‘Will Play Right Into My Hands’ – Ferrari Ready To Shut Down Akif Guluzada In ONE Kickboxing Debut
Ferrari Fairtex is ready to test a new side of his striking game.
On Friday, September 4, the 29-year-old Thai veteran will make his ONE Championship kickboxing debut against Azerbaijani standout Akif “King” Guluzada in the bantamweight main event of The Inner Circle 29, live in Asia primetime from Bangkok’s iconic Lumpinee Stadium exclusively via live.onefc.com.
Ferrari enters the matchup with renewed confidence after defeating Shinji Suzuki by unanimous decision in June, a result that ended a difficult stretch and lifted considerable pressure from his shoulders.
Now, the former Channel 7 Boxing Stadium Champion is turning that momentum toward a rule set he has wanted to explore for some time.
Ferrari said:
“I felt huge pressure before stepping into the ring for my last fight because my recent run in the promotion hadn’t been great. Securing that win was such a relief. It felt like a massive weight was lifted off my shoulders.
“I do wish I could’ve gotten the finish, but you’ve got to give credit to Shinji. He’s tough as nails, and I truly respect his heart.”
Kickboxing has long appealed to Ferrari, and much of that interest stems from watching ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion Superbon.
The Fairtex representative has studied his fellow Thai’s movement, defensive awareness, and timing, particularly the counter knee that has become one of Superbon’s signature weapons.
Ferrari explained:
“I’ve wanted to try kickboxing for a long time. Superbon is my idol. I constantly watch his training videos and study his style to adapt it into my own game.
“I especially focus on his movement to avoid strikes and his timing on counter knees, which is a signature weapon I love.”
Ferrari has also drawn confidence from watching other technical Thai stylists successfully transition between Muay Thai and kickboxing, including Panpayak Jitmuangnon and Lamnamoonlek Torfunfarm.
Immediately after beating Suzuki, Ferrari informed the promotion that he wanted his next assignment under kickboxing rules. When Guluzada’s name came back, he accepted without hesitation.
He said:
“Seeing fellow technical fighters like Lamnamoonlek and Panpayak make the switch to kickboxing and perform so well definitely pushed me to see if my style would fit the rule set too.
“Right after my last fight, I let the promotion know I wanted to give kickboxing a shot next. When they offered me Akif, I accepted right away.”
Ferrari Believes Pressure Can Take Away Guluzada’s Best Weapon
Ferrari Fairtex’s first ONE kickboxing assignment presents an immediate challenge.
Akif Guluzada brings considerably more experience under the rule set and possesses rapid footwork and hand speed, attributes Ferrari believes make the Azerbaijani particularly dangerous when he can establish his preferred range.
The Thai, however, sees a clear path to disrupting that rhythm.
Ferrari said:
“Akif is a tricky opponent because he’s really fast, both with his footwork and his hand speed. His kicks, though, don’t seem as dangerous to me. While my boxing might be a step behind his, I believe my kicks are superior.
“My plan for the early stages is to read his timing and rhythm. Once I dial into that, I’ll start pressing forward immediately. If I can force him onto his back foot, his punches will lose power, and the fight will play right into my hands.”
Ferrari, who owns an impressive 138-34 professional record, has also spent much of this camp sparring with Johan “Panda Kick” Estupinan, who handed Guluzada his first ONE defeat earlier this year.
Those rounds have given Ferrari a useful reference point for the task ahead, while his extensive experience competing in larger gloves has made the transition itself feel far less foreign than the word “debut” might suggest.
With elbows unavailable, Ferrari plans to lean heavily on another weapon he has borrowed from Superbon’s playbook.
Ferrari said:
“I’m going to try to fight like Superbon by adapting the counter knee from Muay Thai. I’ve been repping this hard in training and plan to use it as my secret weapon to beat Akif.
“I want to prove to the promotion that I have what it takes to thrive under this rule set. As for the future, if given the chance, I’m ready to fight in both Muay Thai and kickboxing.”
