“I’ll be back” - Japanese superstar Takeru Segawa counts down days ahead of highly anticipated return against Black Panther
Takeru Segawa can barely wait for his return after almost eight months of recovery and rehabilitation. The Japanese kickboxing legend is back in form and will face Thai slugger Black Panther in a highly anticipated flyweight kickboxing matchup at ONE Friday Fights 81 on Sept. 27 at the historic Lumpinee Stadium.
Takeru is back in Japan after spending almost a month in California for a brief training camp at Boxing Works, and he expressed his excitement to once again step inside the ONE Championship ring.
Taking to Instagram, Takeru promised to chalk up the win against Black Panther and restart his bid for the ONE flyweight kickboxing world title.
Takeru Segawa wrote:
"Four weeks to go, I'll be back in the ONE Championship ring. I'll definitely win next time."
Takeru is one of the greatest, if not the greatest, Japanese kickboxers of all time with a resume that hardly anyone in history can match.
'The Natural Born Crusher' captured the K-1 super bantamweight, featherweight, and super featherweight world championships and remains the only fighter to claim gold across three divisions in the promotion's history.
The 33-year-old also sports a 43-win record, including a 35-fight winning streak from 2012 to 2021.
Takeru ultimately moved to ONE Championship and debuted in January this year at ONE 165.
Despite an inspiring challenge in front of his hometown fans in Tokyo, Takeru fell to ONE flyweight kickboxing world champion Superlek Kiatmoo9 in his world title challenge in the card's main event.
Takeru Segawa also suffered multiple muscle tears in his left leg due to Superlek's constant offense that left him on the sidelines for several months.
Takeru Segawa eyes world title rematch against Superlek after ONE 168: Denver
He may have suffered a defeat against Superlek, but Takeru Segawa is rooting for the Thai megastar in the main event of ONE 168: Denver. Superlek guns for champ-champ status when he takes on Jonathan Haggerty for the ONE bantamweight Muay Thai world title at ONE 168 on Sept. 6 at Ball Arena.
In an interview with the South China Morning Post, Takeru said he wants to see Superlek take the win against Haggerty and hopefully secure a rematch against his old tormentor.
"They're both strong, so I'm not sure who wins. But I want a rematch with Superlek, so I don't want him to lose."
ONE 168 marks the second time ONE Championship holds a live event in the United States after its successful ONE Fight Night 10 card in 2023. Tickets for the card are available at Ticketmaster.