Legend Vows to Avenge Knockout, Claim Belt in Retirement Fight at ONE Samurai 1

Japanese kickboxing royalty Takeru Segawa has one final mission.

The 34-year-old faces Thai megastar Rodtang Jitmuangnon for the ONE Interim Flyweight Kickboxing World Title in the main event of ONE Samurai 1 on Wednesday, April 29, live from Tokyo’s historic Ariake Arena, and he has made clear this fight will be the last of his legendary career.

This rematch carries enormous emotional weight for the Japanese icon. Rodtang knocked him out in just 80 seconds at ONE 172 in March 2025, the fastest and most decisive loss of Takeru Segawa’s career

Now fully healthy and fighting at home, the “Natural Born Krusher” has spoken openly about the moment the knockout loss reshaped his thinking about how his career should end.

Japanese Icon Takeru Segawa Reveals How Rodtang Loss Shaped Retirement Plan

The 80-second finish at ONE 172 hit Takeru Segawa harder than any result in his career. The three-division K-1 Champion had never experienced a defeat of that nature before facing Rodtang, and the speed and clarity of the stoppage left a mark that went beyond the physical.

“After I lost to Rodtang, that was around the time I started thinking that I must defeat Rodtang and retire. I lost to him in the first round. Until then, I had never lost a fight like that quickly. That was also the first time I lost by such a clear KO,” Takeru Segawa said.

Takeru carries a 45-5 career record into his retirement fight, a body of work built across multiple K-1 divisions before his ONE Championship journey began with a one-for-the-ages battle against “The Kicking Machine” Superlek in January 2024.

Takeru Segawa Returns in Best Condition to Fight Rodtang One More Time

For Takeru Segawa, the rematch is not simply about settling a score. It is about meeting the standard the original fight deserved. He has been candid about the physical state he was in when the two first met, and the decision to return for one final bout is rooted in a conviction that he never showed Rodtang what he is truly capable of inside the ring.

“Last time, I was not in the best condition with some injuries, so I wanted to fight him one more time as my last match and in the best condition. After all, I signed with ONE Championship because I wanted to fight Rodtang, so I must fight in the best condition. If not, I would remain frustrated,” he explained.

Rodtang offers no easy path to redemption. The Jitmuangnon Gym product has been one of the most dominant and feared strikers in ONE Championship since making his promotional debut in 2018, having reigned as a six-time ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion.

Two Long-Time Goals to Achieve in Final Professional Fight

Everything Takeru has worked toward since joining ONE Championship converges in Tokyo on April 29. The World Title and the revenge over Rodtang are not two separate ambitions for the Japanese legend.

“For myself, the most important thing is to give everything that I have, win the final fight, and achieve both of my long-time goals: get the ONE belt and defeat Rodtang,” he said.

The “Natural Born Krusher” fighting for a ONE World Title, a retirement win, and revenge in front of his home fans in Tokyo represents the kind of narrative that transcends the sport itself. Whether he can deliver the result his legendary career demands is the question that will define the night, and the answer arrives on April 29.

ONE Samurai 1 takes place at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan. Stay tuned to MMASucka for full global broadcast details as they are confirmed.