"This is a top contender fight" - Alaverdi Ramazanov views clash against Petchtanong as battle for pole position
Alaverdi Ramazanov believes his upcoming matchup has high stakes in the ONE bantamweight kickboxing division. On Friday, June 28, ONE Championship returns to the iconic Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand for ONE Friday Fights 68.
The pay-per-view main card features several intriguing bouts, including Prajanchai vs. Jonathan Di Bella, Superlek vs. Kongthoranee, and Ramazanov vs. Petchtanong Petchfergus.
Heading into ONE Friday Fights 68, Ramazanov is ranked number three in the ONE bantamweight kickboxing division, while Petchtanong is unranked.
During an interview with ONE, 'Babyface Killer' had this to say about the importance of his upcoming match with his well-respected Thai opponent:
"Definitely, this is a top contender fight. In general, we don't have many fighters in ONE who have been performing at such a high level for so long, and so definitely, the winner will fight for the world championship."
In Friday's main event, Jonathan Di Bella looks to regain the ONE strawweight kickboxing world title after being forced to vacate his throne due to a weight miss.
To do so, the undefeated Italian-Canadian must get through ONE strawweight Muay Thai world champion Prajanchai.
The ONE Friday Fights 68 pay-per-view event can be purchased here.
How does Alaverdi Ramazanov vs. Petchtanong affect the ONE bantamweight kickboxing division?
On May 3, Wei Rui made his ONE Championship debut and defeated former bantamweight kickboxing king Hiroki Akimoto by unanimous decision.
Rui's performance made him the number-one contender in the division, potentially leading to a title shot against Jonathan Haggerty later this year.
As a result, former world champion Alaverdi Ramazanov and Petchtanong are potentially fighting for an opportunity to compete in a number-one contender bout. With that said, the winner at ONE Friday Fights 68 could fight Haggerty next if a short-notice opponent is needed.
At 38 years old, Petchtanong is motivated by a final run for ONE gold. Meanwhile, Ramazanov plans to regain the ONE bantamweight kickboxing throne he lost in January 2021 against Capitan Petchyindee.