“I promise to bring you back” - Heartbroken Rodtang Jitmuangnon vows to reclaim flyweight Muay Thai throne
Rodtang Jitmuangnon was stripped of the ONE flyweight Muay Thai world title after he failed to make the division's 135-pound limit ahead of his supposed world title defense against Jacob Smith at ONE 169 on Friday, US primetime, at the historic Lumpinee Stadium.
After Rodtang's misstep on the scales, Smith remains the only fighter in the match eligible to win the flyweight Muay Thai throne.
Taking to Instagram, Rodtang expressed his heartbreak following the debacle and promised to recapture the ONE flyweight Muay Thai world title.
He said:
"In the seven [five] years we've been together, I've done my best. If we part ways, I won't go far. I promise to bring you back. I've done my best. 😭😭😭🇹🇭🙏🏻🙏🏻"
Rodtang Jitmuangnon captured the ONE flyweight Muay Thai world title when he beat now-reigning ONE bantamweight kickboxing world champion Jonathan Haggerty in Aug. 2019 in Manila.
He's since defended the gold five times against Walter Goncalves, Haggerty, Petchdam Petchyindee, Joseph Lasiri, and Edgar Tabares. That lengthy reign, however, had its untimely end on the scales after Rodtang stepped in at 135.5 lbs, just half a pound shy of the flyweight limit.
Rodtang and Smith ultimately agreed to fight at a catchweight, with the British slugger the only one between them eligible for a world title win.
ONE 169 is ONE Championship's final numbered event of the year and is available live and free to all Prime Video subscribers in the United States and Canada.
Jacob Smith's primed and ready to steal the show against Rodtang Jitmuangnon at ONE 169
Jacob Smith is more than ready to beat Rodtang Jitmuangnon and leave Thailand's capital city as the new ONE flyweight Muay Thai world champion.
In an interview with ONE Championship, Smith said he spent much of the card's fight week going over his game plan and training lightly at the athletes' hotel.
He said:
"You know what, mate, I'm not [doing much training]. I've just been training in the training room. All the hard work's done. So we're just about recovering, making sure I'm 100 percent and ready to claim the title and put on a show."
Watch Smith's entire interview below: