Superlek Kiatmoo9, the reigning ONE Kickboxing Flyweight World Champion, is a constant source of inspiration for aspiring kickboxing and Muay Thai athletes, including his upcoming opponent, Kongthoranee Sor Sommai. They’ll meet in a flyweight Muay Thai fight at ONE Friday Fights 68: Prajanchai vs Di Bella scheduled for June 28th at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok.

During a recent media interview, Kongthoranee discussed his thoughts on Superlek Kiatmoo9, revealing why he considers him a role model.

Kongthoranee on fighting his role model Superlek

At the age of 28, “The Kicking Machine” Superlek Kiatmoo9 is widely considered one of the best strikers in the world. He began his career in the ONE Championship in 2019 and boasts an impressive record with only one loss in his promotional run and currently reigns as the ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Champion. He is setting his sights even higher as he aims to dethrone current ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai King, Jonathan Haggerty, in a different weight class at ONE 168: Denver in September. 

However, before that, he must face a dangerous test in Kongthoranee. The 27-year-old is riding a seven-fight win streak and poses a legitimate threat to Superlek’s nine-fight unbeaten run. However, in a recent post by The South China Morning Post, Kongthoranee Sor Sommai shared his respect for his upcoming opponent. The post captioned “@kongthoranee.sorsommai shows maximum respect for @superlek789 ahead of their clash at #ONEFridayFights68,” featured a picture alongside a quote from Kongthoranee: “He’s one of my role models and I think it’s a great opportunity to learn from the best.”

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These words from Kongthoranee showcase true sportsmanship, devoid of any jealousy between fighters. However, Superlek Kiatmoo9 isn’t far behind in demonstrating sportsmanship. He’s already revealed that he’s not taking Kongthoranee lightly, which echoes “The Kicking Machine’s” acknowledgment of his opponent’s talent.

Superlek Kiatmoo9 acknowledged Kongthoranee’s skills

Superlek Kiatmoo9 has a distinct reputation in the fields of Muay Thai and kickboxing. Known for his sportsmanship, he doesn’t underestimate or overrate any opponent. This was recently proven in an interview at the grand opening of his gym in Nonthaburi, where he discussed his upcoming fight with Kongthoranee Sor Sommai.

“Some people may think I can beat Kongthoranee easily,” Superlek said. “But I don’t think that way. I believe he is good enough to beat me. I never underestimate my opponent,” the 28-year-old added. However, his previous assessment wasn’t entirely off-base. In a past interview, Superlek Kiatmoo9 compared Kongthoranee to his other upcoming opponent, Jonathan Haggerty. He revealed that he considers Kongthoranee a technical Muay Thai fighter capable of scoring a knockout.

While they certainly respect one another, their collective skills will make their upcoming Muay Thai fight a thrilling encounter. With both fighters capable of ending fights early and producing bell-to-bell action, we’ll have to wait and see who will emerge victorious this weekend.