ONE 172: Tawanchai ‘Ready To Prove’ Himself In Pursuit Of Two-Sport Glory 

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After knocking out Superbon in his previous fight, Tawanchai PK Saenchai's confidence is sky high as he gears up to achieve two-sport glory at ONE 172: Takeru vs. Rodtang on Sunday, 23 March.

The ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Champion will face Japanese legend Masaaki Noiri for the ONE Interim Featherweight Kickboxing World Title at the iconic Saitama Super Arena in Japan. The event airs live exclusively on watch.onefc.com on PPV.

If the 25-year-old superstar wins the interim title, he will join an elite club of ONE athletes who've achieved this historic feat. So, it's not hard to see why this is a very crucial fight for him.

As a lifelong Muay Thai practitioner, the fighter with a 10-1 record in ONE Championship sees kickboxing as a challenge to adapt his fighting style. He previously secured victories in the sport over veterans like Davit Kiria and Jo Nattawut in 2023.

"How important is this fight? Very important. Because it will help me reach my dream of becoming a two-sport World Champion in the featherweight division, which is packed with elite fighters. It's the most popular division and the hardest division," Tawanchai said.

"Compared to Muay Thai, let's just say I love Muay Thai. Kickboxing is another challenge. I try to adjust my style to be the most suitable for kickboxing. This opportunity has come. I am ready to prove myself in another sport."

The featherweight division is ONE Championship's most stacked weight class, and the Thai has scored victories over some of the best strikers. Now, his opponent in Masaaki Noiri is as tough as they come.

With a record of 50-13, the 31-year-old presents a stern challenge. Tawanchai is quick to acknowledge his opponent's prowess, admitting Noiri is much more experienced than him and that fighting in front of a Japanese crowd will give his foe a slight edge.

"I feel excited. I have to fight in his country. He is a K-1 Champion. He has more experience than me. If anyone wants to look down on him, or my fans say that he is an easy match for me or something, I tell you, he's anything but easy," Tawanchai said.

"Even though he lost the first two fights in ONE, he's definitely not a weak opponent. He won't let me bully him easily. Trust me. This man is a Kickboxing Champion. He's fighting in his home country, so he won't give up easily."