Tawanchai Vs. Superbon II: 4 Keys To Victory In Muay Thai World Title Rematch At ONE 170
On January 24 at ONE 170, reigning ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Champion Tawanchai PK Saenchai will defend his gold against ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion Superbon in a World Title rematch of epic proportions.
Set to go down in Asia primetime, that wildly anticipated matchup pits two of the planet’s most skilled pound-for-pound strikers against each other.
If their first encounter at ONE Friday Fights 46 in 2023 was any indication, fans can expect another barnburner between the Thai megastars this Friday.
Just one day before this blockbuster main event, we examine the biggest keys to victory for both Tawanchai and Superbon at the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand.
#1 Tawanchai’s Thunderous Left Kick
In their first fight, Tawanchai employed his southpaw weaponry on his way to a majority decision win over the orthodox fighter in Superbon. The PK Saenchai representative will undoubtedly use a similar game plan in the rematch – and yet again with a special focus on his trademark left kick.
Tawanchai’s left roundhouse kick, whether he throws it to the legs, body, or head, is one of the most terrifying strikes in all of Muay Thai.
Against the heavy-handed and defensively sound Superbon, he found plenty of success throwing his bone-crushing left kick directly to his foe’s arms in an effort to dampen his punching power and keep him on the back foot.
Look for the defending titleholder to rely heavily on his venomous southpaw kick as he aims for the finish this time around.
#2 Superbon’s Crispy Counter-Punches
Given his ample experience in the sport of kickboxing, it’s no surprise that Superbon has developed a dangerous and technically sound boxing game, particularly when it comes to counter-punching.
Many of the 34-year-old’s best moments against Tawanchai came when he fired off big right hands or speedy left hooks in response to his opponent’s kicks.
Of course, Superbon will need to remain tight with his defense and be aware of the defending World Champion’s kicking game, but he’d be wise to let his hands fly and look for the game-changing counter-punch whenever the opportunity presents itself.
#3 Tawanchai’s Piercing Push Kick
While his left round kick might be his most powerful single strike, Tawanchai’s dynamic and punishing push kick played a key role in his victory over Superbon.
The 25-year-old throws his push kick almost primarily with his right leg and from a wide variety of angles, making it practically impossible to predict or defend.
When he squared off with Superbon last time, Tawanchai consistently found a home for his push kick to the body.
These soul-stealing strikes quickly added up and often forced Superbon on the defensive, and by the final two World Championship rounds, they had clearly taken their toll on the well-conditioned Thai veteran.
#4 Superbon’s Increased Output
Although he turned in an impressive performance in one of the year’s most thrilling bouts, Superbon ultimately came up just short in his bid for Tawanchai’s featherweight Muay Thai gold.
For many fans and pundits, the key difference in that fight was Tawanchai’s superior striking output. While it’s true that Superbon is an elite counter-striker, he can’t afford to stay on the back foot in the rematch.
Instead, the challenger would be wise to initiate the action more often, taking away his foe’s seemingly umatched kicking game while racking up precious points on the judges’ scorecards.
If he can increase his striking output even just a little bit, Superbon will be in prime position to steal his compatriot’s 26 pounds of gold.
