The 26-year-old champion candidly discussed the specific defensive error that cost him victory against Japan’s Masaaki Noiri in their March 2025 clash, expressing deep disappointment in himself despite executing a good game plan for most of the match.
Tawanchai boldly predicted a finish against the 22-year-old Liu while reaffirming his commitment to capturing the ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Title in 2026. If successful, he would be the newest two-sport champion in the organization.
Thai superstar Tawanchai reveals disappointment after interim title setback
Talk about his third round TKO loss to Noiri, who went on to capture the ONE Interim Featherweight Kickboxing World Title, Tawanchai provided a detailed analysis of the pivotal moment that ended his title aspirations. The new dad emphasized that his overall performance left him satisfied until the finish, where a single defensive error proved costly.
“In the last fight with Masaaki, I made a mistake and got hit by his punch. I don’t feel like I performed poorly. The plan was good, but he came prepared. When I threw a knee, my guard dropped and I got caught cleanly. I was deeply disappointed in myself after that fight,” Tawanchai explained.
The honest confession reveals the emotional toll of falling short in his kickboxing championship despite dominating the Muay Thai division. His identification of the specific technical error shows a commitment to improvement rather than making excuses for the outcome.
Tawanchai rejects the Chinese rival’s trash talk
Tawanchai answered pre-fight comments from Liu, in which he suggested the Thai superstar is fearful of their upcoming clash, and calmly ignored the mind games as he promised to resolve any questions inside the ring. The champion’s measured response exudes confidence heading into ONE Championship’s final event in 2025.
“Liu Mengyang claimed that I was afraid of him, but I know better; people say things for commitment. We will find out the truth in the ring,” Tawanchai replied.
The composed response shows the championship’s maturity by refusing to engage in pre-match verbal exchanges. Tawanchai’s focus on results in the ring rather than pre-fight promotion reflects his serious approach to rebuilding his kickboxing credentials after the Noiri setback.
Thai striker promises full kickboxing performance and predicts stoppage
Looking ahead to their December 19 showdown, Tawanchai made a bold prediction as he outlined his timeline for capturing the ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Championship, currently held by Superbon. The Muay Thai star expressed unwavering confidence that fans will witness his full kickboxing potential against the rising Chinese competitor.
“This fight will not go to the scorecards. This time, fans will see a 100 percent version of Tawanchai the kickboxer. My goal is simple: I want that second title. That drive gives me confidence that I will be the kickboxing champion next year,” Tawanchai said.
The stylistic clash promises explosive action as Tawanchai seeks redemption after his loss to Noiri, while Liu hunts for another victory. The final ONE Championship event of 2025 provides the perfect stage for the Muay Thai king to reignite his two-sport championship reign with a statement performance.
ONE Friday Fights 137 airs live on Friday, December 19 at 7:30am ET/4:30pm PT on beIN Sports USA. It will also be broadcast live on YouTube.
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