3 Bouts That Could Steal The Show At ONE: HEAVY HITTERS
A colossal World Title matchup will top the bill at ONE: HEAVY HITTERS, but the supporting cast is sure to provide just as much entertainment.
Top contenders and rising stars will take to the Circle on Friday, 14 January, with an emphatic victory being the best way for them to stand out on the packed opening card of 2022.
Here are three bouts that could steal the show away when things get underway inside the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
#1 Saemapetch Vs. Tawanchai
Saemapetch Fairtex is one of the most experienced Muay Thai campaigners in ONE Super Series, while his upcoming rival Tawanchai PK.Saenchai Muaythaigym is just starting to establish his name on the global stage after impressing on the Bangkok stadium circuit.
In fact, top-ranked contender Saemapetch and his younger opponent established a close friendship when Tawanchai looked to the more senior athlete for advice when he first arrived in ONE.
However, both men are willing to put that bond aside for nine minutes, as they aim for the top in the bantamweight Muay Thai division.
Saemapetch has already competed against Nong-O Gaiyanghadao for the ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title, but since his defeat to the longstanding king, he has looked better than ever.
His powerful punching will be a good match for Tawanchai’s laser-accurate kicking game, but both men are capable of dispatching their opposition with a variety of tools.
They can hug it out after the match is over but expect ferocious action with nothing held back before it gets to that point.
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#2 Supergirl Vs. Ekaterina Vandaryeva
Another striking clash looks set to bring the heat to “The Lion City” when Ekaterina “Barbie” Vandaryeva takes on teen phenom Supergirl in a fascinating strawweight Muay Thai clash.
Vandaryeva is hungrier than ever for her first win in The Home of Martial Arts after an achingly close defeat to Jackie Buntan in her last outing. She believes that there is more in her and plans to showcase her true abilities in this upcoming bout.
The Belarusian has promised to start faster in their bout in search of the win, but Supergirl will meet fire with fire.
The 18-year-old Thai showcased her aggressive style when she blasted through Milagros Lopez in her ONE debut, scoring a definitive first-round finish. She is now on the hunt for her second win in a row and wants to put a stamp on the division by taking out a veteran.
Supergirl’s boxing combinations come thick and fast, and her knees are potent, but Vandaryeva has a lot of weapons in her arsenal and the high-level experience to overcome an early onslaught.
This tees up a main card barn burner between two athletes with something to prove.
#3 Tiffany Teo Vs. Meng Bo
Two-time ONE Strawweight World Title challenger Tiffany “No Chill” Teo will welcome Meng Bo to her new division on the night’s lead card.
Teo has beaten everyone noteworthy in the division except the champion “The Panda” Xiong Jing Nan. That said, the Singaporean star showed just how far she has come when she pushed the Chinese sensation for five rounds in their bout.
Meng had serious firepower at atomweight, scoring knockouts in two of her three wins. The Tiger Wang Gym athlete believes she’ll have more stamina and strength at strawweight, which she’ll need against her famously tough adversary.
It’s a massive chance for both athletes to get 2022 off to a good start by returning to the winner’s circle, and their styles should produce an explosive, close-run affair for as long as it lasts.
Read more: Friend And Foe: Tawanchai And Saemapetch’s Special Relationship
