Segawa TKOs Rodtang in 5th for Interim ONE Flyweight Title

Takeru Segawa claimed the interim ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Championship with a fifth-round technical knockout victory over Rodtang Jitmuangnon on April 29 at ONE Samurai 1 in Tokyo's Ariake Arena, capping his career in dramatic fashion.

The 34-year-old Japanese fighter, who entered the bout as his announced retirement fight, avenged a stunning 80-second first-round knockout loss to the Thai star at ONE 172 on March 23, 2025, in Saitama. Segawa improved his record to 46-5, securing a reported performance bonus of around 100,000 dollars. For the 28-year-old Rodtang, known for his durability across more than 300 professional bouts and over 270 wins, the defeat marked his first knockout loss in ONE Championship and only his second career knockout stoppage.

The rematch unfolded far differently from their initial clash. Rodtang pressed forward aggressively in the first round, targeting Segawa's chin with hooks reminiscent of his earlier success, but Segawa blocked the shots and countered with kicks to establish a rhythm. The momentum shifted decisively in the second round when Segawa dropped Rodtang twice with left hooks, forcing standing eight counts despite the challenger's...