Superbon Reveals His Keys To Beating Sitthichai In Trilogy
Superbon knows he is one of the best strikers on the planet, and now, he is ready to prove that in front of ONE Championship’s global fan base.
The Thai star joined the world’s largest martial arts organization this year in order to test his skills against the greatest kickboxing and Muay Thai featherweight athletes out there – athletes that include Giorgio “The Doctor” Petrosyan, “The Boxing Computer” Yodsanklai IWE Fairtex, and Petchmorakot Petchyindee Academy.
“I think all the great fighters in my division are in ONE Championship,” the 29-year-old says.
“As an athlete, I want to compete with the best. I want to challenge myself with the best. Also, ONE Championship has perfected many aspects [of sporting competition] and that made me want to join.”
For his first assignment in ONE, Superbon will continue a storied rivalry.
On Friday, 31 July, he will square off against “The Killer Kid” Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong in a highly-anticipated trilogy bout at ONE: NO SURRENDER in the Thai capital.
And given their past history, fans of the sport are undoubtedly pumped up for this ONE Super Series featherweight kickboxing contest.
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When the two Thai warriors first met during a kickboxing tournament semifinal bout in January 2016, Superbon – then an inexperienced competitor in the sport – was knocked out by “The Killer Kid” with a right hook in the second round.
Though hurt, the Sor. Tawanrung Gym representative was not deterred. He racked up four consecutive wins, earned a rematch with Sitthichai in September 2016, and then outpointed him to earn a unanimous decision.
“I lost to him in the first fight because I fought kickboxing only two times before that,” Superbon says. “I hadn’t gotten used to the rules and kickboxing style yet. When we met again [eight months later], I was 100 percent confident, and I could see that my weapons were faster and more accurate than him.”
The two athletes’ martial arts journeys have taken them in different directions, but now, those roads are intersecting in ONE Championship, where the highly-regarded strikers will complete their long-awaited trilogy.
For a while, COVID-19 restrictions in “The Land Of Smiles” prevented martial artists from engaging in one-on-one training. During that time, Superbon kept fit by focusing on his weight and cardio exercises – the type of workouts he normally does when he’s not scheduled to compete.
Now, with restrictions eased and ONE resuming its 2020 flagship event schedule, the Thai has readily accepted a match with “The Killer Kid” and is training diligently at Sor. Tawanrung Gym.
“Sitthichai is a southpaw, so I train with both of my trainers, who are southpaw,” Superbon says. “I have four trainers for this fight and all of them will focus on different things.”
Having shared the ring with his longtime rival twice before, Superbon is quite familiar with Sitthichai’s techniques.
The Bangkok resident knows exactly what to look out for, and he is confident that he can match “The Killer Kid” – and perhaps supersede him – in nearly every aspect of the game.
“Sitthichai’s strengths would be his left punch and left kick,” Superbon offers.
“He is the type of opponent who will keep throwing his weapons endlessly, but they are not powerful. He is the [type of] person who keeps on fighting with no rest. It’s hard to find a fighter who keeps fighting all three rounds like him.
“For me, in the last two bouts [we had], especially the last one that I won, I felt that I did better than him because I am faster. My weapons are more powerful than Sitthichai’s, and also, I am much faster. I just need my endurance so I can keep fighting the whole three rounds.”
The match-up at ONE: NO SURRENDER will have major implications.
Superbon, who is currently the #1-ranked featherweight Muay Thai contender and the #2-ranked featherweight kickboxing contender, will have an opportunity to justify his status in ONE’s Athlete Rankings and take a 2-1 lead in his series with Sitthichai.
Additionally, a victory would lead him closer to a shot at Petchmorakot’s ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Title, and perhaps even a dream match against Petrosyan or Yodsanklai.
But first, he must complete the trilogy on 31 July. And for Superbon, the time for talk is over.
“Sitthichai, it’s time for us to meet,” he says. “Let’s see who’s the best in this division. Bring out your best and let’s see who’s gonna win.”
Read more: Sitthichai Ready To Make ‘Killer’ ONE Debut
