‘A Perfect Victory’ – Superbon Targets Quick KO Of Masaaki Noiri To Unify Featherweight Gold At ONE 173
Reigning ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion Superbon will return to the global stage looking to establish himself as the division’s undisputed king in a hotly anticipated World Title unification bout against interim titleholder Masaaki Noiri.
Their five-round showdown will headline ONE 173: Superbon vs. Noiri in Tokyo, Japan, in one of ONE Championship’s most star-studded cards ever inside the Ariake Arena on Sunday, November 16.
For the Thai kickboxing icon, this guaranteed barnburner represents more than just an opportunity to solidify his grasp on the division’s gold. It’s also a chance to prove why he’s the top dog in the most talent-jammed division across all of combat sports.
After falling short in his bid to become a two-sport king against ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Champion Tawanchai PK Saenchai this past January, the Thai megastar has identified the gaps in his game to ensure he doesn’t falter again.
Superbon has approached his recent fight camp with renewed intensity and meticulous attention to detail:
“This is the fight that I cannot lack anything. I missed [a few things] in my previous fight, and I cannot make the same mistake again. I will make this the best fight in my life, as great as I can.”
Superbon knows he is up against a live challenger in Noiri, who recently did what he couldn’t do, and that was to knock Tawanchai out.
The Japanese star captured the interim featherweight kickboxing crown after separating Tawanchai from his senses in a heated bout at ONE 172 in Saitama, Japan this past March.
But while the Superbon Training Camp founder acknowledges the quality of Noiri’s triumph, he remains supremely confident that his opponent brings nothing he hasn’t already seen and conquered in his 116-win resume.
The 35-year-old told onefc.com:
“I think he has gained more confidence from that fight against Tawanchai. But once the game starts, his confidence [will] gradually fade, and he will feel that it is different from the previous fights he won.
“I have seen many kickboxers with the same fighting style as Noiri. I have some methods to cope with great and strong kickboxers with this same style. I think I can handle this.”
Superbon’s confidence against the Japanese warrior comes from extensive film study and a career spent competing against the world’s best strikers.
But while Noiri possesses the qualities of a true champion — excellent fundamentals, devastating power, and the support of the passionate Japanese fans on fight night — Superbon sees a somewhat predictable fighting style in his adversary.
The ONE World Champion continued:
“Firstly, he gets to fight in his home country. With the crowd, he will get a lot of support. The other strength is his punches and his patience in waiting for his opponent to miss the timing [of their shots].
“His weakness, meanwhile, I think he lacks variety in weapons. He doesn’t have that much adaptability. He fights quite straightforwardly. So, that is not challenging to handle.”
With so much at stake, Superbon understands the significance of taking home a victory in Tokyo over the former K-1 double champion in his own backyard. The Thai star is confident he can get the job done.
However, he won’t settle for a mere win on the scorecards after a long, drawn-out battle. The 35-year-old is eyeing a finish that will leave no doubt about who stands atop the featherweight kickboxing mountain.
Superbon said:
“The fight is going to be entertaining, and I probably can do what I expect to do. I am sure I can earn this victory. And ending the fight with a knockout would make it a perfect victory.”
Superbon Eager To Prove Thai Dominance On Japanese Soil
Beyond personal redemption and World Championship glory, Superbon carries the pride of an entire nation into ONE 173 on November 16.
The Bangkok-based warrior will be one of eight Thai warriors competing on the blockbuster spectacle, and regardless of how the other fights play out, he wants to reinforce Thailand’s reputation for producing the world’s most skilled and dangerous strikers.
He added:
“It is important to prove that Thai fighters are the world’s top fighters in terms of their strength and skills. We will prove that we can beat Japanese fighters in their homeland.”
Though he’s out to prove Thai superiority in his World Title unification with Masaaki Noiri, Superbon holds deep respect and admiration for Japanese fight fans.
The ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion has witnessed firsthand how passionately they support athletes regardless of nationality.
As both a competitor and someone who genuinely appreciates Japanese culture, Superbon expressed utmost gratitude to the fans who are set to line the Ariake Arena rafters and to those who will be watching around from the world come fight night.
The 35-year-old concluded:
“I admire the Japanese audience in how they support the Japanese fighters and other successful people. I feel like there are quite a big number of Japanese fans supporting me, too.
“I want to say thank you for watching the fight. Thank you to those who support me. It is such an honor to be fighting in Japan.”
