Japan’s Masaaki Noiri will have his chance for a special moment at home on Sunday, March 23, when ONE Championship returns to Japan. The kickboxing star will meet Tawanchai PK Saenchai at ONE 172 for the ONE Interim Featherweight Kickboxing World Championship. Although the allure of gold is pushing him for this matchup, Noiri understands the assignment is his most difficult to date.
Masaaki Noiri Ready for Tawanchai’s Challenge at ONE 172
“I think Tawanchai is pretty close to being a perfect fighter. He can punch, he can kick, and under Muay Thai rules, he can use elbows, clinch, and fight in all ranges. He can do it all. I see him as a well-rounded, almost perfect fighter,” Masaaki Noiri said to ONE.
But this match is not in four-ounce gloves. Masaaki Noiri will get the ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Champion under his favored kickboxing rule set. The 31-year-old feels he has more tricks than his Thai opponent after years of experience.
Ouch!
Will Masaaki Noiri break through with another brutal leg kick against Tawanchai at ONE 172: Takeru vs. Rodtang in Japan? @noirimasaaki
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“Tawanchai has his own history in the sport, but I’ve spent my entire career fighting under kickboxing rules. I’m not trying to say, ‘Kickboxing isn’t that easy,’ but I do have confidence in my ability to win under kickboxing rules. Tawanchai’s style is heavily specialized for ONE’s Muay Thai, so I want to have a different kind of fight – one that plays to my strengths,” Masaaki Noiri offered.
Masaaki Noiri Eager to Taste Victory Again
Masaaki Noiri’s time on the global stage has not been all sunshine and rainbows. The Japanese talent had two hard-fought decision losses to begin his tenure in the promotion. But those learning experiences helped him find his way back to the win column.
In a five-round fight, Masaaki Noiri expects more chances to end the match early. Although he highly praised Tawanchai’s skill set, the Nagoya native is not pushing for another trip to the judge’s scorecards. Noiri plans to be aggressive in search of the knockout blow.
“I’m fully committed to getting a KO. This is a fight where I must go for the finish. That’s the case for every fight, but my style is always to aim for the knockout. Since this fight has five rounds, I can use all five rounds to go for the finish, or I can go for the KO right from the start. I don’t know how the fight will play out, but in the end, I have a clear image of myself winning by knockout,” the Japanese star stated.
Pure striking elegance
What’s your prediction for the matchup between Tawanchai and Masaaki Noiri at ONE 172: Takeru vs. Rodtang?
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Masaaki Noiri With Crucial “Home Game” in ONE 172
Masaaki Noiri believes there is an importance to compete in Japan. He is hopeful to not only give fans a fun night inside the Saitama Super Arena but ascend to new heights as a Japanese kickboxing star. ONE 172 will provide that platform and opportunity, leaving it all up to Noiri to do the work inside the ring.
“Right now, everyone is wondering who can beat Tawanchai. The odds are said to be against me, but if I can overturn that, it will bring a new movement to the division. Since this fight is happening in Japan, I believe a Japanese star needs to emerge. By securing a decisive victory, I can take a step closer to becoming that star,” the title hopeful said.
Masaaki Noiri Knows Odds Stacked Against Him
Given Tawanchai’s exceptional streak, and most recently his destruction of Superbon, Masaaki Noiri enters as the underdog. For the 31-year-old, that simple fact is a blessing. At ONE 172, he will make the walk for his title opportunity with no pressure on his shoulders.
“He’s been on a winning streak, and I feel like winning has almost become something expected for him. Of course, that mentality might be different from Japanese fighters, so I can’t say for sure. But for this fight, I think most people assume Tawanchai will win, and the question is more about how he’ll win. On the other hand, I have nothing to lose, and if I win, it would be considered a huge upset. So, I think that slight sense of complacency on his part could be a major factor in this fight,” Masaaki Noiri concluded.
ONE 172 airs live on Sunday, March 23, at 3 a.m. ET/midnight PT. The action hails from the Saitama Super Arena in Japan. The event is available to purchase on global pay-per-view via watch.onefc.com.
