Alexi Serepisos Is Convinced He Can KO Mongkolpetch In Jakarta
New Zealand’s Alexi “Phet” Serepisos (40-13) will enter the ONE Championship fray in a thrilling ONE Super Series Muay Thai match-up against Mongkolpetch Petchyindee Academy (110-40) this Saturday, 19 January.
The all-action strikers will do battle in the co-main event of ONE: ETERNAL GLORY, which takes place at the Istora Senayan in Jakarta, Indonesia.
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Signing with The Home Of Martial Arts has given Serepisos a renewed sense of belief in his abilities.
He is now confident and primed to take on the Lumpinee Stadium Muay Thai World Champion, and he is relishing the chance to perform inside the world’s largest martial arts organization.
“I’ve just been getting my head around the fact that I’m quite capable of competing with anyone in the world in my weight class, and I’ve been like that for a long time,” says the House Of Pain representative.
“I was sitting and talking to my coach about the fight, and I said, ‘He’s really good.’ My coach said to me, ‘Well, so are you,’ and something just clicked.”
ONE Super Series has attracted the striking world’s most elite competitors since its inception in 2018, and it is that level of competition that motivates “Phet” to climb the ladder.
As a true martial artist, The WMC I1 World Champion wants to test his skills against the toughest opposition, and prove that he belongs right up there with them.
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“I’m not one these fighters who will just say I’m the best in the world – I’m a realist,” says the 24-year-old.
“But for me, it’s about competing at the high level and seeing where I’m at.
“There’s nobody that scares me or that I wouldn’t want to fight, regardless of their background, experience, accolades or anything.”
The New Zealander has competed in Thailand before, and he has had success against Thais on the regional scene. However, Mongkolpetch is one of the finest active athletes on the Bangkok stadium circuit, which has the highest density of world-class Nak Muay anywhere in the world.
Through ONE, “Phet” has the chance to go head-to-head against the cream of the crop every time he steps into the ring or cage.
“It’s just exciting to be going against the guys with these prestigious titles who are active in the top stadiums,” says Serepisos.
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While he is full of admiration and respect for his upcoming foe, and the rest of the athletes on the ONE roster, the Hamilton native is not simply heading along for the ride.
He believes his skill set can trouble any of his rivals in the flyweight division, and he is gathering momentum to prove it inside the cage.
“As I’ve progressed through camp and got better and stronger, I’ve been able to visualize things much better. Everything has fallen into place,” he explains.
“I just plan on going in and trying to take a hard fight to him, and hopefully I can come out on top.
“You can’t really make a game plan against a guy who is good at everything, but I have never been one for game plans. I just want to go in there and find out how good he is, and then build it from there.”
Serepisos will make the walk down the ramp in front of a packed arena with fireworks blasting and the lights illuminating his every move while he is beamed to every corner of the globe on the live broadcast.
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That in itself is an achievement for a man who has had to work hard for every inch of progress in his young life, but he is no stranger to defying the odds.
The down-to-earth Kiwi knows that this is the biggest test of his career, but with each day, he gains more confidence and belief that he can pass with flying colors.
“I definitely bang hard enough to put people to sleep, and I have done it before against Thais, let alone with little gloves, so that’s a possibility.
“Realistically, I think we have a hard fight. I’m feeling strong and can fight hard for three rounds, so I have a perfectly fine chance – and I can grind out a decision if it goes that way.”
