Former ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Champion Petchtanong Petchfergus is all set to make a return on June 28 at ONE Friday Fights 68, where he will go up against another former titleholder, Alaverdi Ramazanov. Petchtanong has been out of action since a failed out-of-competition drug test in June 2023. However, it now seems that the fighter is willing to impress the global fan base and show them what they have been missing. 

The much-anticipated clash will take place at the Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. Despite getting suspended last year, the 38-year-old still looks in sublime shape ahead of his clash. But how does he keep himself in prime shape throughout the year? 

Petchtanong Petchfergus shares the secret of his fitness ahead of his clash 

Petchtanong is a veteran of the sport and has been fighting for decades. However, for the past year and a half, the 38-year-old has witnessed all the actions from the sidelines. The Superbon Training Camp representative accepted his suspension, but it never stopped him from training during this time. On its Instagram page, SCMP Martial Arts gave the fans a glimpse of the former champion and the kind of shape he is in before his upcoming clash. The post also shared a message from Petchtanong revealing the secrets of his disciplined lifestyle. 

Sharing his secret, the former champion revealed, “I try to eat healthy, no oil, no sugar, and every two years I stop eating meat. I don’t drink, I don’t smoke, I just workout.” Petchtanong, at 38, will make a comeback against a former ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Champion. The pair has a nine-year age gap between them and facing a younger opponent will be quite challenging for him. In his last appearance, Petchtanong defeated Hiroki Akimoto at ONE 163 in November 2022 to claim the division’s top prize. 

Unfortunately, he was stripped of the belt following a failed out-of-competition drug test and accepted the penalty despite contending that he has proper medical documentation saying the banned substances were used to treat injuries. In his return, he will be up against a very formidable opponent in Ramazanov. “Babyface Killer” is an accomplished striker out of Russia known for his aggressive style of fighting. 

The clash between two former world champions comes at an interesting stage in the bantamweight kickboxing division. A win for both can help them inch closer to fight for the belt they once held, but they might need to go through a new contender in the division. 

Potential Clash With Wei Rui Looms

ONE Fight Night 22 last month witnessed the rise of a new star in the division with the name of Wei Rui. The Chinese star defeated former titleholder Hiroki Akimoto in a tightly fought contest, making a massive leap to the top spot of the division. However, he could face another former divisional king to keep his place in the rankings. 

Ramazanov is the inaugural ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Champion. Although he lost the belt in his first World Title defense against Capitan Petchyindee just over a year later, he avenged the loss at ONE 161 in September 2022 to earn a shot at the belt that Nong-O Hama held at the time. 

He failed to reclaim the prestigious strap in the ensuing battle at ONE Friday Fights 1 in January last year, but he reminded everyone in his last outing at ONE Friday Fights 31 last September that he could end a fight abruptly by knocking out Italy’s Alessandro Sara in the first round of their match. 

His opponent is a former champion as well and has a lot to prove in his comeback. Petchtanong has been waiting to reclaim his spot at the top of the division. At 38, the veteran fighter might just have a last go at the World Title. However, he will have to be at his best when he takes on the 29-year-old Russian slugger. A win for both fighters will help them push their case in the division.

Who do you think will win the fight on June 28? Will Petchtanong Petchfergus be able to get back to winning ways in his comeback fight? Let us know in the comments below.