“The Iron Man” needed only 80 seconds to knock out three-division K-1 Champion Takeru Segawa in their highly anticipated flyweight kickboxing super-fight at the Sunday, 23rd March, event inside Japan’s Saitama Super Arena.
In truth, fans expected a closer contest than that, as did Rodtang himself. The former longtime flyweight Muay Thai king had planned for a battle of wills that would go deep into the later frames, so he was caught off-guard when he finished it early with a lethal left hook.
“I know that Takeru is a K1 champion, and he is one of the best. Takeru has never-given-up spirit. He’s one of the best in the world, and I feel like this fight should have lasted longer,” Rodtang said.
“I want[ed] to take the first two rounds to box it up with Takeru, to see who’s going to be the one left standing. But it’s incredible. I didn’t even realize that my hands had that much power to knock him out. Even I’m surprised.”
While the knockout victory cemented “The Iron Man” as the best flyweight striker in the world, he was happier at the thought of regaining the trust of his fans.
In 2024, Rodtang faced criticism for his performances, and he felt further pressure when he was stripped of the ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Title for missing weight at ONE 169 in November.
With the super-fight against Takeru looming, the 27-year-old kept his nose to the grindstone. He focused on honing his craft and enlisted the help of a nutritionist to ensure he made the flyweight limit.
The result at ONE 172 speaks for itself. And now, Rodtang is ready to chase down the ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Title once again.
“It feels like I just woke up from a bad dream. In the two past fights, I’ve been missing weight, and I lost something that I cherish, that I love the most, my Muay Thai belt. I have to fight the criticism,” he said.
“I train every day, and I want to say thank you to Chatri for recommending Peter, his nutritionist, who’s been helping him very much. It feels like this is a new world for Rodtang right now.
“I have to wake up in the morning and have to train hard, and I have to do anything that I can to get that belt back.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-4sVEw-HCY
