Russian-Turkish knockout artist Jamal “Yeniceri” Yusupov is heading into enemy territory this Friday, February 24. 

The surging striker is set to take on 23-year-old Thai superstar Tawanchai PK.Saenchai for his ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Title in the co-main event of ONE Fight Night 7: Lineker vs. Andrade II on Prime Video. 

Set to air live in U.S. primetime, that five-round battle will go down in the iconic Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand in front of thousands of raucous Thai fans hoping to see their compatriot defend his World Title. 

As excited as “Yeniceri” is to fight in the historical epicenter of Muay Thai, he knows that the crowd will be decidedly against him. 

But Yusupov also recognizes that Tawanchai’s home country advantage might not always be a trump card.

Jamal Yusupov is unbothered by the Tawanchai PK.Saenchai’s advantage

With the added pressure of performing in front of Thai fans in a legendary venue, the young champion might feel the weight of an entire country’s expectations on his shoulders. 

The 39-year-old veteran explained: 

“Sometimes, fighting on home turf can become a barrier for a fighter, and sometimes it helps. It depends on how he reacts to it during the fight. The reaction is always up to the individual.” 

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Whether the Thai crowd is a boost to Tawanchai or not, Yusupov is confident in his own stylistic and technical advantages.  

Undefeated across three thrilling bouts inside the Circle, the Dagestani standout has earned the reputation of the featherweight Muay Thai division’s most feared puncher.

Read more: “I Have Prepared Myself Well” – Tawanchai Reveals What Motivates Him to Train Harder Ahead of Jamal Yusupov Battle

With his thudding jab and thunderous straight left hand, the southpaw undeniably does his best work when he’s stringing together vicious punching combinations. 

Confident in his own abilities

He used that boxing to great effect in his promotional debut – a stunning knockout of legendary Muay Thai fighter Yodsanklai IWE Fairtex in November 2019 at ONE: AGE OF DRAGONS. 

According to Yusupov, the featherweight Muay Thai king knows about his dangerous boxing skills, but there won’t be anything he can do about it when the two square off on February 24. 

Read more: “You Can’t Underestimate Him” – Tawanchai Believes Victory Won’t Come Easy Against Jamal Yusupov

Just days before that explosive showdown, the ultra-confident “Yeniceri” added:

“My advantage is my boxing. Even Tawanchai himself pointed it out, he said I have good boxing. I have always been saying that boxing is my advantage, and on Friday, I will prove it again.”