“I Can Defeat Their Hero” – Superlek Plans To Silence Takeru In Tokyo At ONE 165

Add as a preferred source on Google

Losing a loved one is never an easy process to manage. The grief and the sorrow can cause life to feel like it has come to a sudden stop. But for ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Champion Superlek Kiatmoo9, that heartache has arrived during the biggest fight of his career.

"The Kicking Machine" defends his kickboxing crown against Takeru Segawa at ONE 165 in Tokyo, Japan, this Sunday, 28 January. In the leadup to the contest, Superlek lost his uncle, Pun Iamsiri, who has played a crucial role in creating the Thai superstar we know today.

It's been another battle he's had to fight in the leadup to ONE 165's headliner, but the mindset of Superlek has allowed him to focus on training. And he plans to hold the World Title high in Japan to honor the memory of a man to whom he owes plenty.

"I was in fight camp when he died. That day, my mother called me. This is quite unusual because my mother rarely calls me, but I missed it because I was teaching," Superlek explained.

"My brother sent me a message asking if I would come home. I asked him, 'Why do I have to come?' And he said, 'Don't you know that our uncle just passed away?' I was in shock for a while. Then I learned that he had died of an illness.

"I believe my uncle will be watching my fight from above. He will wait to see my success up there."

Superlek has never been one to step back from a challenge. His willingness to take on Takeru proves that. Even on three week's notice after ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Rodtang Jitmuangnon withdrew, Superlek was willing to step up to the plate.

The majority of Superlek's recent bouts have taken place on home soil. The tables are turned this time, though. And the challenge of fighting "The Natural Born Crusher" in his home of Tokyo, Japan, ignites "The Kicking Machine's" fire that much more.

Takeru's ONE Championship debut is a special occasion for many combat sports fans, but Superlek is dead set on spoiling it and toppling Tokyo's chosen one in "The Land of the Rising Sun."

"I have a lot of motivation for this fight. I get to defend my belt in Japan against the top-ranked fighter there. I want to show all the Japanese people that I can defeat their hero," Superlek said.

"I fight for my family and all Thai people. I want to keep this belt in Thailand. I badly want to knock him out as quickly as possible, even though I know this will not be an easy task."