‘Unfinished Business’ – Black Panther And Diego Paez Sound Off Ahead Of Their ONE Fight Night 42 Showdown
Black Panther and Diego Paez have a score to settle, and they will finally get their chance at ONE Fight Night 42: Mann vs. Dzhabrailov on Prime Video, which airs live in U.S. primetime from Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium this Friday, April 10.
Their flyweight Muay Thai clash was originally scheduled for February, but a last-minute illness forced the Thai slugger to withdraw from the bout just hours before showtime.
The 26-year-old arrives at this rescheduled contest on a four-bout winning streak, which includes knockout victories over Johan “Panda Kick” Estupinan and Ali Saldoev.
Paez, meanwhile, steps into the tilt following a composed and commanding three-round display against teenage Malaysian-American sensation Johan “Jojo” Ghazali.
Two months of extra preparation. One night to finally settle it. Here is what both men had to say before they throw down in the Thai capital, live in U.S. primetime.
Late Drama At ONE Fight Night 40
Nobody saw it coming, least of all Black Panther himself. The Thai brawler had gone through his full preparation without a single warning sign, he passed weight and hydration, and he seemed ready for his match at ONE Fight Night 40 on February 14.
However, on the morning of the fight, just as he was about to head to Lumpinee Stadium, something didn’t feel quite right. He started feeling ill. What followed was a tough but necessary decision.
He recalled:
“I ate everything as usual. That morning, I hadn’t even eaten anything yet, and I didn’t have any unusual symptoms leading up to it at all. It happened right as I was about to get in the van to [go to] the stadium.
“We only had a few minutes before the walkouts. At that point, there were two choices: fight or don’t fight. If I chose to fight, I wouldn’t be allowed to drink any water, which would have been brutal on my body.”
With a doctor’s advice in one ear and a four-bout winning streak at stake, Black Panther made the call to withdraw from the match. The frustration was immediate – not just with the illness, but with everything invested in a training camp that never yielded its payoff.
Meanwhile, Paez found out the fight was off in the most jarring way possible. The California native was already in the “Madison Square Garden of the East,” geared up to put on a show, until the news landed hard.
He remembered:
“I found out while getting my hands wrapped. My coach told me, and I honestly thought he was joking. At this level, it felt surreal. My [initial] reaction was disbelief. It was tough.
“But I stayed professional and grateful for the promotion taking care of me. I know everything happens for a reason, and I kept my composure.”
Unfinished Business, Rebooked
The disappointment from that 11th-hour change did not linger for long. It had a resolution. Within weeks of the withdrawal, Paez and Black Panther had their answer.
ONE Championship offered the surging Thai knockout artist the fight without him having to chase it, a gesture that meant everything to an athlete who had poured so much into his prep that never got its moment.
Black Panther told onefc.com:
“About a week after I pulled out, I found out I’d be fighting the same guy. I didn’t have to ask for him. I was devastated when I had to pull out.
“But I was on a four-fight winning streak, and it wasn’t worth the risk to ruin my record just because my body wasn’t ready if I had accepted the fight then.”
For Paez, it was equally uncomplicated. The work had been done. The sharpness was there. Walking away from a battle he had already prepared for was never an option.
The Colombian-American striking maestro returned to the gym after a week, processed what had happened, and got straight back to work. The extra preparation time, as far as he is concerned, has only added to what he plans on bringing to the legendary venue this Friday in U.S. primetime.
Paez shared:
“I believe it was rebooked within a few weeks. I wanted it. I trained hard for it, and I didn’t want unfinished business.”
Sharper, Hungrier, And Ready To Settle It
Both athletes have had the same months of preparation, and they believe it has given them the edge.
Black Panther has used the time well. The Pattaya native returned to Team Mehdi Zatout almost immediately after the withdrawal, and he has spent the weeks since dialing in his nutrition, managing his weight, and tightening up his game plan.
He has studied Paez closely, assessed the threat, and arrived at a conclusion he is happy to share:
“From what I’ve seen, he has a random Muay Thai style. I have to be careful of those wild exchanges and his boxing. But other than that, I haven’t seen anything else that’s particularly dangerous.
“So, I think I have the advantage. I’ve been doing Muay Thai longer, and I’ve studied his weapons. But with small gloves, you just can’t afford to make a mistake. As long as I’m not careless, I’ll definitely win.”
Where others might see a disruption, Paez sees an opportunity. The extra weeks have elevated his form.
But the drive behind this performance goes beyond the extra rounds in the gym. His son, Elias, was in Bangkok this past February and watched the fight week fall apart in real time. That image has followed the 32-year-old into every session since, and it has not faded.
His son will be back at ringside for this rescheduled flyweight Muay Thai tiff. Everything is in place, and the Colombian-American has spent two months making sure the ending is different this time:
“The extra time favors me. I was ready then, and I’m even sharper now. I’ve never felt more prepared in my life.
“I expect to finish this fight. I’m committed to the game plan, and I’m extra motivated after what happened. My son saw that low moment, and I’m ready to turn it into a win.”
The Time For Talking Is Over
The months of waiting, the rescheduling, and training some more – all of it ends at ONE Fight Night 42 this Friday. Two aggressive strikers who thrive in firefights will meet in the middle of the ring.
Black Panther is not stepping into the squared circle with patience. He is coming to impose his will, showcase the depth of his arsenal, and remind everyone exactly why he has enjoyed a lengthy winning streak.
His message to Paez heading into Friday night is crystal clear:
“I want to make him realize how strong my Muay Thai really is. Thai people are second to none in Muay Thai. Get ready because I’m coming to prove that in the ring.”
Paez arrives with equal conviction and considerably more personal fuel.
His son will be ringside. His brother and coach will be in his corner. Everything that fell apart in February has been building toward this moment. The Southern California native’s message to Black Panther is short, direct, and comes with a subtle dig.
Paez offered:
“To Black Panther: I’ll see you soon. I hope to see you in the ring this time.”
