Jacob Smith has a tall order at ONE 169: Malykhin vs. Reug Reug. The Brit must try to dethrone Rodtang Jitmuangnon for the ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Title on Friday, November 8. Smith feels he is up for the task partly because of his roots.
The ONE Championship flyweight is known for his toughness. Even “The Iron Man” himself has noted that as being one of Smith’s strengths. Smith attributes that attribute to where he grew up.
“My personality and the way I am, you can tell I’m from this city, this area. I live in Birkenhead, which is just outside of Liverpool, but they are very similar. It’s ingrained in me. People wouldn’t have to be around me long to realize I’m from a rough, working-class area. We all stick together in these areas. We have the same mentality. It’s a boss place to live,” Smith told ONE.
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Bordering Liverpool, it is no shock that Smith is a fan of the club. The 32-year-old even adopts the Liverpool mantra of “You’ll Never Walk Alone.” Having turned his own life around to compete on the global stage, Smith embodies the heart and soul of those famous words.
“I absolutely love Liverpool, and I feel ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ is the perfect song for this city, the team, and my life. It’s perfect for the way the people here are and for the way I am. We all have each other’s backs. Liverpool Football Club, too, came back from having very bad times in the sport. I’ve never treated it like this, but my story ties in perfectly with Liverpool’s history. It’s boss,” the Brit stated.
Getting the shot at gold is everything for Smith. According to Smith, it is more than just about achieving the greatest heights in the sport. He hopes a win at ONE 169 will change the lives of everyone around him and championing his homeland.
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“There’s absolutely nothing around my area other than sport and getting up to no good, so when I bring that gold back to Birkenhead North, I hope it inspires the next generation – that you don’t have to be running around the streets to make a little bit of money. You can make money in a legitimate way and have fun while doing it,” Smith remarked.
Challenging for gold in ONE against Muay Thai’s biggest star has made Smith a notable figure at home. While he is still being used to becoming a role model, the 32-year-old remains humble. Smith has not let success go to his head.
“It’s great to have that role and be a good role model. It’s amazing, but I don’t really like to see myself as that. Funnily enough, we had a 10-year-old kid come in the gym last week. He’s just joined the gym and came in crying his eyes out because he was so happy to meet me. He was a massive fan. But I said, ‘Wipe away your tears, kid, and get running around and warming up with everyone else. I’m just a normal person,’” Smith said.
ONE 169 airs live on Friday, November 8, on Prime Video. The action begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. The event is free for all Amazon Prime members in the U.S. and Canada.
