The slip punctures what came before it. Tubtimthong announced himself in ONE Championship with three wins from three, including two first-round knockouts that lasted a combined four minutes.
Then came the losses – each with its own cause, each in the weeks that followed. He doesn’t run away from it.
“Looking back on those three losses – in the first two it was really due to my own poor game planning. Especially against Banluelok, I let my guard down and walked right into his power shots,” Tubtimthong said.
“In my last fight against Khunsuk, the problem was ring rust. I hadn’t fought in a long time, so my body felt sluggish and I just couldn’t perform the way I wanted to.”
Tubtimthong joins Chatpichit’s defensive gaps
Free time is not wasted. Tubtimthong remained in camp and practiced the defensive habits that were failing him – not to abandon his aggressive identity, but to make it sustainable. He still intends to continue and punish. He just won’t be reckless about it. Against Chatpichit, who is on a two-fight winning streak and has a well-rounded toolkit, he has identified a specific window to work through.
Headlining Lumpinee Stadium for the first time adds something extra to the evening. It’s a milestone Tubtimthong never expected to reach so quickly, and he doesn’t take it lightly. A contract chase win over a dangerous opponent, in the main event, in one of the most storied arenas in Muay Thai – he wants to make it count.
“Chatpichit is a very versatile fighter. His strength is his variety. But his weakness is that his hands tend to drop when he throws, leaving his face wide open. I worked extra hard on my boxing to catch him as soon as he exposes his chin,” Tubtimthong said.
“I’m coming in with the same aggressive style, but I’m going to be much more clinical and cautious. I think this fight will be decided by timing – whoever makes the first mistake will go down. He may have more variety in his attacks, but I’m confident I have the edge in power and speed. As soon as his hands fall, I’ll put him away.”
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