ONE Fight Night 7: Tawanchai Talks Masterclass Against Yusupov, Names Two Future Opponents

Bangkok, February 28: In combat sports, a World Champion's reign doesn't truly begin until they make their first defense, which means that Tawanchai PK Saenchai could finally call himself the king of the featherweight Muay Thai division.

Thailand's golden boy returned to his roots at Lumpinee Stadium this past Saturday, 25 February, in the co-main event of ONE Fight Night 7 to defend his ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Title for the first time against Turkish tussler Jamal Yusupov.

Returning to the hallowed fighting grounds in Bangkok, Thailand, was an opportunity for Tawanchai to embrace his humble beginnings and show his compatriots how far he has come since winning the Lumpinee Stadium Fighter of the Year award in 2018.

"The ambience definitely made me think of the old ambience that I had fought in the stadium," Tawanchai said. "It was really a motivation and encouraged me to keep winning."

He displayed that motivation emphatically. In fact, it only took Tawanchai 49 seconds into the first round to stylishly dispatch the one they call "Yeniceri."

Calm and collected in his approach, the PK Saenchai representative was aware of the heavy hands in front of him. Letting his vintage leg kicks loose, they soon wore down Yusupov to send the Lumpinee locals into a frenzy and serve Yeniceri" his first loss in the promotion.

"I needed to be careful about his punches because he's a heavy hitter, but I also had prepared myself well, so I wasn't worried," Tawanchai said.

"I tried kicking him a few times, but he wasn't really blocking it. So at that time, I tried to kick him hard. And I also know that the timing was right. So yeah, that's when I knew that the fight would end."

With his first defense established, the Bangkok-based banger looks ahead to more scintillating contests down the line with a multitude of high-level opposition.

Tawanchai's last shortcoming came to fellow promotional standout Sitthichai "The Killer Kid" Sitsongpeenong in August 2021, and the opportunity to avenge that defeat, as well as a potential collision with ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion Chingiz Allazov, sits on his list of priorities.

"I have a lot of respect for Sitthichai, and we talk daily. So if ONE Championship wants us to fight, that's okay. I am ready," Tawanchai said.

"I am [also] interested in [the Chingiz] fight. Chingiz is a top fighter, so I will probably try a few matches in kickboxing, and probably afterward, I can meet Chingiz."

Source: Media Release