Liu Mengyang Dismisses Tawanchai’s Legendary Kicks As No Threat

Three months of frustration transformed into fuel for Liu Mengyang when Tawanchai PK Saenchai withdrew from their originally scheduled September clash, leaving the 22-year-old Chinese sensation channeling disappointment into dominant destruction of Shadow Singha Mawynn while waiting for his rescheduled opportunity to arrive.

That wait ends Friday when Liu finally faces the reigning ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Champion in a featherweight kickboxing showdown headlining ONE Friday Fights 137: Tawanchai vs. Liu on December 19, broadcasting live from Bangkok’s legendary Lumpinee Stadium in Asia primetime.

The injury that forced Tawanchai out of ONE Friday Fights 126 created temporary disappointment yet never diminished Liu’s desire to test himself against one of striking’s most accomplished champions. When ONE confirmed the rescheduled bout, the Chinese fighter’s reaction revealed how desperately he wanted this moment.

“When I received the message, I was so happy because I needed this fight,” Liu said. “I was thinking like, ‘finally, you can’t run from me now.’ I was so excited.”

His path to Friday’s main event includes shocking Masaaki Noiri with a unanimous decision victory in his promotional debut, immediately establishing himself as a legitimate threat in the featherweight kickboxing division. That performance showcased the punching superiority and composure under pressure defining his 34-7 career record, qualities he believes create massive problems for opponents more comfortable operating within traditional Muay Thai frameworks.

Liu’s confidence extends beyond typical pre-fight posturing into bold dismissal of Tawanchai’s most feared weapon. The Thai champion has flattened numerous opponents with devastating leg kicks across his astonishing 134 career victories, yet the Chinese challenger views those strikes as overrated threats that won’t affect Friday’s outcome.

“He starts fast and hits hard. I can’t see a clear weakness in him, to be honest,” Liu said. “Tawanchai’s biggest weapon is his kicks, but they’re not a threat to me. I hold advantages from all angles against him, mentally and physically. My boxing and kickboxing experience are both above his.”

The claim that a 26-year-old Muay Thai king carrying a 10-2 promotional record holds inferior striking credentials represents audacious assessment, particularly given Tawanchai’s championship pedigree and technical prowess demonstrated across years of elite competition. Yet Liu’s extensive kickboxing background supports his belief that superior boxing creates openings the champion hasn’t encountered before.

Tawanchai’s most recent kickboxing appearance resulted in a third-round TKO loss to Noiri — the same opponent Liu defeated in his promotional debut — lending credence to the challenger’s confidence about stylistic advantages. That defeat cost the Thai an interim featherweight kickboxing crown while raising questions about his effectiveness under modified rule sets that reduce kicking emphasis.

Liu maintains deep respect for his opponent’s accomplishments while predicting Friday’s clash delivers the entertainment fans crave from high-level striking matchups between contrasting styles.

“Tawanchai is a good opponent, a very challenging one. It’s going to be a very technical fight, but most importantly, he is a clean hitter,” he said. “He delivers knockouts with style. So we are going to bring the fans the most entertaining fight of the night.”

Victory would thrust Liu into world title contention while establishing him as one of featherweight’s premier talents, the kind of career-defining moment young fighters chase throughout their entire journeys. He understands the magnitude of the opportunity yet refuses to let pressure diminish his bold prediction about how the fight concludes.

“I believe we are both trying to prove something in this fight,” Liu said. “Someone is going to sleep on the canvas, but it won’t be me. If I defeat Tawanchai, it might be the turning point of my career.”