ONE Hall of Fame: Takeru Segawa to Receive 10-Gong Salute at ONE SAMURAI 4 in October

Takeru becomes the fourth athlete inducted into the Hall of Fame, joining MMA GOAT Demetrious Johnson, former ONE Bantamweight MMA World Champion Bibiano Fernandes, and former two-division ONE MMA World Champion Aung La N Sang.

The announcement follows one of the most memorable nights in ONE Championship history.

At ONE SAMURAI 1 on April 29, Takeru knocked down Rodtang Jitmuangnon four times to claim a TKO victory and the ONE Interim Flyweight Kickboxing World Championship in his retirement fight, avenging his previous loss and closing his career with a 46-5 record that includes 28 finishes. It was the first time in 13 years that Rodtang had been finished in a fight.

Chatri Announces Hall of Fame Induction and 10-Gong Salute

Chatri Sityodtong delivered the Hall of Fame announcement with the weight the occasion deserved, framing Takeru's induction alongside three of the most celebrated names in ONE Championship's history.

"I am thrilled to announce that Takeru (46-5) will be inducted into the ONE Hall of Fame later this year, joining fellow legendary world champions Demetrious Johnson, Bibiano Fernandes, and Aung La N Sang. In addition to his Hall of Fame Induction, Takeru will receive a 10-gong salute for his retirement ceremony at ONE SAMURAI 4 in October," Sityodtong wrote on his Facebook account.

Takeru's three victories inside ONE Championship, including his stunning retirement-night TKO of Rodtang, complete a trophy case that already included three K-1 divisional titles and a career that defined Japanese kickboxing for over a decade. His final career record of 46-5 stands as one of the most decorated in the history of the sport.

Chatri Calls Takeru Arguably the Greatest Japanese Kickboxer in History

Chatri Sityodtong did not hold back in placing Takeru among the all-time greats of his sport. The ONE Chairman positioned the Japanese superstar's journey from K-1 dominance to ONE Championship glory as the complete arc of a generational career.

"Takeru now retires as arguably the greatest Japanese kickboxer in history, first conquering Japan with titles in K-1 and then conquering the world with the most important world title in kickboxing on the world's biggest stage of martial arts in ONE," he continued.

Before arriving in ONE Championship, Takeru conquered the Japanese kickboxing circuit as a three-division K-1 Champion, defeating some of the best strikers in the sport.

Chatri Says the World Witnessed a Miracle and a Fairytale on April 29

Chatri Sityodtong's most emotional words were reserved for Takeru's retirement performance itself. He described the magnitude of what unfolded inside Ariake Arena as a moment that transcended the sport.

"The world will forever remember this extraordinary moment in history. His spirit. His power. His tears. Takeru was a 4 to 1 underdog and somehow pulled off a miracle to top off a legendary career. In my opinion, the world witnessed the best version ever of Takeru that night. Without a doubt, Takeru goes down as one of the greatest world champion kickboxers in the history of the sport. What a fairytale,” he added.

The tears Chatri referenced came in the moments after the TKO, when Takeru's emotions poured out in front of a packed Ariake Arena in Tokyo. Having entered the fight as an underdog against the man who knocked him out in 80 seconds at ONE 172, Takeru's four knockdowns and retirement-night title win will go down as one of the most extraordinary results in ONE Championship's history.