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Chatri Reveals Rodtang Against Takeru Is Being Planned for ONE's Return to Japan – "The Biggest Fight in Decades for Kickboxing"

May 04, 2023
Chatri Sityodtong in front of the American media. Photo: ONE Championship
ONE Championship is planning to bring Takeru against Rodtang to the Saitama Super Arena.

On 3 May 2023, ONE Championship held a press conference in Colorado for its US debut event, ONE Fight Night 10. SCMP's Nicolas Atkin asked Chatri about ONE’s blockbuster signing of Takeru, the kickboxing superstar, and current highest-paid kickboxer, on his matchup with Rodtang. Chatri revealed that the fight is in the works.

"That is probably the biggest kickboxing fight in maybe a few decades. Obviously, Tenshin and Takeru was a big fight, but I think Takeru and Rodtang is literally going to be the biggest fight in decades for kickboxing," and "it will blow up the whole world". On the fight location, Chatri said, "100% we are going to Japan with it, 100% it will a massive sell-out. Maybe we will do Saitama, 20,000 seats something like that".

Chatri's declaration shows his complete confidence in Rodtang and Takeru's drawing power that their fight would surpass even 'THE MATCH 2022' between Takeru and Tenshin, which drew a live gate of 25 million US dollars at the Tokyo Dome with around 500,000 PPV buys.

Chatri also confirmed that the winner of Stamp Fairtex, the former ONE Muay Thai and Kickboxing World Champion, and Alyse Anderson, will face Seo Hee Ham for the Interim Atomweight MMA Title.

Before that however, Rodtang defends his ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai title against Mexican challenger Edgar Tabares, tomorrow night. Also on the card, Jackin Buntan will face Diandra Martin in a Strawweight Muay Thai fight.