Rodlek Says Next Match Can Be Even Better Than Sensational Debut

Rodlek PK.Saenchaimuaythaigym is ready to blow fans away again in his second ONE Super Series match.

Though he accepted the call on little more than two weeks’ notice, the 29-year-old will return next Friday, 2 August at ONE: DAWN OF HEROES against Scotland’s Andrew “Maddog Fairtex” Miller in a bantamweight Muay Thai match.

It has been a few weeks since the Thai star’s stunning debut, where the man from Bangkok defeated eight-time Muay Thai World Champion Liam “Hitman” Harrison in one of the most thrilling bouts of 2019 so far.

However, the quick turnaround does not bother the man from Bangkok one bit.

After his match in Shanghai, China on 16 July, he went home to for a week, but then got right back to training. Though he was in a war against Harrison, he is injury-free, and he is eager to bring the house down once again with another stellar performance at the Mall Of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines.

After all, for a seasoned competitor in his country’s national sport, taking a bout on short notice is nothing new.

“I’m happy for the opportunity, I’m always training, just waiting for my next fight,” he says.

“Even though I was a replacement, I still feel like I got lots of notice. For Thai fighters, two weeks is a lot for us. We don’t just stop after we fight, we’re always at the gym training.

“Before, when I was younger, I would get a call in the morning and then fight that night.”

The 29-year-old Thai is beaming with confidence ahead of his second outing after he adapted to life in The Home Of Martial Arts in his debut.

He kept it well hidden, but Rodlek admits he was wracked with anxiety before he stepped into the ring.

“I was really nervous for the first fight. It was my very first time wearing the small gloves,” he explains.

“The small gloves are so different than what I am used to. They are exciting to compete in, but you just can’t get hit in them. There is always the chance to get knocked out or knock someone out. It is a lot different than traditional boxing gloves. 

“Going into this second match, I’ll be bringing with me all the experiences from my debut. My goal is to make the fight as exciting as possible.”

What is more, his bout against Harrison allowed Rodlek to get his feet wet after a more than 10-month absence from competition. 

“When I fought Liam, I had been out of action for almost a year. I was a bit sluggish, out of rhythm,” he adds.

“I’m feeling a lot better prepared for this match – the ring rust is gone.”

Miller will come into this match with a respectable 34-17-2 record and no fear of his opponent. The Scotsman represents the Fairtex gym in Pattaya, Thailand, and is used to facing tough opponents from the home of “the art of eight limbs.”

He also has a 12-centimeter height advantage, but while Rodlek acknowledges his opponent’s abilities and accomplishments, he is certain he can adapt to his approach in the ring and win for the second time on the global stage.

“I think his weakness is that he can’t take a really hard shot,” he says.

“His height is probably his biggest asset going into this match. I’m going to be a lot shorter than him.

“I plan to use my strength against him and let my shots go continuously. I’ll be putting everything I’ve got behind every shot I throw.

“I’ve been fighting for a long time. Every opponent you face possesses their own danger, and you can never really know what they are going to bring until you’re in there.”

More than winning, however, Rodlek’s main goal is to give a performance that gets the fans on their feet. 

The capacity crowd at the Mall Of Asia Arena will be the biggest he has ever competed in front of, so he is determined to have everyone cheering. 

“Entertaining the fans is really important to me, and I am going to try to make this fight as exciting as possible for them,” he says.

“Winning or losing is a part of all sports. Everyone that steps into the ring wants to win, myself included, but I’m not going to focus on that. My focus is with the fans. 

“I think I can make it more exciting than my debut.” 

Manila | 2 August | 7PM | DAWN OF HEROES | TV: Check local listings for global broadcast | Tickets: http://bit.ly/oneheroes19