“I’ll Do My Best To Beat Him”: Tawanchai Breaks Down Davit Kiria’s “Weakness” Ahead of ONE Kickboxing Debut

Tawanchai P.K Saenchai is feeling cautious ahead of his upcoming bout, and with good reason.

The ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Champion will step outside his zone of expertise in an attempt to conquer a new sport when he competes in kickboxing for the very first time in ONE Championship at ONE Fight Night 13: Allazov vs. Grigorian on Friday, August 4.

Tawanchai P.K Saenchai is making his debut against the former champion

He will face Davit Kiria in a featherweight action at the star-studded spectacle, which goes down inside the hallowed halls of the Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. Tawanchai is riding a four-fight win streak in ONE and has won five of his six Muay Thai contests during his tenure, but he’ll have to be careful when he ventures into Kiria’s world this Friday.

The Georgian striker is a former Glory Kickboxing World Champion and KLF Kickboxing Champion with over 40 career wins to his name. He has struggled during his tenure in ONE, but he recently pulled off back-to-back wins outside of the promotion and will be looking to use that momentum to swing a crucial win on the world’s biggest stage.

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Tawanchai understands the danger he will face and has gauged his capabilities by watching the Georgian in action against a common foe. “I have seen him fight in ONE against Sitthichai and his other matches,” he told ONE Championship in an interview. “I can’t be reckless around him. I think we have about the same level of skills which will make it entertaining.“His strength is his right hook. His punches are really heavy and really fast. And his physical strength, too. His weakness? From what I’ve seen, I don’t think he defends himself that much. I think that’s the only weakness.”

A transition from Muay Thai to Kickboxing

Making the transition to kickboxing presents the obvious challenges of not being able to use elbows in combat and competing in heavier gloves than in ONE’s Muay Thai ranks. But Tawanchai is dangerous with all of his weapons, and he’s confident he’ll be able to overcome any obstacle awaiting him in his new sport.

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That said, despite his dominant run and World Champion-level skill set, the Thai superstar is remaining humble in calling how his fight on Friday will end. “I can’t say if I can or cannot knock him out. We don’t know the future, but let’s say I’ll do my best to beat him,” Tawanchai said.

ONE Fight Night 13 will be broadcast live and free on Prime Video for fans across North America with an Amazon subscription.