‘I Can Finish Him Decisively’ – Masaaki Noiri Promises Knockout Victory Over Superbon At ONE 173
ONE Interim Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion Masaaki Noiri is seizing control of his destiny and refuses to leave the biggest moment of his career in the hands of three judges.
The Japanese superstar will meet ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion Superbon in the headlining act of ONE 173, and when the dust settles at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan, on November 16, an undisputed king will emerge from this unification battle.
For Noiri, this showdown on home soil represents the culmination of a long-held ambition. The 32-year-old had his crosshairs set on Superbon from the moment he joined the world’s largest martial arts organization.
After a humbling 0-2 start in ONE, Noiri clawed his way back to contention with a vicious finish over Shakir Al-Tekreeti, then shocked the combat sports world with his interim title-winning comeback TKO over Tawanchai PK Saenchai at ONE 172 this past March.
Now one win away from proving he’s the best 155-pound striker on the planet, Noiri won’t let this golden opportunity go to waste.
The Team Vasileus athlete declared:
“I have been gunning to fight Superbon ever since he became the champion. I’ve always envisioned how I’d fight him.
“I had plenty of opportunities to study him thoroughly. I’m sure he did the same. I’ve got my game plans locked in and ready. It’s just a matter of figuring out which one to apply.”
That preparation has given Noiri intimate insight into what makes Superbon dangerous.
The 35-year-old Thai veteran possesses a well-rounded striking arsenal made lethal by his impeccable timing and precision.
Noiri also meticulously dissected Superbon’s highlight-reel head kick knockouts over Giorgio Petrosyan and Tayfun “Turbine” Ozcan, and he understands the danger those signature weapons pose:
“His biggest weapon is definitely the high kick. Their timing, angle, and lethality are impeccable. His high kicks are the most formidable weapons that I need to watch out for.
“Beyond that, I think he’s a fighter with tremendous control over the pace of the fight. [Our fight] is in the [Circle], and it’s a five-round fight. He has a lot of experience fighting under those rules. He has finishing power, and he can also win decisively by decision. I think he’s a well-rounded, top-tier fighter who is very versatile.”
Despite acknowledging Superbon as a true striking maestro, Noiri sees exploitable flaws.
The Thai’s reactive style, brilliant against aggressive opponents, becomes a liability when facing someone who can match his patience and take away his airspace. This is exactly what Tawanchai demonstrated when he beat Superbon twice, and Noiri plans to follow the blueprint.
The Nagoya native doesn’t envision this fight reaching the final bell:
“Superbon probably thinks he can effectively negate my fighting style. But I’m not limited to such a pressure-fighting style, and I’m capable of demonstrating more versatility.
“He’s a great fighter whom I respect, but I am absolutely confident in prevailing against him. I believe that it is crucial for me to knock him out. I have absolutely no intention of scraping by with a decision victory. I’m confident I can finish him decisively.”
Noiri Ready To Shed Interim Tag And Claim Undisputed Glory
Beyond his confidence in defeating Superbon, Masaaki Noiri carries a deeper hunger into this unification bout.
In the Japanese star’s eyes, the featherweight kickboxing division isn’t built for two rulers. There can only be one true king.
Knocking out Tawanchai PK Saenchai stands as a defining moment in his career, but the interim tag still gnaws at him. That belt, as meaningful as it was to earn, remains a placeholder for his ultimate ambition.
For Noiri, November 16 will eliminate all confusion about who sits atop the division:
“I truly believe that this weight class should only have one champion. I think only one fighter should hold the belt.
“Right now, I’m holding the belt as an interim champion, but it’s not the official belt. Since it’s a temporary one, I want to win decisively and be able to proudly proclaim myself as the undisputed World Champion.”
Leading Japan’s best martial artists at the star-studded ONE 173, Noiri carries immense pride into the main event.
With the stakes this high, the pressure could suffocate lesser fighters. But Noiri thrives in these moments. The weight of responsibility doesn’t shrink him — it fuels him to greatness.
The interim king concluded:
“I’m the type who doesn’t get nervous in any situation. Since I’ve been entrusted with the headliner role for this very important event in Japan, I do feel like I need to build excitement and deliver in style. However, this responsibility doesn’t translate to pressure at all.”
