"I was being too careful" - Takeru concedes he played it too safe against Thant Zin before highlight-reel finish
Japanese megastar Takeru Segawa admits he didn't put enough pressure on Thant Zin in the opening round of their flyweight kickboxing tie at ONE Friday Fights 81 on Sept. 27.
The Team Vasileus star, however, turned the contest on its head inside round two to finish the Burmese slugger and pick up his first promotional win inside the iconic Lumpinee Stadium last Friday.
Speaking on the lack of bite on his part in the early exchanges, Takeru told members of the media in a post-fight interview:
"In the first round, I was being too careful of my opponent. So I couldn't press that much. But in the second round, I knew I could keep the distance close, and I got to finish him."
'The Natural Born Crusher' was forced to deal with the Myanmar athlete's power and aggression as soon as their fixture in Bangkok, Thailand, got underway. Despite settling down late in the opening frame, Thant Zin kept the pressure on and earned a knockdown off a left hook.
However, Takeru kept his composure in round two — and soon the tide changed.
The 33-year-old dropped his dance partner with a teep through the middle to gain a knockdown of his own. After the restart, he hopped in with a barrage of ill-intent punches and knees to secure the finish and push his overall resume to 44-4.
What's next for Takeru after ONE Friday Fights 81?
While the former three-division K-1 world champion would like to stay in his lane for a rematch against ONE flyweight kickboxing world champion Superlek Kiatmoo9, a dream super fight alongside the division's Muay Thai kingpin Rodtang Jitmuangnon is certainly picking up traction.
Shortly after his win, Takeru shared a heated exchange with 'The Iron Man,' giving fans a glimpse of what they can expect when they inevitably cross paths. The Thai megastar was supposed to welcome the Japanese sensation to the global stage this past January, unfortunately, an injury ruled him out of their ONE 165 contest.
Superlek stepped up on short notice to defend his crown against 'The Natural Born Crusher.' But now that he's picked up his sole promotional win, the Japanese martial artist will have his radar locked on either man and anyone else who dares cross his path.