Rodtang Out, Superlek In vs. Takeru at One 165 for 135-Pound Kickboxing Title

My opponent for my ONE debut at January 28th Rotang has been canceled and changed to Superlek and I’m going to fight for the one championship world title.
I have been preparing to fight Rotang for a long time and sacrificed many things for this fight so I was shocked and… pic.twitter.com/SvpjyQk8c5

— 武尊 takeru (@takerusegawa) January 5, 2024

Switching top-tier opponents is no problem for a star like Takeru Segawa.

According to the Japanese kickboxer on Friday morning, his One Championship kickboxing matchup against Rodtang Jitmuangnon is no longer in the cards. Atop ONE 165 on Jan. 28 at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Takeru (42-3) will instead throw down with Superlek Kiatmoo9 (136-29-4). This match will put Superlek’s ONE flyweight (135 pounds) kickboxing belt on the line.

Superlek was gearing up to defend his throne against Elias Mahmoudi at ONE Fight Night 18, however, Mahmoudi was also forced out of their meeting due to an injury. In his most recent outing, Superlek recorded a hard-fought decision victory against Rodtang in a muay thai battle last September. Unfortunately for the man born Manachai Yamsiri, his five-pound weight miss disqualified him from competing for the title.

Japan's Takeru will be making his ONE debut with a reputation as one of the top kickboxers in the sport. The former K-1 champion claimed gold in three divisions as he lorded over the promotion from 2014 to 2021, never once losing a match. Takeru is one fight removed from his encounter against Tenshin Nasukawa in June 2022, where the two went at it for three intense rounds. Takeru suffered his first loss in a little over a decade when he fell short to his fellow countryman.

ONE 165 goes down inside of the Ariake Arena in Tokyo on Jan. 28, and its main attraction will now see Superlek vs. Takeru for the 135-pound kickboxing title. Its co-main attraction is also a championship tilt, as Kade Ruotolo puts his belt on the line against Tommy Langaker in a 170-pound submission grappling match. Additionally, Shinya Aoki and Sage Northcutt will come to blows at 170 pounds in what has become a one-sided grudge match, while Garry Tonon hunts for another submission victory at the expense of Martin Nguyen at 155 pounds.