“Takeru’s back!” - ONE Championship announces Japanese superstar Takeru Segawa will return at ONE Friday Fights 81
After months of anticipation, Japanese kickboxing legend Takeru Segawa is back from injury.
ONE Championship announced that the multi-time kickboxing world champion will make his return at ONE Friday Fights 81 at the iconic Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok.
The promotion, however, has yet to reveal who Takeru will face on the September 27 card, which is available live on pay-per-view.
Posting on Instagram, ONE Championship announced:
"TAKERU'S BACK! 🤩 Who do YOU want to see 'The Natural Born Crusher' take on at ONE Friday Fights 81 -- Live on PPV? Stay tuned to our socials for updates 👀 #ONEFridayFights81 @k1takeru"
Takeru Segawa is the only three-division world champion in K-1 Kickboxing history, and his arrival at ONE Championship earlier this year sent shockwaves across the combat sports world.
Drama, however, immediately surrounded his promotional debut.
Takeru was originally set to face ONE flyweight Muay Thai world champion Rodtang Jitmuangnon in a massive kickboxing super fight, but the Thai megastar pulled out of their ONE 165 duel due to an injury in his left hand.
Superlek Kiatmoo9 ultimately replaced Rodtang in the card's main event and put his ONE flyweight kickboxing world title on the line against Takeru at Ariake Arena in January.
Despite his inspiring challenge in front of his hometown Tokyo crowd, including a near finish in the third round, Takeru fell short in his world title bid and lost to Superlek via unanimous decision.
Takeru also suffered multiple muscle tears in his left leg due to Superlek's constant low kicks throughout the five-round fight.
Takeru Segawa issues an open challenge against ONE Championship's flyweight strikers
A couple of weeks before ONE Championship officially announced his return, Takeru Segawa hinted at his comeback when he issued an open challenge to his fellow flyweight stars.
Taking to Instagram, Takeru asked the promotion to send any flyweight kickboxer his way.
'The Natural Born Crusher' posted:
"Who's next? @onechampionship"