ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Champion Superlek Kiatmoo9 returned to his roots on Friday, June 23. The Thai superstar put on the four-ounce gloves for a Muay Thai bout against Nabil Anane at ONE Friday Fights 22. The result was a showcase for the flyweight king, showing why many believe he is among the pound-for-pound best strikers on the planet.
Superlek did not take the bout lightly. Anane’s tall frame gave him pause, but the draw of competing in Bangkok again was too much to let the opportunity pass. He seized the moment with a first-round knockout of the Algerian as if he had never stepped away from the sport.
“Actually, I was shocked by the fight that they offered me because he’s very tall. He’s the tallest opponent I’ve ever faced. But I’m also very happy to fight in Lumpinee Stadium again. There was no special training or anything. I just did my normal routine,” Superlek told ONE Championship.
Concerned about the size difference, Superlek wanted to pressure Anane from the very start. And pressure he did. Superlek was aggressive and never gave his opponent room to breathe before finishing him off with a brutalizing body shot.
“I was actually worried at the initial stage. I just tried to keep the distance very short because he was very tall, and his reach was very long. So I decided to start the fight in a closer distance,” Superlek stated.
After the match, Superlek got the opportunity to call his shot on the microphone. The flyweight kickboxing champ made his callout of ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion Jonathan Haggerty since the Brit dethroned a Thai legend in his last outing. That is something the Thai athlete wants to avenge before bringing a second belt back home.
“I think it was all about the timing. Nong-O [Gaiyanghadao] got punched first, so it was like all about the timing. I was a little bit disappointed about the result, but it’s ok. I still want the belt to be with Thai people,” the ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Champion said.
The callout may have been a shock to some, who want Superlek to challenge for the ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Title against Rodtang Jitmuangnon. However, at least for now, Superlek intends to challenge himself against other top stars in the sport.
“Well, not really. It’s not really top of my [list] right now. I believe that both me and Rodtang both have different goals. We also want to hold the belts in our divisions. I don’t think I have beaten all the flyweight fighters yet, so I think there are a lot more for me to test in flyweight,” Superlek said.
Superlek even mentioned Takeru Segawa after the event as one possibility for a future matchup. Regardless of who comes next, Superlek’s dazzling performance ensured that everyone will continue to tune in every time he competes. The ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Champion continues to show himself as one of the most exciting martial artists in the world.
