Jamal Yusupov believes a win over Tawanchai PK.Saenchai this Friday night will establish him as the No. 1 ranked fighter in all of Muay Thai.
The two warriors will square off in the co-main event of the evening when ONE Championship returns to the legendary Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok for ONE Fight Night 7 on Prime Video. Fresh off his win over Petchmorakot Petchyindee to capture the ONE featherweight Muay Thai world championship, Tawanchai will defend his world title against the dangerous Turkish striker who is yet to experience a defeat inside the circle.
Speaking in a pre-event interview, Yusupov shared his thoughts on the high-stakes matchup with Tawanchai and suggested that a victory over ONE Championship’s 2022 Muay Thai Fighter of the Year would make him the top man in the art of eight limbs:
“I mean, if we talk about Muay Thai, then if I win against him, I will definitely be the first.”
Jamal Yusupov has an impressive hit list going into what will undoubtedly be the biggest fight of his Muay Thai career thus far. Since debuting for the promotion in 2019, Yusupov has scored wins over Yodsanklai, Samy Sana, and Jo Nattawut. That trio of victories has earned him a shot at ONE Championship gold.
On paper, Jamal Yusupov and Tawanchai PK.Saenchai share a fair amount of similarities. They both have extensive experience in Muay Thai. They will both enter ONE Fight Night 7 on a three-fight win streak inside the circle. However, there is one glaring fact that separates the two fighters. Separate by 16 years to be exact.
Yusupov will go into the biggest fight of his career at 39 years old on Friday night, while his opponent and reigning ONE world champion Tawanchai is just 23, separating the pair by more than a decade and a half in age.
One could look at it as experience vs. youth, but no matter how you try to spin it, Yusupov does not believe the age difference will play any substantial role in their co-main event clash:
"From my perspective, I didn't really feel any difference... I'm very prepared, and I came here to Thailand as well to prepare. So for me, I'm actually comfortable with that."
Fans in North America can watch Friday night’s Muay Thai showdown and all the other fights at ONE Fight Night 7 live and for free with an Amazon Prime Video subscription.
