‘I’ll Be Waiting For You’ – Nong-O Would Embrace Super-Fight With Rodtang At Bantamweight

Nong-O Hama would happily duke it out with a friend if it means putting on one of the biggest matchups in Muay Thai history.

Although he must get past his next challenger, Jonathan Haggerty, at ONE Fight Night 9 on April 21, the longtime ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion was intrigued by recent comments from fellow Thai superstar Rodtang Jitmuangnon. 

Rodtang – the reigning ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion – stated his intention to move up a weight class and challenge for gold in a second division.

Despite being close with his compatriot, Nong-O is willing to square off against “The Iron Man” at some point in the future.

The 36-year-old bantamweight king said:

“I heard the news that Rodtang wants to put on some weight and move up a division. I have no problem at all with fighting him. 

“Rodtang would still be my best bro, but in the ring, we do our duty and fight our best.”

Both men have yet to lose a match under the two striking rule sets in ONE Championship.

Nong-O has won all 10 of his bouts in the organization, with eight of them being ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title victories. Meanwhile, Rodtang is 13-0 in Muay Thai and kickboxing contests, which includes five ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Championship wins.

Each competitor has consistently defeated elite opposition, but the bantamweight king is not fazed by his countryman’s resume and would gladly welcome the younger athlete into his world.

Nong-O said:

“I still have the belt around my waist. If you want to move up to bantamweight, I’ll be waiting for you here.”

Nong-O Staying At Bantamweight To Continue Making History 

ONE Championship offers up many different opportunities, as evidenced by Rodtang’s forays into kickboxing and mixed-rules matchups.

But as one of the older guards, Nong-O is content to stay at bantamweight and continue to establish his legacy in the weight class. He sees switching between divisions and sports as more of a young man’s game, and unlike the 25-year-old Rodtang, he’d rather continue his historic run as the promotion’s only bantamweight Muay Thai king.

Nong-O explained:

“As a World Champion, I have seen the new generation of boxers each with different styles. This makes me thrilled because I can fight with fighters that have various styles, which forces me to improve myself.

“I am now 36 years old, which is considered old in boxing. If I want to start fighting in other rules, I’ll need to start over. And if I want to gain weight to fight in a higher division, I’d be an underdog.

“I’ll stick with bantamweight and defend my World Championship as long as I can to make history!”