Tawanchai returns to kickboxing at ONE Friday Fights 137: “I want that second belt” | BJPenn.com

Nine months removed from his first kickboxing loss, Tawanchai PK Saenchai carries unfinished business back into the ring. The ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Champion refuses to let one setback derail his two-sport dream.

The 26-year-old Thai superstar faces Chinese star Liu Mengyang in featherweight kickboxing A Friday Fights 137 on December 19 at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. The main event clash represents his first kickboxing appearance since former K-1 champion Masaaki Noiri finished him in the third round at ONE 172 in Saitama, Japan.

Tawanchai made his kickboxing debut with a crushing third-round finish over former Glory Kickboxing world champion Davit Kiria in August 2023. Three months later, he cruised to a unanimous decision victory over Jo Nattawut. The loss to Noiri interrupted what seemed like an inevitable march to glory in two sports.

The PK Saenchai wizard has dissected what went wrong over the past nine months. He identified the mistakes and corrected them through relentless training.

“In the last fight with Masaaki, I made a mistake and got hit by his punch,” Tawanchai said. “I was deeply disappointed in myself after that fight. I know where the mistakes were, and I have to fix them. This fight will not go to the scorecards. My goal is simple: I want that second title.”

Tawanchai PK Saenchai rejects Liu Mengyang’s nonsense talk

Liu Mengyang has reportedly claimed that the Thai superstar is afraid of him. For someone who has faced the best in the world and consistently emerged victorious, trash talk from an opponent is just background noise.

The Chinese standout has recorded notable victories over Shadow Singha Mawynn and Noiri. He has been tested against elite competition and has skills that command respect. But Tawanchai acknowledges the danger, but remains confident in his preparation.

Should he add to his string of finishes, the Thai champion will shift his focus to a trilogy against Superbon, this time for the ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Title. The path to that crown runs through Liu.

“Liu Mengyang claimed that I was afraid of him, but I know better; people say things out of concern,” he said. “I see Liu as a tough, durable fighter with good punching skills. This fight is crucial. I cannot afford to lose as it will make my path to the kickboxing title much more difficult.”