5 Burning Questions That Will Be Answered At ONE Friday Fights 46: Tawanchai vs. Superbon
ONE’s final show of 2023 will see the planet’s best strikers converge at Bangkok’s legendary Lumpinee Boxing Stadium for ONE Friday Fights 46: Tawanchai vs. Superbon.
Topped by a trio of World Title contests and airing live in Asia primetime on December 22, this blockbuster event is stacked with compelling matchups from top to bottom, giving ONE’s global fan base plenty of reasons to tune in.
Now, just days away from this massive showcase, we look at five key questions that will be answered this Friday in Thailand.
#1 Who Will Emerge As Thailand’s Top Featherweight Striker?
In the main event, reigning ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Champion Tawanchai PK Saenchai will put his gold on the line against former ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion Superbon Singha Mawynn.
More than just a long-awaited World Title fight, this bout will determine the best featherweight striker from Thailand. Both of these men have reached the top while proving themselves to be pound-for-pound greats.
Tawanchai comes into the contest riding an impressive six-fight winning streak.
However, he’s facing the stiffest test of his ONE tenure against Superbon, a renowned knockout artist who most recently finished Tayfun Ozcan with an epic head kick.
#2 Does Lasiri Still Have Prajanchai’s Number?
Reigning ONE Strawweight Muay Thai World Champion Joseph “The Hurricane” Lasiri will battle interim titleholder Prajanchai PK Saenchai in a World Title unification bout that’s a rematch of their unforgettable May 2022 clash.
In that fight, the Italian-Moroccan standout shocked the world with a third-round stoppage of Prajanchai, wresting 26 pounds of gold from the Thai superstar in dramatic fashion.
Since then, Prajanchai has reeled off three impressive wins, including a knockout of Muay Thai icon Sam-A Gaiyanghadao to claim the interim crown, reminding fans that he is still very much an elite talent.
For his part, “The Hurricane” will try to prove that his upset victory was no fluke and leave Bangkok as the undisputed strawweight Muay Thai king.
#3 Can Phetjeeja Take Out The Women’s Kickboxing GOAT?
In the first World Title matchup, 21-year-old Thai phenom “The Queen” Phetjeeja will look to go 5-0 in the organization when she squares off with kickboxing legend Anissa “C18” Meksen with the ONE Women’s Interim Atomweight Kickboxing World Title on the line.
Phetjeeja has looked nothing short of dominant thus far in her ONE career, but she’s only competed under Muay Thai rules and will face the biggest test of her life against the decorated seven-time World Champion.
If “The Queen” can hand the French-Algerican her first loss in ONE, she will catapult herself up the pound-for-pound ranking, announce herself among the best of the best, and secure a coveted ONE World Title.
#4 How Will Nong-O Bounce Back From His First Loss In ONE?
After 10 straight victories in ONE, including eight electrifying World Title fights, former bantamweight Muay Thai kingpin Nong-O Hama suffered his first promotional defeat at the hands of Jonathan “The General” Haggerty in April.
The 37-year-old icon will now return for his first appearance since that crushing loss, as he aims to defend his #1 ranking and prove he deserves another crack at Haggerty.
But standing in his way is surging Scottish striker Nico “King of the North” Carrillo, who owns the division’s #5 ranking, two straight knockout wins at ONE Friday Fights, and an iron chin that will test the former titleholder.
#5 Can Seksan Finish Off A Flawless 2023?
It’s only fitting that the final ONE Friday Fights show of the year features the biggest star to come out of the weekly event series – Seksan “The Man Who Yields To No One” Or Kwanmuang.
With seven victories in seven thrilling wars, the 34-year-old Thai has earned his status as perhaps the sport’s most entertaining brawler and a fan favorite, beloved for his endless will to fight and ultra-aggressive approach.
This time, Seksan will look to end his unforgettable 2023 with a pristine 8-0 record when he battles Australian phenom River Daz – a rising star with a 33-1-1 career slate.
