4 straight wins have satisfied this Japanese striker that his subsequent struggle must be for a world title. He has even picked his most popular opponent.
Taiki Naito edged Kongthoranee Sor Sommai in a flyweight kickboxing rematch at ONE Battle Evening 49 on Friday, November 6. The cardboard aired stay from Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium.
The 30-year-old improved his skilled report to 40-14 and avenged a Muay Thai loss to the three-time Rajadamnern Stadium Muay Thai World Champion in October 2023. Kongthoranee answered an early right-left mixture with a pointy left hook that pressured him to dig deep.
Naito dropped his foe with a superbly timed left hook within the third spherical. He refuses to name it revenge.
“After I misplaced to him, I knew he was an excellent fighter. And the second I received in opposition to him, I used to be very blissful. Kickboxing is my rule set, Muay Thai is his rule set. So, I don’t see this as a revenge match. I see this extra as our first match in kickboxing,” he stated.
“When [I earned] the final knockdown within the third spherical, that [confirmed] the whole lot. As a result of if I couldn’t knock Kongthoranee down, we wouldn’t know what the outcome would have been.”
Taiki Naito targets vacant flyweight kickboxing crown
Taiki Naito believes 4 consecutive victories have earned him a shot on the vacant ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Title. He needs reigning ONE Strawweight Kickboxing World Champion Jonathan Di Bella standing reverse him when it arrives.
There could also be a wait, as ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong has indicated Di Bella is predicted again at ONE 174 in December to defend his strawweight crown. Naito is blissful to be affected person.
“To be trustworthy, I need it to be determined already that Di Bella goes to struggle with me subsequent 12 months. [I want] the title shot,” he stated.
“Jonathan Di Bella, you’re a great champion and I do know that you’ll want to defend your belt. But when there are not any opponents that may struggle in opposition to you anymore [in strawweight], and if you’d like one other belt, I’m able to struggle you [for the flyweight kickboxing World Title].”
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