Rodtang Jitmuangnon Looks Unbreakable, But Is He Unbeatable?
ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Rodtang “The Iron Man” Jitmuangnon may look unbreakable, but according to the Philippines Muay Thai National Team coach Billy Alumno, he is not unbeatable.
The Thai superstar defends his belt against Brazil’s Walter Goncalves at ONE: CENTURY PART II at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo, Japan on Sunday, 13 October.
Known for his walk forward and swing style, Rodtang has a tendency to leave his chin exposed, and that is something Alumno thinks the Brazilian should capitalize on.
“Rodtang is a fighter. He’s a slugger. He would really go toe-to-toe with you, but sometimes he leaves himself open – that’s where [Goncalves] should counter-attack,” Alumno says.
“Number two, sometimes Rodtang gets distracted. If Rodtang gets frustrated, he sometimes loses focus.”
The 22-year-old from Bangkok knows how to handle distractions, however.
This past August, he challenged former ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Jonathan “The General” Haggerty in the co-main event of ONE: DAWN OF HEROES in Manila. Haggerty connected with distracting face teeps, but that only made “The Iron Man” more aggressive.
- Muay Thai Is Much More Than A Sporting Competition
- Walter Goncalves Says He Has The Power To KO Rodtang
- How To Watch ONE: CENTURY PART II – Aung La N Sang Vs. Vera
The Jitmuangnon Gym representative took the Englishman’s best shots and dropped him with a right hand in the fourth stanza. After five rounds, Rodtang snatched a unanimous decision win and the World Title from “The General.”
Despite riding a tremendous wave of momentum, the flyweight phenom from Bangkok vows not to look past Goncalves, who is three-time Muay Thai World Champion.
“I’m ready to trade with him. But I am not going to underestimate him either. He’s an accomplished fighter,” Rodtang offers.
“I think my experience will be too much for him, and that my overall conditioning will be better than his.”
Even the Philippines Muay Thai National Team coach knows “The Iron Man” has every reason to be deemed the favorite in this clash.
Nonetheless, he sees a path to victory for the Brazilian.
“Rodtang keeps on fighting. You’ll certainly see the type of fighter that he is, and that will be key to his World Title retention,” Alumno explains.
“[But] I think if it goes the distance, Goncalves will win.”
Read more: Rodtang Ready To Trade With Walter Goncalves To Retain His Belt
- Watch PART I in USA on 12 October at 8pm EST and PART II on 13 October at 4am EST
- Watch PART I in India on 13 October at 5:30am IST and PART II at 1:30pm IST
- Watch PART I in Indonesia on 13 October at 7am WIB and PART II at 3pm WIB
- Watch PART I in Singapore on 13 October at 8am SGT and PART II at 4pm SGT
- Watch PART I in the Philippines on 13 October at 8am PHT and PART II at 4pm PHT
- Watch PART I in Japan on 13 October at 9am JST and PART II at 5pm JST
ONE: CENTURY is the biggest World Championship martial arts event in history with 28 World Champions featured across various martial arts. No organization has ever promoted two full-scale World Championship events on the same day.
The Home Of Martial Arts will break new ground as it brings multiple World Title bouts, a trio of World Grand Prix Championship Finals, and several World Champion versus World Champion matches to the famous Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo, Japan on 13 October.
