Superlek Kiatmoo9 has eagerly awaited his opportunity to ascend to the summit of the ONE flyweight Muay Thai division, and there’s no more fitting moment than the present. “The Kicking Machine” is poised to clash with the current ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion, Rodtang Jitmungnon, in the headline bout of ONE Friday Fights 34 on Friday, September 22. Their highly anticipated showdown is aptly scheduled to unfold in the iconic Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
Both athletes have achieved superstar status within the world’s largest martial arts organization, yet surprisingly, they’ve never crossed paths in the ring. Nevertheless, they’ve both been inadvertently chasing the same dream – that of becoming a two-sport ONE World Champion – and currently occupy the top-ranked contender positions in their respective divisions.
Superlek Kiatmoo9 is excited for the inevitable megafight with Rodtang Jitmungnon
According to Superlek, these circumstances make it the perfect moment for them to finally face off. “This is a dream match for Thai and global fans. I think the ONE matchmakers want to showcase the most anticipated main events that every fan desires to witness. The bout between Rodtang and me has been highly anticipated for quite some time,” he shared in a recent interview with ONE.
“I believe it’s the ideal time for us to confront each other. There’s no escaping it any longer. The time has arrived.” Throughout this year, “The Kicking Machine” has been on a tear, asserting his dominance over the competition. With four consecutive victories in ONE in 2023, including three consecutive knockouts, he arguably enters his clash with Rodtang as the favorite.
However, one should never underestimate “The Iron Man.” Representing the Jitmuangnon Gym, he remains undefeated in 14 striking contests within ONE, with two exceptional performances this year. Superlek has had his sights set on Rodtang for years. While he has expressed a preference for facing foreign opponents over fellow Thai fighters, he acknowledges that their destructive paths have effectively cleared the competition in the flyweight striking divisions.
Superlek considers himself as the most deserving canditate to face Rodtang
“I’ve had my eye on Rodtang for as long as he’s been competing in five-round Muay Thai. I used to compete at Lumpinee and Rajadamnern Stadiums, just like him. I knew that sooner or later, our paths would intersect,” he revealed. “My original intention was to climb the rankings and challenge Rodtang for the ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Championship. There are no other viable contenders left in this division to challenge him, except for me,” he continued.
“As I mentioned before, I preferred facing foreign opponents rather than fellow countrymen. But now, with no potential opponents remaining, our paths are destined to collide.”
