Wei Rui And Hiroki Akimoto Set For High-Stakes Kickboxing Clash At ONE 173

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A blockbuster kickboxing clash between a former ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Champion and a former challenger has been added to ONE 173 as Hiroki Akimoto and Wei Rui go head-to-head in a rematch of their May 2024 fight.

This high-profile bout will be a part of the ever-evolving card set to take place on 16 November at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan, which will be headlined by four epic World Title matches.

The first time these strikers took centre stage, #1-ranked contender Wei emerged victorious in his promotional debut. Following that impressive win, he challenged Jonathan Haggerty for the ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Championship but fell short.

Now, he faces a dangerous opponent who will bring his A-game in front of the home crowd. The 34-year-old Chinese veteran is eager to showcase his skills to the Japanese fans and believes their rematch will be even more exciting.

"I am very excited. I have many fans in Japan, which gives me more confidence," Wei said. "He is a very strong opponent, and in the last [fight] put a lot of pressure on me. I think this will be more exciting and thrilling than the last one."

Fourth-ranked Akimoto has been competing in ONE Championship since 2019, enjoying tremendous success in his early years. The 32-year-old racked up six victories in his seven outings, claiming the ONE World Title in the process. However, a rough patch saw him losing three consecutive bouts.

Now, he has bounced back in style by defeating the legendary John Lineker in March 2025. Akimoto will aim to kickstart a new winning streak and competing in front of his home crowd will serve as an added boost. He is glad that this long-awaited
rematch is finally taking place.

"I've been calling for this rematch ever since our last fight, so I'm even more fired up now that it's finally happening. Winning this fight will allow me to once again prove my value," Akimoto said.