‘Ready To Press The Action’ – Worapon Promises Fast Start Against Lenny Blasi At The Inner Circle 28
Worapon Lukjaoporongtom has waited through three botched attempts to finally share the ring with Lenny Blasi. On Friday, August 28, he plans to ensure the fourth meeting does not last any longer than necessary.
The 23-year-old Thai sensation faces the Italian in the highly anticipated bantamweight Muay Thai main event of The Inner Circle 28, streaming exclusively on live.onefc.com in Asia primetime from Bangkok’s iconic Lumpinee Stadium.
The Sor Dechapan representative arrives in the best form of his ONE Championship career, having won three straight bouts in 2026. That impressive run began with a head-kick knockout of Soe “Man of Steel” Lin Oo before Worapon added another first-round stoppage against Arthur “Codjoe” Brossier and outworked Tom “No Time” Casse over three rounds for a unanimous decision this past May.
Now, Worapon finally gets the opponent who has repeatedly crossed his path without ever making it to fight night.
He said:
“We’ve had this fight called off three times already. The first two times, the gym notified me I’d be facing Lenny, but he withdrew, and replacement opponents were brought in.
“The third time, the fight was locked in and publicly announced. I went through camp and completed my pre-fight medical checks at the hospital, but I suddenly fell ill right before fight night, so it was called off again. Now, this is the fourth attempt, and it’s finally happening.”
Their familiarity goes beyond repeatedly seeing each other’s names on bout agreements. Worapon has crossed paths with Blasi around the gym and has studied almost all of the Italian’s fights.
What stands out is Blasi’s well-rounded game. Worapon does not view him as a foreign striker who simply marches forward behind his hands. At around 180 centimeters tall, Blasi seamlessly combines punches with kicks and knees in a style that the Thai believes closely resembles traditional Muay Thai.
Worapon said:
“I’ve watched almost all of his fights. He looks dangerous. He possesses a diverse arsenal with sharp combinations and solid power behind his strikes.
“I believe I hold the edge in fight experience and ring maturity, but he’s still a dangerous opponent because of his versatility. Unlike some foreign fighters who rely solely on boxing, he brings knees and kicks into the mix.”
Worapon nevertheless believes the physical dimensions will not force him away from his usual weapons. He has regularly faced taller opponents throughout his career, and his signature left kick remains central to the game plan.
More importantly, he has no intention of spending the opening round gathering information from a safe distance. After waiting through three cancellations, Worapon wants to take command immediately and force Blasi to deal with his offense from the opening bell.
He declared:
“From the very first second the bell rings, I’m ready to press the action and look for the finish. My body is ready to push the tempo, and I plan to march forward from the opening bell.”
Worapon Believes Main-Roster Contract Is Within Reach
Beyond Lenny Blasi, Worapon Lukjaoporongtom knows another strong performance could move him significantly closer to the biggest breakthrough of his career.
His three-fight surge has given him the consistency he had been searching for, and a fourth victory in 2026 would further strengthen his case for the life-changing US$100,000 contract that comes with a spot on ONE’s global roster.
That turnaround has been built as much on what Worapon has changed outside the ring as what he has produced inside it. The results have reinforced his belief that the discipline and preparation behind his current run are finally paying off at the highest level.
He explained:
“It comes down to pure dedication and self-discipline. I train hard every single day and stay focused, supported by my family, my parents, and everyone around me.
“The knockout against Soe Lin Oo especially surprised me because he had fought elite guys like Nabil Anane without getting finished, yet I managed to knock him out and land a bonus.”
But Blasi is chasing the exact same destination. The Italian has secured three victories in his last four appearances and established himself as a high-volume competitor who is rarely content to coast through a fight. His ability to blend punches, kicks, and knees has made him a difficult assignment for anyone trying to gather momentum on the weekly series.
Worapon knows the quality of the performance matters, and another clean finish against an in-form opponent could make his claim increasingly difficult to ignore.
The Thai standout concluded:
“Securing that ONE contract is definitely the goal, and it all comes down to performance.
“If I win this fight, it will mark my fourth victory of the year. If I deliver an impressive performance and land a clean finish, the opportunity is right there. I feel I’m just one or two fights away, provided I keep performing at this level.”
