5 Reasons To Watch ONE Friday Fights 68: Prajanchai vs. Di Bella On June 28
This Friday, June 28, ONE Championship will touch down at the legendary Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, for a can’t-miss Asia primetime card topped by a massive World Title fight.
ONE Friday Fights 68: Prajanchai vs. Di Bella will feature five current and former ONE World Champions, a number of the most electrifying strikers on the planet, and high-stakes matchups designed for drama.
Clearly, there are plenty of reasons to watch ONE Friday Fights 68 – these are the top five.
#1 A Long-Awaited World Title Showdown
In the main event, former ONE World Champion Jonathan Di Bella will battle reigning ONE Strawweight Muay Thai World Champion Prajanchai PK Saenchai for the vacant ONE Strawweight Kickboxing World Title.
Boasting an undefeated professional record, Di Bella claimed the strawweight kickboxing crown back in 2022, successfully defended it once, and was set to defend it again against Prajanchai in April at ONE Friday Fights 58.
But when Di Bella was hit with a severe illness and hospitalization just a day before that fight, he failed to pass his hydration test, was stripped of the belt, and the bout was canceled.
Now back to full health, the Montreal native is hungrier than ever to recapture the 26 pounds of gold he once held. However, he’ll be facing the stiffest of his career in Prajanchai.
The 29-year-old Thai legend has nearly 400 professional fights on his resume, is fresh off a World Title-winning knockout over Joseph Lasiri, and has long been considered one of the planet’s top pound-for-pound strikers.
On Friday, Prajanchai will also have plenty of motivation as he aims for two-sport glory in the world’s largest martial arts organization.
#2 Superlek Returns Ahead Of ONE 168: Denver
Reigning ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Champion Superlek Kiatmoo9 isn’t afraid to throw himself into the fire against the best opponents available.
“The Kicking Machine” is already scheduled to move up in weight and challenge Jonathan “The General” Haggerty for the ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title on September 6 at ONE 168: Denver.
But before that blockbuster showdown takes place, he’ll be facing a dangerous knockout artist in a flyweight Muay Thai tilt at ONE Friday Fights 68.
Never one to back down from a fight, Superlek will square off with Thai phenom Kongthoranee Sor Sommai – a ruthlessly powerful striker who comes into the contest riding an impressive seven-fight winning streak.
For Kongthoranee, it’s an opportunity to defeat a pound-for-pound powerhouse and rocket himself up the flyweight Muay Thai rankings.
On the other side, #1 flyweight Muay Thai contender Superlek aims to extend his own nine-fight winning streak and send a message to Haggerty before their clash later this year.
#3 Former Bantamweight Kickboxing Kings Throw Down
Former ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Champions will collide, as Thai veteran Petchtanong Petchfergus returns for the first time since 2022 against all-action Russian scrapper Alaverdi “Babyface Killer” Ramazanov.
At 38 years old, Petchtanong knows he has little time left to recapture the World Title, so he’s hoping to make a powerful statement.
Ramazanov, meanwhile, is the #3-ranked bantamweight kickboxing contender and an explosive knockout artist who could secure another crack at the gold if he finishes the Thai fan favorite in enemy territory.
#4 Surging Muay Thai Stars Collide
A pair of top bantamweight Muay Thai talents will meet in a pivotal matchup that could be a look into the future of the division.
Neither Suablack Tor Pran49 nor Kiamran Nabati has ever lost in ONE, but one of them will be leaving Bangkok with their first promotional defeat.
Suablack boasts an incredible 6-0 record in the organization, using his show-stopping power and refined technique to fuel his meteoric rise.
Nabati, though, is 2-0 in ONE and 20-0 in his professional career. Moreover, the Russian owns a 2023 knockout win over Suablack and knows that Friday’s clash could help establish him as the division’s most dangerous rising star.
#5 A Rematch Of An Epic Barnburner
At ONE Friday Fights 54 in March, Thai stars Suriyanlek Por Yenying and Pompet PK Saenchai went to war in an early candidate for Fight of the Year. They will now collide again in a catchweight Muay Thai bout that promises nothing less than white-knuckle action.
Both men hit the canvas multiple times in their back-and-forth encounter that saw a total of five knockdowns.
Ultimately, Pompet emerged victorious with a decision in his favor, but not before taking some of the most brutal punishment Suriyanlek could dish out.
If their first fight was an indication, fans can expect another slugfest this Friday.
