ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Champion Tawanchai PK Saenchai broke down his disappointing interim kickboxing title defeat while dismissing trash talk from Chinese opponent Liu Mengyang ahead of their featherweight kickboxing clash at ONE Friday Fights 137 on Friday, December 19, at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
The 26-year-old champion candidly discussed the specific defensive mistake that cost him victory against Japan’s Masaaki Noiri in their March 2025 showdown, expressing deep disappointment in himself despite executing a sound game plan for most of the contest.
Tawanchai boldly predicted a finish against the 22-year-old Liu while reaffirming his commitment to capturing the ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Title in 2026. If he were to succeed, he would be the latest two-sport champ in the organization.
Thai Superstar Tawanchai Reveals Disappointment Following Interim Title Setback
Speaking about his third-round TKO loss to Noiri, who subsequently captured the ONE Interim Featherweight Kickboxing World Title, Tawanchai provided a detailed analysis of the pivotal moment that ended his title aspirations. The new father emphasized that his overall performance satisfied him until the finishing sequence, where a single defensive lapse proved costly.
“In the last fight with Masaaki, I made a mistake and got hit by his punch. I don’t feel like I performed poorly. The plan was good, but he came prepared. When I threw a knee, my guard dropped, and I got caught cleanly. I was deeply disappointed in myself after that fight,” Tawanchai explained.
The honest admission reveals the emotional toll of falling short in his kickboxing championship pursuit despite dominating the Muay Thai division. His identification of the specific technical error shows commitment to improvement rather than making excuses for the outcome.
Tawanchai Dismisses Chinese Rival’s Trash Talk
Addressing pre-fight comments from Liu suggesting the Thai superstar fears their upcoming matchup, Tawanchai calmly dismissed the mind games while promising to settle all questions inside the ring. The champion’s measured response showcases an air of confidence heading into ONE Championship’s final event of 2025.
“Liu Mengyang claimed I was afraid of him, but I know better; people say things for engagement. We’ll find out the truth in the ring,” Tawanchai responded.
The composed reply reveals championship maturity in refusing to engage in verbal exchanges before the competition. Tawanchai’s focus on in-ring results rather than pre-fight promotion reflects his serious approach to rebuilding his kickboxing credentials following the Noiri setback.
Thai Striker Vows Complete Kickboxing Performance, Predicts Stoppage
Looking ahead to their December 19 showdown, Tawanchai made a bold prediction while outlining his timeline for capturing the ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Championship, which is currently held by Superbon. The Muay Thai star expressed unwavering confidence that fans will witness his full kickboxing potential against the rising Chinese contender.
“This fight won’t go to the scorecards. This time, fans will see a 100 percent version of Tawanchai the kickboxer. My goal is simple: I want that second belt. That drive makes me confident that I will be the kickboxing champion next year,” Tawanchai said.
The stylistic clash promises explosive action as Tawanchai seeks redemption following his loss to Noiri, while Liu hunts another signature victory. The final ONE Championship event of 2025 provides the perfect stage for the Muay Thai king to reignite his two-sport championship pursuit with a statement performance.
ONE Friday Fights 137 airs live on Friday, December 19, at 7:30 a.m. ET/4:30 a.m. PT on beIN Sports USA. It will also broadcast live on YouTube.
