‘I Want That Second Belt’ – Tawanchai Stays Focused On Two-Sport Dream Ahead Of Kickboxing Return At ONE Friday Fights 137
ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Champion Tawanchai PK Saenchai will return to action on Friday, December 19, carrying the weight of unfinished business and an unshakable belief that his two-sport World Championship dream is still very much alive.
The 26-year-old Thai superstar faces Chinese standout “Spirit Dragon” Liu Mengyang in a main event featherweight kickboxing clash at ONE Friday Fights 137, which will emanate live in Asia primetime, inside Bangkok’s iconic Lumpinee Stadium.
Tawanchai’s last appearance ended in heartbreak when former K-1 Champion Masaaki Noiri finished him in the third round of their ONE Interim Featherweight Kickboxing World Championship battle at ONE 172 in Saitama, Japan.
But the pride of PK Saenchai Muaythaigym refuses to let one loss define his kickboxing career.
He has spent the past nine months dissecting what went wrong and will now return to prove that his lone setback in the discipline on the global stage was merely a detour — not a dead end.
Tawanchai told onefc.com:
“In the last fight with Masaaki, I made a mistake and got hit by his punch. I don’t feel like I performed poorly. The plan was good, but he came prepared. When I threw a knee, my guard dropped, and I got caught cleanly.
“I was deeply disappointed in myself after that fight. I feel my capabilities weren’t at 100 percent, and people may feel that wasn’t the real Tawanchai. I know where the mistakes were, and I need to fix them.”
It’s worth noting that Tawanchai isn’t a kickboxing novice stumbling through unfamiliar territory.
The Thai striker debuted in the discipline with a bone-crushing third-round finish of former Glory Kickboxing World Champion Davit Kiria in August 2023. Just three months later, he cruised to a unanimous decision win over ex-WMC World Champion “Smokin'” Jo Nattawut.
Having taken notes from his two triumphs and the loss to Noiri, the featherweight Muay Thai king is ready to prove his credentials in the art are legitimate:
“I’ve been training exceptionally hard, reviewing my weaknesses, and strengthening my defense. I won’t go into detail, but just wait and see the improvements in this fight.
“Some people might say kickboxing isn’t for me, but I believe I can adapt and prove myself. No one becomes a champion instantly. You have to evolve and face challenges.”
Equipped with the belief that he can steer his career back on track, and inspired by the birth of his firstborn son, Tawanchai is ready to do what he does best when the bell sounds inside the Mecca of Muay Thai.
The PK Saenchai wizard, who defended his Muay Thai throne by acquiring his sixth highlight-reel victory in ONE Championship against Superbon at ONE 170 this past January, aims to deliver the same statement-making violence to shatter “Spirit Dragon.”
Should he add to his gallery of finishes, Tawanchai will shift his focus onto a trilogy against Superbon, this time for the latter’s ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Title:
“This fight won’t go to the scorecards. This time, fans will see a 100 percent version of Tawanchai the kickboxer. My goal is simple: I want that second belt. That drive makes me confident that I will be the kickboxing champion next year.”
Tawanchai Takes Aim At Liu Mengyang
Before a potential rubber match against Superbon, Tawanchai PK Saenchai must first handle business against a dangerous Chinese striker who’s been making plenty of noise in the lead-up to their ONE Friday Fights 137 headline attraction.
Liu Mengyang has appeared to talk a big game, even going so far as to reportedly claim that the Thai superstar is afraid of him.
For someone who’s faced the best in the world and consistently emerged victorious, trash talk from an opponent is just background noise:
“Liu Mengyang claimed I was afraid of him, but I know better; people say things for engagement. We’ll find out the truth in the ring.”
That said, Tawanchai acknowledges that Liu brings a world-class arsenal to the world’s largest martial arts organization.
The Chinese standout has scored notable victories over Shadow Singha Mawynn and Noiri, which means he’s battle-tested against elite competition and brings a skill set that demands respect.
He continued:
“I see Liu as a tough, durable fighter with good punching skills. That’s what’s visible right now. As for his weaknesses, you’ll have to watch the fight to find out.
“Experience is important, and he may have an advantage there, but everything can be trained and improved. For my weapon of choice [for this fight], it is still going to be that powerful left kick.”
While he accepts that Liu has the upper hand in terms of experience, the PK Saenchai athlete has left no stone unturned to ensure he completes his redemption arc before the year ends.
The path to Superbon’s crown runs through this fight, and the Thai star knows there’s no margin for error.
He concluded:
“This fight is crucial. I cannot afford to lose, as it will make my path to the kickboxing title much harder. My fans were disappointed last time, but this time, we will win together.”
