Dmitry Menshikov Aims For World Title Rematch With Regian Eersel After Comeback Win Over Sinsamut
On May 3 at ONE Fight Night 22: Sundell vs. Diachkova on Prime Video, Russian phenom Dmitry Menshikov scored a dramatic third-round stoppage victory over Thai fan favorite Sinsamut “Aquaman” Klinmee.
In the process, the Russian extended his knockout streak to three and climbed one giant step closer to another shot at the ONE Lightweight Muay Thai World Title.
Unsurprisingly, the Bangkok crowd at Lumpinee Boxing Stadium threw their vocal support behind the local hero, who came into the contest riding a two-fight winning streak of his own.
Menshikov understood he was venturing into enemy territory for this pivotal matchup with Sinsamut but says he didn’t let the crowd get to him.
He told onefc.com:
“I was doing my job. I didn’t think about this much. Of course, I knew that he’s a really famous Thai fighter, I knew that people were going to support him, but I didn’t care. My job is simple – to fight. And I was doing my job.”
A ferocious puncher with a pressure-oriented style, Menshikov was put to the test by Sinsamut’s skillful footwork, powerful kicking game, and pinpoint counter-strikes throughout the bout’s opening two rounds.
Going into the third, the Russian knew he likely needed a knockout to secure the victory. And that’s exactly what he did, overwhelming “Aquaman” with a brutal flurry of strikes that left the Thai crumpled on the canvas.
Despite the rough going early in the fight, Menshikov says he never once doubted himself:
“I believed that I was going to win. I knew I was going to win. Even between the second and third rounds, when I was talking to my trainer, I was telling him I was going to win.
“I was fresh. I was full of energy. I was going to win.”
Since falling to reigning ONE Lightweight Muay Thai World Champion Regian “The Immortal” Eersel in his promotional debut, the 26-year-old from Kemerovo Oblast has solidified himself as one of the sport’s scariest knockout artists.
Following Friday’s big win, Menshikov explained why he is such a dangerous striker:
“Yeah, you know, it’s all about my style of fighting. It’s all about my pressure. It’s all about my energy. And yeah, my hands are good. I’m really fast and powerful.”
Menshikov Has Dreams Of Two-Sport Gold
Now on a three-fight winning streak and fresh off a victory over one of Thailand’s top talents, Dmitry Menshikov can make his case for another World Title showdown with lightweight Muay Thai king Regian Eersel.
It’s no small secret that Menshikov wants a rematch with “The Immortal,” but he’s set bigger goals for himself than just Muay Thai gold.
He says that after he takes out Eersel in a rematch, he plans to gun for two-sport glory and chase the ONE Lightweight Kickboxing World Title:
“About the fight with [Eersel], as I mentioned before, multiple times, I want to be the champion, yeah. And I’m going to do everything to be the champion. And if it’s a rematch with him, sure.
“And also, I want to take the belt – not just in Muay Thai, but kickboxing, too. It’s in my goals. I have plans for two belts.”
