Career crossroads demand definitive answers, and Bokang Masunyane knows exactly what a victory over Ryohei Kurosawa represents for his strawweight trajectory. The South African standout faces the surging Japanese fighter at ONE Fight Night 39: Rambolek vs. Dayakaev on Prime Video, seeking the performance that transforms potential into championship reality.

Friday’s matchup inside Lumpinee Stadium carries weight beyond the official record. Kurosawa arrives riding six consecutive victories and fresh off a dominant promotional debut against Jayson Miralpez at ONE Friday Fights 124. That September showcase displayed the calm precision and wushu-influenced movement that earned the Chiba native titles across Pancrase and Shooto, building a 20-4 professional record through technical execution rather than explosive finishes.

Masunyane has studied that blueprint carefully, identifying opportunities within Kurosawa’s methodical approach. The Japanese fighter operates off his back foot, relying on timing and judo-based grappling to control exchanges. Against someone who thrives pressing forward, those tendencies create openings rather than obstacles.

“I’m very excited because I’m fighting a very high-level fighter,” Masunyane explained. “His last fight was very impressive, but I feel good about this because this fight is for me to make a statement in my division that opens up an opportunity to fight for the title, and that’s what I want to do.”

That championship ambition shapes everything about Masunyane’s preparation. The 31-year-old has spent 18 months expanding beyond the wrestling foundation he’s carried since childhood, developing striking dimensions that complement his suffocating pressure. The evolution became impossible to ignore when he stopped former ONE World Title challenger Rene Catalan with a perfectly timed high kick in just 37 seconds — proof that his expanding arsenal creates finish opportunities his pure grappling couldn’t.

Against Kurosawa’s calm striking and movement-heavy offense, Masunyane expects those refined tools to prove decisive. He believes the stylistic contrast favors his aggressive pace, particularly when backed by power he’s learning to channel through punches rather than exclusively through takedowns.

“I can tell he’s a very calm striker. He’s very fit, and from what I saw, he fights on his back foot, which is good for me because I like fighting on my front foot,” Masunyane offered. “He has very good wrestling, and I think that comes from his judo background, if I’m not mistaken. With my wrestling style, I believe I’ll be able to take advantage of that.”

The South African’s game plan extends beyond simply imposing his will through grappling. While that 8-year-old foundation remains intact, Masunyane envisions finishing this fight through the striking developments that define his evolution. He’s targeting a knockout somewhere in the first two rounds, preferably delivered by the right hand he’s been sharpening throughout camp.

“I’ve been working a lot on hand striking, being precise and using my power,” Masunyane explained. “Usually, I use my power for wrestling, and this time I’m trying to use that power more in my striking. So probably a right hand.”

That expanded toolkit transforms what could be a grinding wrestling match into something far more unpredictable. Masunyane wants fans expecting explosive action and definitive conclusions, not tentative technical exchanges. His ideal scenario ends early and dramatically, cementing his place among the division’s elite through performance rather than points.

For Kurosawa, halting that momentum represents an equally significant opportunity. Six straight wins carry their own gravitational pull within any division, and derailing someone actively hunting championship stakes would amplify that trajectory considerably. The contrast between Masunyane’s recent struggles and Kurosawa’s steady ascent adds layers to Friday’s encounter beyond simple stylistic intrigue.

Masunyane recognizes those stakes clearly. Recent setbacks have clarified what this moment demands — not gradual improvement but emphatic declaration. The statement he’s referencing isn’t subtle or ambiguous. It’s the kind delivered through decisive finishes that force matchmakers to acknowledge championship readiness regardless of recent form.

“I believe with my striking that I’ve learned lately, it actually opens up a bigger game for me, and I want fans to expect an electric fight, an explosive fight, and a very entertaining fight at the end of the day,” Masunyane stated. “In my ideal scenario, it’s me finding a knockout between the first two rounds, most likely the second. I think that’s the fight that puts a statement on the rest of the division.”

READ MORE: Jake Paul Among Top 4 Highest-Paid Boxers In 2025 With Canelo Reigning Supreme

• Facebook
• Instagram
• X
• Google