ONE Championship: Jonathan Di Bella hopes for Atlanta rematch after controversial Prajanchai loss
Former ONE Championship strawweight kickboxing champ Jonathan Di Bella and his team hope to get an immediate rematch with Prajanchai PK Saenchai after a controversial unanimous decision loss at Lumpinee Stadium.
Prajanchai took the vacant title in the main event of ONE Friday Fights 68. Two of the ringside judges awarded him scorecards of 49-46 in Bangkok, and the third scored it 48-47.
However, fans in the stadium and on social media were split on the issue, with some decrying a "robbery" in the comments of a post on ONE Championship's official Instagram page.
The 27-year-old Italian-Canadian was gracious in defeat, but he cut a forlorn figure backstage immediately after the fight, with his team believing they won the first three rounds.
When the dust had settled by Saturday morning, Di Bella told Sportskeeda he was keen to runit back with the 29-year-old Thai. He said:
“I thought I won. Respect to Prajanchai he’s a great champion but I believe I won that fight. Hopefully we get to do a rematch in the US. I thought he would have been stronger but I didn't feel much of his power.”
Di Bella's father and trainer, Angelo Di Bella, told Sportskeeda they wanted to fight Prajanchai again in November when the Asia-based martial arts promotion heads to Atlanta's State Farm Arena. He told Sportskeeda:
"We're disappointed but even a lot of people outside the arena including Thai fans were stopping us and saying they thought we won. People passed by the hotel on Saturday to take pictures with Jonathan and say we won the fight."
For his part, Prajanchai – who also holds ONE's strawweight Muay Thai title, said he was willing to face Di Bella in a rematch. He told Sportskeeda backstage after his win:
"It’s up to [ONE Championship boss] Chatri [Sityodtong], I just feel now I'm holding two belts so I can't choose who I want to fight. If he thinks that there should be a rematch then there will be a rematch."
Holding his new belt on his shoulder, Prajanchai accepted the criticism from some fans of the decision. He added:
"I’m not sure about their opinion, it’s up to other people. Everyone has their own opinion."
Prajanchai last fought in December when – as interim champion – he unified his division's Muay Thai titles against Joseph Lasiri, also at Lumpinee Stadium.
Given the relatively long lay-off, particularly under the kickboxing ruleset, which he last competed in in September, he insisted he was surprised by his performance.
"I wasn't even sure if I had won by unanimous decision or split, I wasn’t paying attention, but they announced my name and I was happy. I was actually not thinking of anything at that moment, I was just feeling I have exceeded my own expectations because it had been a while since I last competed."
"I thought I would be exhausted after three rounds but I wasn’t. So I felt pretty good at that point, I wasn’t thinking about the result, but the result came and it was good. Now I have achieved my goal and I feel relieved I could do it."