"My training has completely changed" - Hiroki Akimoto shaking things up in bid to end horrid two-fight slump
Based on his current results, it would be easy for Hiroki Akimoto to sit around and feel hard done. The former ONE bantamweight kickboxing world champion has suffered consecutive defeats in his last two outings under the ONE Championship banner.
However, if you examine these setbacks closely, you'll notice how close both of these fights were. The smallest of margins can separate two high level fighters and this was the case in both of his losses to Petchtanong and Wei Rui.
To swing that balance in his favor, Akimoto has been taking steps to ensure that he is evolving as a martial artist. Ahead of his return at ONE Friday Fights 81, the Japanese striker spoke in an interview with ONE Championship about the impacts of moving locations so that he can train at a new gym, Power of Dream:
"My training content has completely changed. I've gotten used to it, and I've come to understand Chairman Furukawa's guidance better. I feel it's being incorporated into my body."
Hiroki Akimoto will look to seal the deal this time around
Changing gyms could lead to even the smallest changes in his game which could help Hiroki Akimoto to come out on top in these close fights. When he returns at ONE Friday Fights 81, he's jumping right back into another clash between two of the best in the world.
He draws the task of welcoming Ilias Ennahachi back to the promotion on September 27 at Lumpinee Stadium. The former flyweight kickboxing world champion is looking to maintain his undefeated record under the ONE banner by picking up from where he left off.
If Akimoto is going to prevent his opponent from skipping the line in the bantamweight kickboxing division, he will need to be at his absolute best on fight night.
ONE Friday Fights 81 will air live in Asian primetime via watch.onefc.com