belt by knockout. "Every time I go to the ring, I want to get a performance bonus, and every fighter wants to knock out and win. Let's see what happens in the ring, because it's not easy to get a knockout in this fight. If I'm going to win by knockout before a fight, it looks like I'm too flamboyant, so let's wait and see for an exciting fight. ”
Do you think Tawanchai can finish his opponent?