Happy Monday guys!
Sharing this fight with you all because it was one of the best I've seen in a long time. Had everything - great stylistic clash, hyped build up, incredibly competitive for 5 full rounds.
Here is the fight:
Context:
🇹🇭 Superlek is one of, if not the best, strikers (Muay Thai & Kickboxing) on the planet at 135-140 pounds. Not atypical amongst the top Thais, but he has ~350 fights at this point is his career. He's famous for his HEAVY kicking style.
🇯🇵 Takeru is a multiple time world champion in Kickboxing, he's fought mostly in Japanese promotions in his career but recently signed with ONE FC to take on their top fighters. Takeru is very much more a boxer than kicker, that said, his lead leg high kick is lightning-fast.
Some thoughts I had post-fight:
This was a fantastic fight, hats off to both lads for stellar performances 💯
Superlek was able to damage Takeru’s leg early & disrupt his boxing rhythm.
Takeru had success when he walked Superlek into the ropes & landed hand combinations. Very precise damage to the body.
Superlek countered in rounds 4 & 5 with step-through knees in between evading backward.
Superlek came away victorious via unanimous decision.
Takeaways:
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Hard to get as many ko’s in boxing gloves (as opposed to 4oz)
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Superlek is best in the world at backward fighting IMO
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Takeru could have thrown more switch/lead kicks to the body on Superlek - body damage was super effective rounds 3 & some of 4
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Takeru very well could have won that fight during that exchange near end of the 3rd round. A few more connections and i think he gets a ko win
Highly recommended viewing, great stylistic matchup 💯🥊🇹🇭🇯🇵👹🐘🔥
If you do watch it, let me know what you think!