Jo Nattawut Plans To Put George Mann To Sleep In Singapore

“Smokin’” Jo Nattawut (67-7-2) is preparing for another high-stakes battle under the ONE Super Series banner.

He will square off against Scotland’s George Mann (31-5) in a Muay Thai bout at ONE: HEART OF THE LION, which broadcasts live from the Singapore Indoor Stadium on Friday, 9 November.

The two athletes will wear 4-ounce mixed martial arts gloves for this featherweight clash, and the last time the Thai donned these smaller gloves, he authored one of the most explosive knockouts seen in the all-striking league.

In July, at ONE: PURSUIT OF POWER, Nattawut entertained the masses inside the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia with his ferocious boxing.

He displayed his kicking arsenal early, but then overwhelmed Yohann Fairtex Drai with devastating jab-cross combinations.

The 29-year-old Thai dropped the Frenchman with an overhand right nearly two minutes into the opening stanza. Drai returned to his feet, but would not remain standing for long.

Nattawut attacked with a barrage of left hooks and crosses until the Fairtex representative crumpled to the ground. The match was called off with just one second remaining in the first round.

Although Nattawut acknowledges a change in preparation contributed to his victory, he also realizes the gloves played a crucial role, too.

“It felt really good to win that bout,” the two-division Lion Fight World Champion says.

“I had a really good training camp and a good game plan. I was able to fly early to Thailand to train before that bout, which helped with my preparation. I changed the way I train and travel, and it showed in the match.

“[The smaller gloves were] really powerful. The defense is different, so you have to adapt, but it feels like if I land my punches, my opponent is going to sleep.”

Nattawut is hoping to achieve a similar result at ONE: HEART OF THE LION.

He will once again strap on the mixed martial arts gloves when he faces Mann this coming Friday.

Mann, a 20-year-old who has claimed the WMC Muay Thai World Title, will not enter the contest with the same amount of ring experience as Nattawut, but he will have a 16-centimeter height advantage.

The Thai is far from intimidated, however. He will not be bothered by his rival’s height and long reach. In fact, there is only one thing he believes he needs to be careful of.

“I need to block his left kick, and that’s it,” he simply offers.

Nattawut is training for this highly anticipated showdown at Bangkok Boxing in Atlanta, Georgia under the guidance of his trainer Master Khunpon, a man he credits with taking his career to the next level.

The Thai is following a routine similar to his previous camp, and he believes his striking, when paired with his dogged aggression, will be the difference-maker in his upcoming tilt with Mann.

Because of that, he expects to leave the Singapore Indoor Stadium with a familiar result.

“I have more power than him,” Nattawut says. “I will do my normal thing — I will walk forward and throw everything I’ve got. He’s going to go to sleep.”