Tag: Takeru

K-1 Legend Takeru Faces Off with Rodtang Following Incredible Comeback KO – ONE Friday Fights 81 Highlights

K-1 Legend Takeru Faces Off with Rodtang Following 2nd Round Comeback KO - ONE Friday Fights 81 HighlightsK-1 legend Takeru Segawa scored his first win under the ONE Championship banner in spectacular fashion on Friday. After…

K-1 Legend Takeru Faces Off with Rodtang Following 2nd Round Comeback KO - ONE Friday Fights 81 Highlights

K-1 legend Takeru Segawa scored his first win under the ONE Championship banner in spectacular fashion on Friday.

After coming up short in a five-round war against two-division ONE world champion Superlek in January, ‘The Natural Born Crusher’ stepped into the legendary Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand for a clash with Burmese knockout artist Thant Zin at ONE Friday Fights 81.

In the opening round, Thant appeared to be in complete control, catching Takeru early with his patented right hand and even sitting down the former three-division K-1 king in the closing seconds of the first round.

Takeru

However, things took a turn 60 seconds into the second stanza when Takeru started to let his hands go and light up the 19-year-old prospect out of Myanmar. Up against the ropes, the Japanese star landed a nasty front kick to the body that folded Thant and put him on the canvas. Thant answered the referee’s count, but a follow-up right-left combination from Takeru put him down for the count moments later.

Takeru

Official Result: Takeru Segawa def. Thant Zin via KO (strikes) at 2:47 of Round 2.

Takeru

Immediately following the fight, ONE flyweight Muay Thai world champion Rodtang Jitumuangnon stepped inside the ring for a heated face-off with Takeru, teasing a long-awaited clash between the two combat sports icons.

Takeru

Check Out Highlights from Takeru Segawa vs. thant zin at ONE Friday Fights 81:

Takeru Segawa left without an opponent as Black Panther Withdraws from Fight

Takeru SegawaTakeru Segawa was set to face Black Panther later this year booked for ONE Friday Fights 81 on September…

Takeru Segawa

Takeru Segawa was set to face Black Panther later this year booked for ONE Friday Fights 81 on September 27. It is reported that Thailand’s Black Panther has been forced to withdraw from this match.

Black Panther Injured Against Takeru Segawa

The Japanese-born striker Takeru Segawa is a well-decorated athlete in kickboxing. The 33-year-old has captured three weight class titles in K-1, and defended one, he has earned three K-1 Grand Prix world championships. Well-known as an aggressive knockout striker, he took his talents on the road to ONE Championship, mainly to face the Muay Thai king Rodtang Jitmuangnon.

Due to an injury, Rodtang withdrew from their scheduled fight and Takeru was then scheduled to face the top-ranked pound-for-pound Muay Thai fighter Superlek Kiatmoo9. After five rounds of action, Takeru could barely walk after the kicking onslaught from Superlek.

Next, Takeru Segawa was set to face the streaking 24-year-old Black Panther who is a Muay Thai fighter who has never competed in kickboxing. According to insider sources, Black Panther has suffered an injury and is withdrawing from the fight. No official opponent has been named to replace him just yet for ONE Friday Fights 81.

Takeru Segawa

“According to credible sources, Black Panther has withdrawn from his fight against Takeru at ONE Friday Fights 81 on September 27. A replacement has already been secured and will be announced soon.”

Speaking in an interview, Takeru explained his determination to succeed in fight sports. He said:

“I had always dreamed of becoming a Kickboxing Champion when I was a child. I was watching K-1 on TV, and I saw a lot of karate practitioners, and I admired them. I thought if I did karate, maybe I could enter K-1. I always wanted to do kickboxing, but there were no kickboxing gyms in the neighborhood when I was a kid, so I started karate when I was in second grade…

After making up his mind and training for years, he continued:

“I saved all the money myself to go to Thailand. My mother was kind of strict. Since I was a kid, I was told that if I had something I wanted to do, I had to do it on my own – otherwise, it meant nothing.  

Superlek defeats K-1 legend Takeru in five-round war, retains flyweight kickboxing title – ONE 165 Highlights

Superlek vs. TakeruONE flyweight kickboxing world champion Superlek Kiatmoo9 returned to the ring on Sunday for a showdown with former three-division…

Superlek vs. Takeru

ONE flyweight kickboxing world champion Superlek Kiatmoo9 returned to the ring on Sunday for a showdown with former three-division K-1 titleholder Takeru Segawa. Emanating from Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan, Takeru made his long-awaited ONE Championship debut in the ONE 165 main event against one of the promotion’s most dangerous strikers.

Superlek controlled much of the opening round, mixing up his kicking attacks by brutalizing Takeru’s legs while occasionally attacking the body. Takeru struggled to get his offense going as ‘The Kicking Machine’ continued to bring the heat in the closing seconds of the first.

The trend continued into the second round as the Thai tenderized the lead leg of Takeru. However, things began to take a turn in the third round as Takeru was able to close the distance and unleashed a flurry of body blows, forcing Superlek to cover up and weather the storm. He did exactly that, making it out of the third round, but likely giving it up on the scorecards.

‘The Kicking Machine’ once again picked up the pace and the pressure in the fourth round, but Takeru simply refused to go away leading to a fifth and final round where it was anyone’s fight to win. The former K-1 king was desperately seeking a highlight-reel-worthy finish as the seconds ticked down, but Superlek was able to keep Takeru at bay with teep kicks until the final bell sounded.

Official Result: Superlek def. Takeru via unanimous decision to retain the ONE flyweight kickboxing world championship.

Check Out Highlights From Superlek vs. Takeru at ONE 165:

Kickboxing sensation Takeru to make ONE Championship debut against Muay Thai Icon Rodtang in January

Takeru RodtangThe highly anticipated ONE Championship debut of kickboxing sensation Takeru Segawa has been officially announced. Per a report from…

Takeru Rodtang

The highly anticipated ONE Championship debut of kickboxing sensation Takeru Segawa has been officially announced.

Per a report from Marc Raimondi of ESPN, the former three-division K-1 world champion will debut at ONE 165 in Tokyo against none other than Muay Thai superstar Rodtang Jitmuangnon.

The two combat sports icons will compete in a flyweight kickboxing super-fight according to ONE CEO Chatri Sityodtong who made the announcement during a press conference in Tokyo on Tuesday.

Rodtang has competed inside the ONE Championship Circle 16 times since making his debut for the promotion in 2018. During that time, he has bested some of the biggest names in the art of eight limbs, including current ONE world champions Jonathan Haggerty and Joseph Lasiri.

Most recently, ‘The Iron Man’ lost a razor-close decision to ‘The Kicking Machine’ Superlek in September. It was his first Muay Thai loss since signing with ONE, though many fans believe Rodtang should be been dubbed the victor following the three-round instant classic.

Takeru Segawa Has been hailed as the greatest p4P kickboxer in the sport

Takeru, who has been regarded as the best pound-for-pound kickboxer on the planet, will enter ONE Championship as the hottest free agent signing in recent years. The ‘Natural Born Crusher’ boasts a stunning 42-3 professional record with 25 of his victories coming by way of knockout. Takeru also holds the distinction of being the first and only fighter in K-1 history to claim three titles in three different weight classes; super featherweight, featherweight, and super bantamweight.

In addition to Rodtang vs. Takeru, fans in Tokyo will see the return of Japanese MMA icon and former ONE lightweight world champion Shinya Aoki. ‘Tobikan Judan’ will step inside the Circle for a long-awaited showdown with Texas native and former UFC standout ‘Super’ Sage Northcutt.

ONE 165 will emanate from Ariake Arena in Tokyo on Saturday, January 27 in North America. Fans can catch all the action via ONE Championship’s YouTube channel and on the ONE Super App.