Petchtanong Petchfergus Executes Perfect Game Plan To Take Bantamweight Kickboxing Gold

Petchtanong Petchfergus with ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Championship belt at ONE 163

At 37 years old, Petchtanong Petchfergus said he was desperate to crown his long career with the biggest prize of all, and he did that on Saturday, November 19.

In the main event of ONE 163, the Thai legend defeated Hiroki Akimoto to win the ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Title after a grueling five-round battle.

Petchtanong Petchfergus throws a kick on Hiroki Akimoto at ONE 163

Akimoto started to string his combinations together early at the Singapore Indoor Stadium, mixing punches with kicks and switching his targets.

Petchtanong, the division’s #3-ranked contender, allowed the Japanese man to come forward and took aim with crunching left knees and kicks when he got too close.

The Bangkok native was even more on point with his counters in round two. Akimoto walked in with punches, but the veteran repeatedly scored with his left knee to the body and head, as well as kicks and straights from his southpaw left power side. 

Petchtanong Petchfergus clashes with Hiroki Akimoto at ONE 163

Akimoto entered round three with the right side of his body scorched from his challenger’s attacks, and it wasn’t just physical damage.

The defending titleholder seemed more reluctant to throw his strikes because he was constantly walking into Petchtanong’s left-sided counters. 

While the Japanese dynamo managed to score with some left hooks and right kicks, the Thai landed the more hurtful kicks and knees.

Petchtanong Petchfergus throws a knee on Hiroki Akimoto at ONE 163

The usually relentless Akimoto was clearly out of sorts coming into the championship rounds. His output was lower as he searched for a way to land his shots without getting countered.

Petchtanong upped the ante with his left body kick and, although the Japanese man did have some success replying with low kicks, the power differential was clear. 

Akimoto knew he had to do something drastic in the final round. He came out with intent, swinging with his left hook and adding his right kick behind it.

Still, Petchtanong kept his cool and waited to fire back with his left kick and left knee every time his opponent closed the distance.

Both men were still firing as the bout reached its five-round conclusion, and the judges were left to render their decision.

Two of them sided with Petchtanong, earning him the win by split decision, giving him his 358th career victory, and crowning him the new ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Champion.

In his post-fight interview with Mitch Chilson, the elated Thai legend said:

“I was surprised [it was a split decision], but I was really confident that [the judges] would be fair enough and I would win today.”

More in News

Jeremy Pacatiw stands in the Circle at ONE 164
Jonathan Di Bella Danial Williams ONE Fight Night 15 84
John Ghazali and Nguyen Tran Duy Nhat
Marat Grigorian Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong ONE 165 50
Alexis Nicolas Magomed Magomedov ONE Friday Fights 47 39
Xiong Jing Nan Stamp Fairtex Jonathan Haggerty Superlek Kiatmoo9 for ONE 168: Denver
Duke Didier stands in the Circle at ONE 158
Seksan Or Kwanmuang River Daz ONE Friday Fights 46 98
Tawanchai PK Saenchai Superbon Singha Mawynn ONE Friday Fights 46 61
Izaak Michell ONE Championship
Panrit Lukjaomaesaiwaree Kongklai Annymuaythai ONE Friday Fights 24
Stamp Fairtex Denice Zamboanga