‘I Study Him All The Time’ – Rungrawee Hopes Detailed Game Plan Will Lead To Knockout Of Bogdan Shumarov
Rungrawee “Legatron” Sitsongpeenong believes he has a clear path to victory – and a bonus-winning knockout – against Belarusian slugger Bogdan Shumarov.
The elite strikers will go to war this Friday, May 3, in U.S. primetime at ONE Fight Night 22: Sundell vs. Diachkova on Prime Video in a lightweight kickboxing tilt that could produce the division’s next World Title challenger.
That battle will go down at the iconic Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, and it will mark Rungrawee’s highly anticipated ONE kickboxing debut after compiling a 4-1 record in ONE Muay Thai bouts.
The 28-year-old recently spoke to onefc.com about this pivotal clash and says he’s ready for anything:
“I am a person who never underestimates my opponents. I will do my best on stage. I will fight according to the game plan. If he has a trump card to show, I’m ready to adapt.”
The Thai has closely watched Shumarov, who comes into the contest riding a seven-fight winning streak that includes back-to-back highlight-reel knockouts in ONE.
While Rungrawee is well aware of his foe’s prodigious punching power, he also sees openings to counter-attack.
With that in mind, “Legatron” plans to do what he does best and pulverize the Belarusian with his trademark leg kicks whenever the opportunity presents itself:
“Bogdan’s weakness is when he throws punches, he will lower his guard down. I will use my legs to fight him. His strength is his right hook, which is very formidable.”
Indeed, Shumarov tends to do his best work with his refined yet powerful boxing technique, but he scored his most recent knockout with a massive head kick, leading some fans to wonder if his kicking game could give Rungrawee issues.
The Sitsongpeenong representative, though, is quick to dismiss that idea.
With over 200 career fights and a lifetime of training in “the art of eight limbs,” he’s supremely confident that he can – and will – out-kick Shumarov:
“It’s definitely me who kicks better than him. We’ve practiced Muay Thai kick since we were kids. The thing that gives him an advantage over me is his punches.
“I study him all the time. He’s only good at punching people. Yes, sometimes he can do the leg kicks, but I’m definitely better when it comes to kicking.”
A master technician, Rungrawee remains focused on the task in front of him.
Still, he admits to dreaming bigger and believes that a stoppage victory over Shumarov could secure him a shot at freshly crowned ONE Lightweight Kickboxing World Champion Alexis “Barboza” Nicolas:
“If I can knock Bogdan out, I think I would like to fight for the ONE World Title.”
Rungrawee Targets Another Bonus Against Shumarov
When Rungrawee Sitsongpeenong enters the ring against Bogdan Shumarov, he’ll be looking to earn his second consecutive US$50,000 performance bonus.
In his most recent outing, “Legatron” overwhelmed Iraqi standout Shakir Al-Tekreeti en route to a second-round stoppage and a life-changing bonus.
That money, he says, has already been put to good use:
“The bonus I got from the last fight changed my life dramatically. I spend bonus money to buy gold, save up, take my children on trips, and lots of good things have happened. My life is getting better.”
It’s no surprise that Rungrawee plans to go bonus-hunting once again at ONE Fight Night 22.
A victory would be ideal, of course, but a knockout would be even sweeter:
“The goal for this fight is to win by knockout. In my mind, I want to get another bonus.”
