Chatri Sityodtong — “Tenshin Wants to Return to Kickboxing After He Becomes a World Boxing Champion. He Wants to Join ONE”

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Sep 05, 2025
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1 min read
Tenshin Nasukawa victorious. Photo: Boxing News
Tenshin Nasukawa victorious. Photo: Boxing News

The Japanese combat sports star might return to kickboxing.

Tenshin Nasukawa could be headed back to kickboxing. Chatri Sityodtong revealed that the Japanese star is eyeing a future in ONE Championship. Once considered the sport’s pound-for-pound best, Nasukawa retired from kickboxing in 2022 and made his professional boxing debut the following year. He has since compiled a 7-0 record, including two stoppage wins, and is rumored to challenge Takuma Inoue for the vacant WBC title later this year.

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“🚨TENSHIN VS TAKUMA IN NOVEMBER Tenshin Nasukawa and Takuma Inoue are in the "final stages of negotiations" for a fight for the vacant WBC Bantamweight Title in November, live on Prime Video in Japan with an official announcement expected this month (Yahoo Japan) pic.twitter.com/FA0Cb1Vf9n”

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With other intriguing matchups looming on the horizon, such as fellow kickboxing convert Yoshiki Takei and a potential superfight with Naoya Inoue, Tenshin looks to remain occupied for the foreseeable future before a possible kickboxing comeback.

However, speaking to YouTuber Coach Nay about ONE’s growth in Thailand, Sityodtong said:

“I had a meeting with Tenshin’s father in Thailand two weeks ago. He told me that Tenshin wants to return to kickboxing after he becomes a world boxing champion. He wants to join ONE. Tenshin’s father said Tenshin’s goal after he retires from boxing in one to two years is to join ONE.”
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