Sooner Or Later, Han Zi Hao Expects To Be ONE World Champ
Ahead of his homecoming at ONE: LEGENDARY QUEST, Han Zi Hao believes he is operating at a World Championship level.
Though he came up short against Nong-O Gaiyanghadao in the inaugural ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title match earlier this year, the Chinese superstar gave the Thai icon his toughest bout in ONE Super Series over five competitive rounds.
That has filled Han with confidence that he can take out Andrew “Maddog Fairtex” Miller on Saturday, 15 June in Shanghai, China, and begin his climb back to the top.
“After the [Nong-O] match, the feelings in my heart have grown because I know that I have reached the level required to challenge for the golden belt,” he says
“I will take my next match seriously, but I will be more relaxed in the ring because I know my ability is enough to fight for the World Title.
“My goal is still to be able to take the ONE Championship belt in my category as soon as possible.”
To do that, he will have to win his way back to the top, and his first assignment along that path is a match-up with Miller at the Baoshan Arena.
The Scotsman is coming off his domination of “Jordan Boy” Mohammed Bin Mahmoud just a few weeks ago. That contest showed Han he will need to be at the top of his game to get his hand raised, but he has no doubt that is within his capabilities.
He has already shown how much power he packs with his punches and his kicks, but reckons they will be even more dangerous on 15 May.
“He has the same kind of toughness as Thai men, and his Muay Thai skills are very good – his punches, kicks, and clinching – because he has been training in Thailand for a long time,” the 23-year-old explains.
“Because I’m fighting someone taller, it’s best if I can hit him with a power shot and KO him. His range is longer than mine, so I have enhanced my defense, too – blocking, dodging and footwork.
“This may be a tough fight, but I am confident I can knock him out. I have enhanced my punches, but for sure, I have to improve more.”
Han, a Top King Muay Thai World Champion, also has one more motivating factor that he believes will help power him to a famous win.
Though the Chinese star comes from Henan, and later trained in Guangdong in his native land, he has spent the past several years in the home of “the art of eight limbs” in Bangkok, Thailand.
ONE: LEGENDARY QUEST will give the MAD Muay Thai Gym representative a chance to compete in front of his compatriots for the second time as a ONE athlete, and the torrent of social media messages he has received tells him there will be scores of supporters in his corner.
“I think I will be emotional because I am sure I have a lot of friends there on event night,” he says.
“When they know [I am competing] in Shanghai, they ask for tickets one after the other. Many friends will come and support me, so I think I will do very very well.”
But it is not just the people that are close to him that will motivate Han to put on a show and score his third knockout – as well as his fourth win overall – in The Home Of Martial Arts.
He wants to show all of his compatriots in the arena, those watching around the country, and martial arts fans across the planet that Chinese Muay Thai athletes are a force to be reckoned with. He believes they are a match for Thailand’s best, as well as competitors from any other nation.
“I want to let the entire world of combat sports know the power from Muay Thai in China cannot be underestimated,” he adds.
“I will let you see the pride of Muay Thai in China.”
