A spectacular trilogy will be played out this weekend as Iran’s Iraj Azizpour and Roman Kryklia go head-to-head with points currently sitting at one win each. The pair will now face off in the Heavyweight Kickboxing World Grand Prix Final in an attempt to settle the rivalry once and for all. Kryklia is the reigning ONE Heavyweight Kickboxing World Champion and neither man has lost to the other since losing – this will be a fight for the ages.
- An explosive world championship fight
Staying with the kickboxers, ONE 163 is headlined by a stellar ONE Kickboxing Bantamweight World Title fight between current champion Hiroki Akimoto and Petchtanong Petchfergus. Thailand’s Petchtanong is 37 years old and has fought more than 400 fights in his long career and is now looking for the last cherry on the cake. Standing in the way is Japan’s Akimoto, the 30-year-old who is on a five-fight win streak and will be looking to successfully defend his title won in March for the first time.
What a fight between Yushin Okami and Aung La N Sang. Japan’s Okami has made a name for himself around the world – taking on some of the best in the business and battling for world titles everywhere he has been. After a difficult start to his ONE career, which began with two losses before winning last, he’s now climbing to 205 pounds – a weight he’s been comfortable with in the past. His opponent Aung La N Sang is a superstar in his native Myanmar – and beyond. As a former ONE Middleweight and Light Heavyweight World Champion, this is a fight not to be missed.
- Next in line for atomic weights?
This intriguing break in style could reveal the next challenger to Angela Lee’s world atomicweight title. Hirata is 2-1 in ONE, but even at just 23, she could catapult herself into the cover picture with a win over 35-year-old Ham Seo Hee. Hee is 25-8 overall and is putting on an excellent eight-fight win streak with her aggressive hitting style honed from her kickboxing days. Judoka Hirata will try to avoid the standing match and assert her dominance in this crucial match on the ground.
- Will Mark Abelardo go back into “Beast Mode”?
Born in New Zealand to Filipino parents, Abelardo never gets boring. He may not have the most recent record he would like of having lost three of his last four, but he always puts on a show – and we’re sure we’ll have the main card against Kwon Won Il, three of his last four won will be plenty of action to keep fans entertained.
ONE 163: Akimoto vs Petchtanong: takes place on Saturday 19th November at 14:00 GST at the Singapore Indoor Stadium Arena in Singapore. This is a night not to be missed, so mark your calendars, download the ONE Super App and go to watch.onefc.com now!
