Current ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion, Rodtang Jitmuangnon, is ready to return after a long layoff because of a knee injury. He hasn’t fought since losing to current kickboxing Flyweight World Champion Superlek Kiatmoo9 at ONE Friday Fights 34 in September 2023. His upcoming opponent is Denis Puric at ONE 167: Tawanchai vs. Nattawut 2.

Despite his dominant record throughout his professional Muay Thai journey, Rodtang’s fighting spirit began at a young age. He took up the sport at the age of ten to support his family. Though ‘The Iron Man’ holds the reputation of being one of the consistent fighters in One Championship, his career has also been plagued with a handful of defeats.

Rodtang Jitmuangnon’s losses in the ONE Championship

Almost considered undefeated, Rodtang began his professional Muay Thai career in 2016 against Petchprakan Kor. Klanbut to win the MAX Muay Thai 125 lb Championship. After signing with ONE Championship in 2018, he debuted against Sergio Wielzen at ONE Championship: Conquest of Heroes. He then went on an impressive ten-fight winning streak, which ended during his bout against former UFC Flyweight Champion Demetrious Johnson at ONE X.

However, undeterred by his initial loss to Johnson, Rodtang Jitmuangnon continued his dominant run, culminating in a highly anticipated matchup against Superlek Kiatmoo9 at ONE Friday Fights 34. Despite his initial dominant position, Rodtang ultimately fell to Superlek in a thrilling encounter that cemented itself as a historic Muay Thai fight at Lumpinee Stadium.

Adding a twist to the matchup, Superlek, the ONE Flyweight Kickboxing Champion, missed weight for his challenge against the ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion, Rodtang, forcing the bout to be contested at a catchweight of 140 pounds. After returning from a 9-month injury break against Denis Puric, Rodtang Jitmuangnon faces what seems like an easy fight.

However, he can’t underestimate Puric, as “The Bosnian Menace” is on a two-match winning streak. Now, we wait to see how Rodtang defends himself and finds inspiration, as he did in his youth, to support his family. but forget that he is a lifetime fighter. Rodtang has won almost 271 fights and lost 43 fights in his career.

How did Rodtang overcome poverty to become a champion?

Rodtang Jitmuangnon not only beat his opponent in Muay Thai, but he also beat poverty from his life and escaped it. He hailed from a southern Thai province where wages and labor were never a permanent source of income. There was a time in his life, not long ago, when he and his family struggled to make ends meet. Unlike a normal child, as the eighth of ten children, he didn’t have the luxury of a carefree childhood.

Revealing his childhood struggles in an interview with ONE Champion, Rodtang said, “I didn’t play much as a child. We had no toys, or money to buy snacks like our friends.” He also revealed that he and his mother sometimes went to funerals to wash dishes in exchange for money. Additionally, he mentioned his father’s work on the construction side. However, the fighter emphasized that all those struggles shaped him into the person he is today.

These struggles forged Rodtang Jitmuangnon into the champion he is today. The champion will now be hoping to make a comeback to the winning ways as he will go against Denis Puric at the ONE 167: Tawanchai vs. Jo Nattawut 2. Whose side are you on? Comment down below.