ONE Fight Night 8: Superlek Thanks Danial Williams, Still Anticipates Bout With Rodtang

Singapore, March 29: Having realized his dream in capturing the ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Championship last January, Superlek Kiatmoo9's first fight week as king was anything but in comparison.

"The Kicking Machine" was set to defend his newly attained crown against ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Rodtang Jitmuangnon at ONE Fight Night 8 in a highly anticipated meeting between the two elite strikers. However, fate had other plans.

Just days away from the contest, "The Iron Man" was forced to withdraw from the meeting with an injury, leaving a gaping hole in the evening's main event. In ONE's hour of need, Thai-Australian flyweight Danial Williams stepped up to the task.

"Mini T" Williams provided a puzzle for Superlek to solve on short notice, but the superior striker managed to excel when he captured a third-round TKO of Williams. Following the bout, Superlek praised Williams for his willingness to be great.

"I would like to thank him for accepting this fight last minute. I would like to say that he's a very strong fighter," Superlek said. "I respect his heart. I respect his courage. I have nothing to say except thank you very much.

"I did not make any adjustments before the fight. So I was thinking that I trained very hard for this, and I'm just going to the cage, and I will see how he fights, and I will adjust to that."

Nevertheless, Superlek's superb start to 2023 is something he plans to capitalize on. Rodtang may have withdrawn due to injury this time, but a hefty collision down the line weighs heavy on the mind of "The Kicking Machine."

As far as he sees it, he kept his end of the bargain at ONE Fight Night 8 and wants his opportunity to double his gold in the form of Rodtang's ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Title.

But whether it's his crown on the line or Rodtang's, Superlek will be ready. "I think I deserve to challenge him for the title," Superlek said. "Rodtang is number one in Muay Thai, so I would like to try that.

"I do not have anyone specific in mind to defend my title. If the next one is Rodtang, who will be challenging me for the belt in kickboxing, I am ready."

Source: Media Release